LOGINShare
17 - A Hand Up
Last Updated:
2021-04-15 05:04:01The next months went by like a blur. I didn’t go to prom. First of all there was no one to go with, and secondly, I didn’t want to be the only sixteen year old at the senior prom.
I threw myself into my work, Professor Evans was already on me like glue. He could not have been more excited. He introduced me to several other math professors who were just throwing work at me to see if I could do it. I loved the challenges.
Professor Evans agreed to be my sponsor, we had filed paperwork to have me emancipated but I still needed to be under some level of supervision. I would be staying on campus, but I would not have a roommate. I was to meet with my sponsor several times a week for check-ins. Really, I’d probably see him every day anyhow.
Dad also got me set up with my own checking account
Related chapters
Gifted Shadows 18 -Now You’re Digging Where There’s Taters
Dad and I decided there was no way he would be driving me across the country to California. So if I was flying, I would have to be travelling light and just get a lot of things once I got there. Dad flew out with me, but only had a carry-on for himself, leaving me to be able to put two suitcases under his ticket. I tried like hell to pare down, but I still had so much I wanted to bring.I had hoped to share my excitement for leaving with mom, but she was MIA, yet again. Erik was now stationed in southern Georgia and rather busy so our main communication was by email. He was so happy I was getting out of white suburbia and forging my own path in life. Constantly hearing him tell me how proud he was, just gave me the confidence I needed and wasn’t getting from mom.We landed in San Francisco and it was nothing like I had ever seen. The people se
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 19 - Just Go With It
That first semester just blew by and even though it was a tough decision, I decided to stay in California for Christmas break. I spent Christmas and New Years with the Evans' of course, they hosted small parties at their beautiful home for both holidays.Honestly, I wanted the quiet time to just reflect. I spent so much time thinking, 'how did I get here?' I told Erik all the time how lucky I felt, but he would assure me that I deserved it because of my hard work and talent.I did bust my ass, having a 4.0 GPA meant everything to me. I did have some unwanted attention from a few boys, but I shrugged them off. I didn’t have time for that nonsense. There were always parties going on, but I found it easy to stay away from that life.I had a mini fridge, microwave and small toaster oven in my roo
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 20 - I Froze Like An Idiot
With as much as I had to drink you would think I would have passed right out. But I took a shower and found myself lying in bed, staring out the window. It was taking every ounce of restraint not to call Fletcher's number and beg him to come back.I don't know what it was about him, but he just seemed so familiar and if I'm being honest, I just wanted to smell him again. Should have kept his damn hoodie, I laughed to myself.I don't know why but I immediately thought how funny it would be to take him home. Tall, dark and handsome, what would dad and Erik think of him? And then I thought, shit ... how would I explain how we met?Yeah ... I won't be bringing him up to the family anytime soon. I woke up at about 8:45, but felt like I hadn't even slept. My mind was racing and all I could think about wa
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 21 - Some Color
So the racial makeup of Stanford wasn't exactly heavy with black students. I want to say it's mostly white with the next largest percentage being Asian and then maybe Latino. I didn't really see a whole lot of black kids, but apparently Fletch knew quite a few.We took a cab to a house party. My guard was immediately up, remembering to be cautious about my drinks. I felt like I could trust Fletch, but again, I really didn't know him.Hell, I didn’t even know his last name. We got out of the cab and he took my hand in his. It was pretty much twice the size of mine, but it was so warm. He led me into the house, saying hi to several people on the way to find the bar."What’ll you have sweetie?"That southern accent...damn hot.
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 22 - I’ll Just Say It
Over the next two weeks I saw as much as much of Fletch as I possibly could. He was proving to be quite a distraction though, even Chris noticed that I seemed to be daydreaming.We had just finished a long distance learning class with Noora, my pal from Qatar. She had made some progress on a problem and everyone was pretty excited."Penny for your thoughts," Chris said looking at me."Is it a boy?"I scoffed, "you know I'm not going to tell you anything because you're going to run right back and tell my dad!""Come on! Give me a little more confidence than that. You can tell me! I mean you’ve been here what nearly a year now, it was bound to happen."
