The Prince and the Pauper...
Chapter 1
All Haley had ever dreamed of was getting out of her one horse town and to see the world. Her best friends Matt and Sarah we quite content to keep telling her it would never happen, and her mother already had her married off to James the star quarterback of the high school football team which was even more of an unrealistic dream. The last time Haley ever had a date was in the third grade. His name was Jake and it last two weeks. Sadly he moved to Minnesota, but Haley knew the relationship would have never lasted anyway. Jake was just the first guy to leave Haley. When she was thirteen her father left and moved to New York City. He said he missed the city lights too much. It was pretty much a lie. He had never been to the city, but his girlfriend on the other hand was born there. Tired of living in the small town where everyone knew her business, Haley started making plans to get out. When she turned fifteen she got the job as the one and only person at the information center right off the highway. The last three years she had to help only two people who were looking for the nearest gas station and one person who was completely lost. It was the most boring job, but it paid and gave her time to work on a way out. She put all her money in the bank, she didn’t spend a dime. All the lonely hours had also given her time to do school work getting her a 4.0 and valedictorian of her high school class. She hoped that would be enough to get her a scholarship at a college outside of the state. She knew her mother would be upset that she was leaving. Her mom would see it as the same thing her father did, but all Haley knew was that she had to get out. Little did she know, the events during her last week of school would not only help her get out, but would change her life forever.
Thursday morning started out like any other day in Cyprus Falls. Haley thought. Just as boring as ever. Walking to school, it was so quiet she swore she could hear a pin drop. Matt and Sarah met her as she passed their house. Arguing as usual, she interrupted them. “Hey either of you gotta a pin?” “Huh” they replied simultaneously. “Well, I think I can hear one drop. I want to try it out.” “What are you talking about?” the replied in unison. “Sometimes I forget you guys are twins and then you go and do that.” “ha ha Really?” they asked doing it again. “Oops, sorry!” Looking at each other, Sarah spoke first. “We are stopping now.” “Right” replied Matt. “I’ll believe it when it happens” Haley replied “no wonder they put you in different classes in school.” They arrived at school just in time for the bell to ring. “Well, I guess I will see you guys in class.” Haley said as she walked toward her homeroom. When she walked into her homeroom, Mrs. Fenton handed her an envelope. “What is this?” “Well” Mrs. Fenton said “it appears to be from a college. They must have mailed it here instead.” “Oh ok thanks.” Taking the envelope and finding her seat, Haley wondered what was inside. This envelope was only the first thing that would change Haley’s life.
Haley sat at her desk and stared at the letter all through homeroom, and her first two periods. Good thing her finals were already over. What could be inside? Oh I don’t know if I can open this. Slowly she ripped open the envelope. She closed her eyes and prayed for a second. Please let this be a good letter and not a bad one. Finally bringing her eyes to the page, she read the letter.
Dear Miss Haley Stewart,
We are pleased to offer you the Jekenson Scholarship. This entitles you to a free college education at California State University of Los Angeles. This includes tuition but excludes room and board. We look forward to hearing from you, and your acceptance of this scholarship. Please give me a call to confirm, and to work out the other details.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Steely
Office of Admissions
California State University, Los Angeles
1-824-555-3212
“Oh My God!! Yes!!!!” she jumped up and shouted. Suddenly remembering where she was she looked around and saw the entire class and her teacher were staring at her. “Sorry, I just got some really great news.” She sat back down and thought it is finally happening. I am going to be able to get out of this town. Not just out of this town but to Los Angeles, California. Then the bad news sunk in. I have to tell Matt and Sarah, and my mother. Oh geeze! This great news somehow turned into depressing news. Haley floated through her next two periods, and finally came back to reality when it was time for lunch. Grabbing two slices of pizza, she headed towards Sarah and Matt who were waving like crazy as if she couldn’t find them in the tiny cafeteria. Sitting at the table, she picked up a piece of pizza biting into so she wouldn’t have to be the first to speak. “Why do we have to be here for the last week of classes?” asked Sarah. “I know we are already accepted into college. Why waste our time?” agreed Matt. “Um. Speaking of college, I got the Jekenson scholarship.” “The what?” they asked. “It is full tuition at the Cal State in Los Angeles.” “You can’t go” Sarah said. “Think of your mother and everyone here. Plus we are supposed to go to state together.” “What? Why are you being unsupportive all of a sudden? You helped me fill out the application” said Haley. “I never thought you were going to get it” said Sarah. “Go” said Matt, stopping the argument. “What!” Sarah and Haley said at the same time. “You should go. It is your dream and you need to live your own life not one that someone else wants for you” he said. “Thanks Matt” Haley said as she hugged him. The bell rang and they all started to head to their different classes. “I’ll talk to you guys later. I have to work but you guys can come and hangout for a while.”
