There comes a time in one’s life when you have to ask yourself, “how did I get here?” For me, that time is right now. I’m wracking my brain trying to figure out how it all went to shit my first quarter of college.

“What do you mean it’s all shit?” Heidi asked as I flung myself onto my bed.

“It’s. All. Gone. To. Shit,” I repeated, enunciating each word.

She huffed a sigh and tapped her foot impatiently.

“My scholarship is gone,” I mumbled into my pillow.

“Wanna run that by me one more time?”

I rolled over, “my scholarship is gone.”

“Oh,” she sank onto the bed next to me.

“Heidi, without my scholarship I can’t stay here.”

“Oh,” she seemed to realize the severity of my problem. “Walk me through what happened in the meeting,”

“Well, they said that Kevin had proof of me stealing the thumb drive, accused me of stealing his thesis paper, and they took my scholarship because I wouldn’t tell them the real reason why.”

“Ok. Yeah, ok. So just tell them the truth.”

I looked at her like she just told me a unicorn was our new roommate, “you’re kidding, right?”

“No, tell them the truth. You don’t need to protect me. Besides, they’ll understand,” she shrugged.

“For real?” I was stunned.

“Yeah, I’m not going to be the reason you dropped out of college,” she shrugged again.

“Yeah, ok, I’m going to go do that then,” I stumbled through my words as I left the apartment.

—————————————

“Hello Ms. Evans, how can I help you?” Adam, my advisor, greeted me.

“Hi, I would like to appeal the school’s decision to revoke my scholarship,” I sat across from him.

“You would have to give a good reason for the sake of the appeal,” Adam started.

“Yeah, I know. I’m ready to talk.”

“Ok, let me grab an academic official,” he got up and left the room.

I fiddled with the straps on my backpack until he came back with my geography professor, Nina French. She took his seat and set a recorder on the desk.

“Good afternoon Ms. Evans, I understand you would like to appeal the school’s decision to revoke your scholarship. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“And Mr. Wright you wish to assist her in this endeavor?”

“That’s correct. Th-that’s right,” Adam stumbles through his answer and I felt nervous suddenly. What was I going to say? How could I convince them? I took a deep breath.

“Ms. Evans now is the time to convince me,” Dr. French folded her hands together on the desk and looked at me.

“Ok, I admit I stole the thumb drive. However, I did not steal the thumb drive to take his term paper.”

“Who’s term paper?” Nina asked.

“Kevin’s term paper. I stole his thumb drive which happened to have his term paper on it. I stole it because he was using something on it to blackmail my roommate.”

“And what was on it, Ms. Evans?”

“Nude photos,” I looked down shamefully.

“I’m sorry what?” Adam sputtered.

“Nude. Photos,” I repeated.

“Well, that is certainly enlightening. Thank you Ms.Evans. That will be all,” Dr. French stood up and left with the recorder.

“Soo… am I free to leave?” I asked.

“Yep. You are free to leave,” Adam got up and moved behind his desk. “Um, thank you for your honesty.”

I snorted, what is this Divergent? “Sure.”