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 23 - Stop Overthinking It
When I saw Fletch later that night, I told him about my conversation with Chris.He laughed and said, "why are you so nervous about me meeting them?"I said "I don't know it's not like they're my real parents ... but in a way they are. I mean I had a boyfriend in high school but everyone already knew him and nobody poked around and asked questions really."He came from behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, and nuzzled his face in my neck, making me melt."Well really, meeting Chris and Mary is going to be a walk in the park compared to my real family. So yeah, I guess I don't know why I'm nervous about it."He laughed and said, "well I'm going to put off having you meet my family foreve
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 24 - Are You Going To Tell Her?
"I still feel like we should have brought something," I said as we pulled up to Chris's house.“Well you wanted to bring wine but neither of us can buy it so…” he said stating the obvious.“I know but it just seems like if you go to someone's house for dinner you're supposed to bring something.”I gaped at the house, well it was a mansion really. We got out of the cab and walked toward the door and it immediately flew open.Mary stood in the doorway just beaming, “we're so happy you could make it!“As if I had much of a choice, I thought to myself.She practically jumped on Fletch, giving him a hug. He
Last Updated : 2021-04-15Gifted Shadows 25 - Just Breathe
Tuesday was finally here and I was a nervous wreck. I was dressed in my most “adult” looking outfit, which Fletch said looked like a job interview suit so I was feeling pretty good.I had already emailed some of my latest work to the professor. I didn’t even notice I was shaking until Chris snatched my hand and held it in his.“Calm down Rae, he’s just a person like anyone else,” he said with a smile.“Yeah yeah sure, easy for you to say,” I whispered.The call started up and the Swedish translator was going on and on, I had no idea what they were saying. Suddenly, there he was, Dr. Karlsson, looking like Einstein. He basically was Einstein to me, and to so many.
Last Updated : 2021-04-15
Latest chapter
Gifted Shadows 86 - She Sacrificed Her Dignity
~One Year Later, Rae’s Point of View~I was utterly and completely exhausted. I had been up two days helping finalize the new build for our D.C. village location. We really wanted to hit up L.A. next since the homelessness situation out there is beyond dire, but with a small baby we just couldn’t be back and forth like that right now.We let Marcus take the reins on L.A., and he was out scouting locations and getting conversations started to make it our third location. The guys were really flourishing and it just seemed like this what we were all meant to be doing.Even more time flew by and we were now about 95% finished with things for the D.C. location ... I was so ready for it to be done. We planned to take a long and much needed month long vacation once it was ready.
Gifted Shadows 85 - The New Best Night Of My Life
Rae had on a sexy little dress that hugged her body perfectly. I was hard just looking at her, but I usually was anyhow. She got us a quiet booth in the back and had actually reserved the table in front of us too for a little privacy.I didn't like her being in public with so little covering her. Her body was only for my eyes, but she was so happy and with today's news I wasn't about to pick a fight or make her feel self conscious.I slid in next to her, instead of in front of her. This way, both of our backs were to the room and it was less likely anyone would see us.Unfortunately, that meant I couldn’t see anyone coming but I was willing to risk it. We ordered drinks and an appetizer even though I already wet my appetite a few minutes ago, I thought … licking my lips and still tasting her
Gifted Shadows 84 - I'm The Lucky One
Javi and I got so busy over the next few months, as you can imagine … I forgot to renew my birth control shot until it was well over a month past its time. We still humped like rabbits every single chance we got and something just told me I was knocked up.I was desperately putting off taking a test because a test meant it was real. A test meant people getting excited and wanting to talk about it all the time. A test meant Javi probably sticking me in the RV and not letting me out.Part of me was pissed I let this happen, and part of me was excited. As I thought about letting myself get excited, all I could think about was mom. Having a baby without my mom. Man, that is going to be rough.Dad was now dating a nice lady and seemed pretty happy. He’s only met Javi now a few times, but he
Gifted Shadows 83 - The Village
We first had to decide what city we wanted to be close to, and we all decided on being between Philly and NYC for our first spot. That would also put us a bit closer to Corey’s cabin. We decided to let Corey in on it, and he and Javi both were putting up $10 million each.As we started to get plans together, we were hopeful this initial investment would be enough to fund maybe three or four villages until we could start getting other donations. I had never been so excited and consumed by something, it gave me such hope and it was the breath of fresh air we all needed.Corey’s dearest Perry, of course acted as our counsel and was helping with the paperwork to begin a non-profit. Javi had a lead on a 70 acre lot in Doylestown, just north of Philly and only about three hours from Corey’s cabin.