After school was over, Haley headed out to the info station by the highway. All of the other students in her class had used the money from their jobs to get cars. Haley felt sorry for them because they missed the natural beauty of the town as they walked by. As beautiful as Cyprus falls is, there are so many other beautiful places in the world she wants to see. Setting down her backpack, she took her seat behind the counter. Pulling out her laptop she set out to look at California State University of Los Angeles website again. The hours dragged on and on. Finally exhaustion overtook Haley and she fell asleep in front of her computer.
Chapter 2
Crap I am so lost he thought. Why did I ever decide to drive there? He decided to take the next exit because he saw a sign for an information center. Seeing it right off the exit, he pulled into the parking lot and got out of the car. When he walked inside he saw a desk but didn’t see anyone there. Crap he thought I could use some help. As he got closer to the desk he noticed the girl sleeping. She looked so peaceful he didn’t want to wake her. “Excuse me” he said. “Excuse me.” Finally she awoke, and he was able to appreciate her beauty. “Can I help you?” she asked. Pushing a strand of her honey brown hair behind her ear, she stared him down with her gorgeous green eyes. “Can I help you?” she asked again. “Oh uh yeah. I am lost I was wondering if you could help me find out how to get home” he answered. She pulled out the ugliest pair of glasses and then opened her laptop. “Where are you heading?” “I am going to Los Angeles, California. I am not sure of the address yet?” he replied sounded completely stupid. “Really!” she said. “I am starting school out there after summer.” “Cool,” he said “I’m Jake. I am moving to California to live with my Uncle. Maybe we will bump into each other sometime.” “ha ha yeah right,” she replied. “There are so many people there we will probably never see each other.” “Yeah well it would be easier if I knew your name. Will you tell me it?” he asked. “Yeah, I’m Haley, Haley Stewart.” Why does that name sound so familiar he thought? He jumped when he heard a noise. “It is just the printer” Haley said laughing. “Here are your directions. They start from her and end at Hollywood Boulevard. Does that work for you?” “Yes,” he said “Thank you so much. Here’s my number give me a call when you get out to California. We’ll catch up.” Leaving the center, he got in his car and headed back onto the highway. About a half an hour later, he remembered where he knew that name from. He must have gotten off the highway at Cyprus Falls, how funny is it that they only person he talks to is his third grade girlfriend. Too bad he didn’t get her number it would be a funny story to share.
