The Offer

Why was this happening to me? I scoffed at the mirror, I took off my shirt and again stood in front of the mirror in my vest. I raised my vest to look at the bruise again. A knock resounded and I hastily turned to find Raymond on the door. "You've grown strong" his voice was soft and soothing. He was dressed in a white Tshirt, a leather jacket, dark jeans and his signature vans. "Going somewhere?" I asked shyly. He walked towards my bed picked up my favorite shirt and came towards me. He held it up and he slipped it on. "I'm leaving Vivian."

I wondered on our comfortability with each other, it felt like we knew each other from An eternity, We sure talked to each other through looks and sighs yet there was no awkwardness between us.The only thing that had kept us apart was the Malibu barbie. Yet I knew he always lingered around and managed to get a few sentences out of me before leaving at the sounds of heels clicking. This scared me a little. Though I always knew that Raymond was the one to take me to the infirmary when I was beaten half conscious after he arrived here and that the attacks were minimized after he came. Yet I knew why he didn't stop those fights. Even though he roamed with the queen bee but whenever I looked at him I always found his eyes on me, then he used to give me a secretive smile and an eye roll stating that he was bored as Casey chattered away.

His chocolatey scent with a hint of cardamom always somehow made me feel secured. He always used my full name, many kids called me either Viv or other insults. My name from him sounded so sweet, yet desperate at the same time. "Why?" I whispered resting my head on his shoulder. He reached and tugged at the hair tie and pulled, setting my hair free from its restraint. I looked up at him. He took the tie and wore in on his wrist then took off his leather necklace and handed it to me. "I'm making sure I'll see you again." He said his stormy grey eyes holding a promise. Why? I didn't understand. But he never took off that necklace I remembered an incident when some seniors tried to snatch it off of him, he had been admitted for a week because he put up a fight, and yet here he was giving it to me.

I just nodded.

"Smile for me Vivian." He whispered, I averted my eyes. "For me" he whispered his voice breaking at the end. I looked at him again and smiled a little. He smiled, wrapped his arms around me and held me close, after what it felt like an eternity he drew back,leaned in and kissed my forehead.

A thought to never leave him again resurfaced in my conscious as I saw his retreating back. I looked at the necklace. It was a Cross with pendants of a beautiful single long silver wing and a feather adorned it, I wore it instantly.

Too overwhelmed to eat anything I made my way to Mr Jones's office. Upon reaching the old wooden door with a brass plate and manager written on it, I knock once. After a soft come in I open the door to find Mr Jones humming to himself tapping a rhythm on the desk. Who gave him the time of the day? He looks up and his face brightens "Vivian! Come in! Sit!"

I sat in front of and he fished something out of his stack of files and placed it in front of me. I picked it up and opened it. A letter.

"It's a life time opportunity Vivian. We are choosing you as you're the most deserving candidate. The Creator's University always selects only one pupil for this program where they will carry out your further education. I know that you're twenty and it's a little late to start your bachelors… We can't afford further education for anyone here.. You of all people know that, But we want this for you."

I was spellbound. Me..? Why?

Jumbled in thoughts I walked out in a daze the letter still in my hand. I collided with a wall but the fall never came. I opened my eyes,"Ray…"

He smiled and helped me stand straight.

"Congratulations Viv." I looked at him confused. Then he looked at the letter in my hand and on the envelope a shield shaped Crest that held a pair of wings. One white one black. And the letters THE CREATOR'S UNIVERSITY written in golden letters.

I looked at him again, he just nodded and smiled then leaned in and kissed my forehead again but this time he lingered, I hanged on to his shirt. He drew back and softly removed my hand. His shirt had wrinkled, he smiled at that and without saying a word turned around and walked out of the door, after hearing the sound of a car on gravel I made my way up to the dorms, when alone I opened the letter..

The Creator's University

To,

Miss Vivian H. Gerald

Riverdale Orphanage

Dear Miss Vivian,

We are very euphoric to give you this news that we have had the magnificent opportunity to have you at TCU to polish your brilliant mind and hone your skills, to give you the wings that would take you to the farthest horizons.

This young-blood program has been executed since a long time back and we have had students from all over the world to study with us, whose education we fully take responsibility for.

We would await your answer by no longer than a week as the semester starts soon. All the required information is provided to you in the second part of this letter.

Hoping to have you with us soon,

Mr. Grove

Director

The Creator's University

Taking a deep breath I don't know when I find myself in front of Mr Jones my hand clutching the pendant of Raymond's necklace,

"Mr Jones..I…"