Gifted Shadows 82 - I Know These Guys
The day after the presser we were all just exhausted. I was beat from the incessant questioning from dad and Erik. Chris and Mary were leaving in the morning and going to spend the rest of the visit on their own.I finally got dad and Erik to leave us alone and I was so ready for some quality time with my husband.Dad hadn’t even been gone for five minutes when the doorbell rang, and I thought maybe he’d forgotten something.Javi answered the door and there stood two men … one was older and the other looked like the Hulk. Javi must have been expecting them because his eyes lit up and he welcomed them in. They came in and the older man sat at the kitchen table with a briefcase, handcuffed to his wrist.What the heck?
Gifted Shadows 81 - Care To Comment
The death of Maziar reverberated through the region and the other actors who were also working on the bomb intel were backing away. There was really no other option.Javi said before they left Maziar’s house, they threw cooking oil and liquor on his white boards and lit them on fire, after taking pictures of it all. I didn’t care to look at any of it, I wanted to forget it desperately.Noora had to die for their stupid bomb.They gave the information to Scott, and whatever he was going to do with it, I wasn’t sure I cared. Various news outlets were already reporting wild stories, some true and some nowhere near true.The agency would not be releasing that I killed Maziar and Hashem, and I
Gifted Shadows 80 - Good Luck With This One
After Fletch left I sat by myself on the couch for a few minutes, and tried to process what just happened. My head was spinning and I felt like I was going to throw up. I knew Javi would press me to know what we talked about, and I don’t know if I could tell him Fletch wanted to propose.Would he second guess himself?Would he always wonder in the back of his mind if that was who I really wanted?He was always so nuts whenever another guy was around, knowing that another man offered me a ring, whew that’s heavy shit. I was torn, but I also operated under the assumption I would likely never see Fletch again.In the end of my own pep talk, I decided not to tell him. I picked the rubberband up off the arm of the couch and wrapped it aroun
Gifted Shadows 79 - Rubberband
I tried to figure out how to ask Javi to marry me while we were in Europe. I didn’t care if he put a rubber band on my finger, I was beyond in love with him and that was all I needed.There were sandwiches waiting for us on the second plane and we pretty much inhaled them. I also had an ice cold coke, and it was phenomenal. With a full belly and a hopeful mind, I fell asleep with my head in Javi’s lap.“Wake up baby, we made it,” Javi said whispering in my ear.I opened my eyes and looked out the window, the sun was coming up.“A new dawn, a new day,” I said.“Exactly why I don’t want to wait baby, I had Toby find a pastor on base, if you’ll s
Gifted Shadows 78 - Run
None of us slept, we were all just running on adrenaline at this point.The pilot on the plane was going to meet us and smuggle us on. Javi said the pilot, who was this businessman’s usual guy, was actually retired Air Force and happy to help us. Javi didn’t think it was fair that the pilot not know what he was getting into. I couldn’t believe the lengths people were going to, for us ... for total strangers and it kept bringing tears to my eyes.Marcus arranged for a van to take us to the airport and my heart was racing. Javi didn’t let go of my hand and he was making me hot and sweaty. We were on a dirt access road and it was pitch black, but I hoped that would work in our favor.I could see the plane, it was about a only about a quarter mile away. There was a van with the