Chapter 3
All Haley had ever dreamed of was getting out of her one horse town and to see the world. Her best friends Matt and Sarah we quite content to keep telling her it would never happen, and her mother already had her married off to James the star quarterback of the high school football team which was even more of an unrealistic dream. The last time Haley ever had a date was in the third grade. His name was Jake and it last two weeks. Sadly he moved to Minnesota, but Haley knew the relationship would have never lasted anyway. Jake was just the first guy to leave Haley. When she was thirteen her father left and moved to New York City. He said he missed the city lights too much. It was pretty much a lie. He had never been to the city, but his girlfriend on the other hand was born there. Tired of living in the small town where everyone knew her business, Haley started making plans to get out. When she turned fifteen she got the job as the one and only person at the information center right off the highway. The last three years she had to help only two people who were looking for the nearest gas station and one person who was completely lost. It was the most boring job, but it paid and gave her time to work on a way out. She put all her money in the bank, she didn’t spend a dime. All the lonely hours had also given her time to do school work getting her a 4.0 and valedictorian of her high school class. She hoped that would be enough to get her a scholarship at a college outside of the state. She knew her mother would be upset that she was leaving. Her mom would see it as the same thing her father did, but all Haley knew was that she had to get out. Little did she know, the events during her last week of school would not only help her get out, but would change her life forever.
Thursday morning started out like any other day in Cyprus Falls. Haley thought. Just as boring as ever. Walking to school, it was so quiet she swore she could hear a pin drop. Matt and Sarah met her as she passed their house. Arguing as usual, she interrupted them. “Hey either of you gotta a pin?” “Huh” they replied simultaneously. “Well, I think I can hear one drop. I want to try it out.” “What are you talking about?” the replied in unison. “Sometimes I forget you guys are twins and then you go and do that.” “ha ha Really?” they asked doing it again. “Oops, sorry!” Looking at each other, Sarah spoke first. “We are stopping now.” “Right” replied Matt. “I’ll believe it when it happens” Haley replied “no wonder they put you in different classes in school.” They arrived at school just in time for the bell to ring. “Well, I guess I will see you guys in class.” Haley said as she walked toward her homeroom. When she walked into her homeroom, Mrs. Fenton handed her an envelope. “What is this?” “Well” Mrs. Fenton said “it appears to be from a college. They must have mailed it here instead.” “Oh ok thanks.” Taking the envelope and finding her seat, Haley wondered what was inside. This envelope was only the first thing that would change Haley’s life.
Haley sat at her desk and stared at the letter all through homeroom, and her first two periods. Good thing her finals were already over. What could be inside? Oh I don’t know if I can open this. Slowly she ripped open the envelope. She closed her eyes and prayed for a second. Please let this be a good letter and not a bad one. Finally bringing her eyes to the page, she read the letter.
Dear Miss Haley Stewart,
We are pleased to offer you the Jekenson Scholarship. This entitles you to a free college education at California State University of Los Angeles. This includes tuition but excludes room and board. We look forward to hearing from you, and your acceptance of this scholarship. Please give me a call to confirm, and to work out the other details.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Steely
Office of Admissions
California State University, Los Angeles
1-824-555-3212
“Oh My God!! Yes!!!!” she jumped up and shouted. Suddenly remembering where she was she looked around and saw the entire class and her teacher were staring at her. “Sorry, I just got some really great news.” She sat back down and thought it is finally happening. I am going to be able to get out of this town. Not just out of this town but to Los Angeles, California. Then the bad news sunk in. I have to tell Matt and Sarah, and my mother. Oh geeze! This great news somehow turned into depressing news. Haley floated through her next two periods, and finally came back to reality when it was time for lunch. Grabbing two slices of pizza, she headed towards Sarah and Matt who were waving like crazy as if she couldn’t find them in the tiny cafeteria. Sitting at the table, she picked up a piece of pizza biting into so she wouldn’t have to be the first to speak. “Why do we have to be here for the last week of classes?” asked Sarah. “I know we are already accepted into college. Why waste our time?” agreed Matt. “Um. Speaking of college, I got the Jekenson scholarship.” “The what?” they asked. “It is full tuition at the Cal State in Los Angeles.” “You can’t go” Sarah said. “Think of your mother and everyone here. Plus we are supposed to go to state together.” “What? Why are you being unsupportive all of a sudden? You helped me fill out the application” said Haley. “I never thought you were going to get it” said Sarah. “Go” said Matt, stopping the argument. “What!” Sarah and Haley said at the same time. “You should go. It is your dream and you need to live your own life not one that someone else wants for you” he said. “Thanks Matt” Haley said as she hugged him. The bell rang and they all started to head to their different classes. “I’ll talk to you guys later. I have to work but you guys can come and hangout for a while.”
After school was over, Haley headed out to the info station by the highway. All of the other students in her class had used the money from their jobs to get cars. Haley felt sorry for them because they missed the natural beauty of the town as they walked by. As beautiful as Cyprus falls is, there are so many other beautiful places in the world she wants to see. Setting down her backpack, she took her seat behind the counter. Pulling out her laptop she set out to look at California State University of Los Angeles website again. The hours dragged on and on. Finally exhaustion overtook Haley and she fell asleep in front of her computer.
Chapter 2
Crap I am so lost he thought. Why did I ever decide to drive there? He decided to take the next exit because he saw a sign for an information center. Seeing it right off the exit, he pulled into the parking lot and got out of the car. When he walked inside he saw a desk but didn’t see anyone there. Crap he thought I could use some help. As he got closer to the desk he noticed the girl sleeping. She looked so peaceful he didn’t want to wake her. “Excuse me” he said. “Excuse me.” Finally she awoke, and he was able to appreciate her beauty. “Can I help you?” she asked. Pushing a strand of her honey brown hair behind her ear, she stared him down with her gorgeous green eyes. “Can I help you?” she asked again. “Oh uh yeah. I am lost I was wondering if you could help me find out how to get home” he answered. She pulled out the ugliest pair of glasses and then opened her laptop. “Where are you heading?” “I am going to Los Angeles, California. I am not sure of the address yet?” he replied sounded completely stupid. “Really!” she said. “I am starting school out there after summer.” “Cool,” he said “I’m Jake. I am moving to California to live with my Uncle. Maybe we will bump into each other sometime.” “ha ha yeah right,” she replied. “There are so many people there we will probably never see each other.” “Yeah well it would be easier if I knew your name. Will you tell me it?” he asked. “Yeah, I’m Haley, Haley Stewart.” Why does that name sound so familiar he thought? He jumped when he heard a noise. “It is just the printer” Haley said laughing. “Here are your directions. They start from her and end at Hollywood Boulevard. Does that work for you?” “Yes,” he said “Thank you so much. Here’s my number give me a call when you get out to California. We’ll catch up.” Leaving the center, he got in his car and headed back onto the highway. About a half an hour later, he remembered where he knew that name from. He must have gotten off the highway at Cyprus Falls, how funny is it that they only person he talks to is his third grade girlfriend. Too bad he didn’t get her number it would be a funny story to share.
Chapter 3
Haley was still holding the piece of paper with Jake’s number on it when Matt and Sarah walked into the center ten minutes after Jake left. “Hey girly whats up?” Matt asked. “I had a visitor” Haley said. “Who?” Sarah asked. “This guy Jake. He was lost on his way to Los Angeles. I told him I was moving out there for school and he gave me his number and told me to call him when I got there.” “Oh was he yummy looking?” Sarah asked. “Yeah. He has this golden blonde hair and blue eyes” said Haley as she started to drift off into a day dream. “Oh so he was surfer like?” asked Sarah. “No, not really he was more farm boy meets male model” replied Haley. “He was definitely gorgeous though.” “Haley’s not even to Los Angeles and she already has a boyfriend” joked Matt. “You know I only have eyes for you Mattie” laughed Haley. “Eww stop hitting on my brother” said Sarah trying not to burst out laughing. “See now this is what I am going to miss the most. Just joking around with the two of you” said Haley bringing down the happy mood. “Aww why did you have to go and ruin the fun by reminding us” said Sarah. “Well, look on the bright side” said Matt. “Now we have an excuse to spend Spring Break in Los Angeles.” “Yeah and by that time I will know where the best places to hangout are” said Haley.
Hope you enjoy the preview...
Love ya lots,
Tabitha
