052. honour girl
( fifty second chapter )

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Olivine smoothed down the front of her blouse as she stood outside the dean's office, her nerves prickling despite the warm spring sunshine streaming through the windows. The air in Princeton felt different—calmer, more refined, and endlessly intimidating. For a moment, she felt like a child about to be scolded, despite knowing this meeting was meant to celebrate her achievements.

Mariah had squeezed her shoulder reassuringly before she went in, and now Olivine drew from that small comfort as she knocked on the heavy oak door.

"Come in," a calm, authoritative voice called from inside.

She pushed open the door to reveal Dean Montgomery sitting at a mahogany desk, her salt-and-pepper hair swept into a neat bun. The woman stood to greet her with a warm smile, extending a hand.

"Miss Heyward, I've been looking forward to this meeting. Please, have a seat."

Olivine shook her hand and sat down, clutching her portfolio tightly in her lap.

"Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, Dean Montgomery," she said, hoping her voice sounded steadier than she felt.

The dean nodded, her piercing blue eyes scanning Olivine with what felt like quiet approval. "Not at all. We make it a priority to meet students who demonstrate extraordinary promise. And I must say, your application was nothing short of remarkable."

Olivine blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Oh... thank you," she said, her cheeks warming. "I worked really hard on it."

"And it shows," the dean replied, sitting back in her chair. "Your essay on balancing modern creativity with classical disciplines was insightful, and your extracurricular achievements speak volumes about your determination and discipline. Your work in ballet is particularly impressive—not only the performances but the way you've tied it into your academic goals."

Olivine nodded, feeling a small swell of pride. "Ballet has been such a big part of my life. It's taught me discipline and how to work toward something bigger than myself."

Dean Montgomery smiled. "Those are qualities we value here at Princeton. Your recommendation letters also painted a vivid picture of a student who not only excels academically but is deeply involved in her community. It's clear you'd be an asset to this university, Miss Heyward."

Olivine's heart fluttered at the dean's words, but she kept her expression composed.

"I appreciate that," she said softly. "Princeton has always been a dream of mine. I want to challenge myself, and I know this is the place to do it."

The dean leaned forward slightly, her gaze intent. "I have no doubt that you'll rise to any challenge we present. I'll be thrilled to see your name on our acceptance list in the coming weeks."

Olivine's breath caught for a moment, her nerves dissipating under the weight of those words. "Thank you, Dean Montgomery. That means so much to me."

The dean offered another warm smile and stood, signaling the meeting's end.

"Keep that determination, Miss Heyward ," she said as they shook hands again. "It will serve you well here."

As Olivine exited the office, she found Mariah, Daniela, and Donna waiting for her just outside. The moment they saw her face, they swarmed her with questions.

"How'd it go?" Daniela asked eagerly.

"It went really well," Olivine replied, her smile breaking through. "She said she was impressed with my application and that she's looking forward to seeing me at Princeton."

Mariah clasped her hands together with a proud smile. "Of course she was impressed. My baby's going to take this place by storm."

Donna nodded, her own face lit with pride. "They'd be lucky to have you, sweetie."

The four of them made their way out of the building and into the warm spring air. As they walked toward the car, Daniela linked her arm through Olivine's.

"See? I told you you'd crush it," she said with a grin.

"Yeah," Olivine replied, her voice light with relief. "I guess I did."

But even as they drove away, the excitement of the moment couldn't completely drown out the nagging thoughts in the back of her mind. She still hadn't heard from Rafe. And as much as she wanted to pretend she didn't care, part of her wondered if he even remembered what day this was for her.

The car hummed steadily as they drove back toward their hotel, the excitement from the meeting with Dean Montgomery still buzzing in the air. Donna and Mariah were deep in conversation in the front seat, chatting about the best places to eat in Princeton and whether they should do some sightseeing later. Daniela sat beside Olivine in the back, scrolling through her phone.

"Okay, Liv," Daniela said suddenly, breaking the companionable silence. "Are we celebrating tonight? Because I found this cute little restaurant downtown with amazing reviews." She turned her phone toward Olivine, who blinked at the screen.

"Looks nice," Olivine replied, her voice distant.

Daniela frowned, lowering the phone. "What's up with you? You're supposed to be riding the high of being Princeton's next golden girl."

"I am," Olivine said quickly, forcing a small smile. "I guess I'm just... tired. That meeting was nerve-wracking."

Daniela narrowed her eyes knowingly but didn't press further. Instead, she nudged Olivine's shoulder. "Well, rest up, because we're celebrating. No excuses."

"Fine," Olivine replied, her smile softening. "Let's celebrate."

Back at the hotel, Olivine found herself lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She could hear Daniela in the adjoining room, chatting with her mom about what outfits to wear for dinner.

She rolled over, grabbing her phone off the nightstand. Still nothing from Rafe. Her thumb hovered over his name in her contacts for a moment before she sighed and set the phone down.

She didn't want to spend this trip thinking about him. She had done enough of that over the past few days—wondering if he'd call, wondering what she'd even say if he did. It was exhausting.

To distract herself, she pulled out her laptop and started typing up some notes for her next ballet choreography project. The familiar rhythm of her fingers on the keyboard soothed her, the stress melting away as she lost herself in the work.

Later that evening, they all headed to the restaurant Daniela had picked out, a cozy little bistro with string lights hanging from the ceiling and the faint scent of lavender in the air. The food was incredible, and Olivine found herself laughing along with the others, her worries momentarily forgotten.

Donna and Mariah shared stories about their own college experiences, while Daniela teased Olivine about how she was already Princeton's favorite student.

"Just don't forget about me when you're running the world," Daniela said dramatically, raising her glass of sparkling water in a mock toast.

"Never," Olivine replied with a genuine smile, clinking her glass against Daniela's.

When they returned to the hotel that night, Olivine felt lighter. As she climbed into bed, she told herself she wouldn't think about Rafe. She wouldn't check her phone.

But as she drifted off to sleep, her thoughts betrayed her. She dreamed of him—his piercing blue eyes, the way he looked at her like she was the only person in the room.

And when she woke up the next morning, the first thing she did was reach for her phone. Still nothing.

With a sigh, she set it back down and got ready for another day. She reminded herself that this trip wasn't about him. This was about her future—her chance to start fresh. And for now, that had to be enough.

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The next morning began slowly, the kind of lazy, sun-dappled morning that felt like it stretched forever. Olivine sat on the edge of her bed, brushing out her hair while the faint sound of birdsong filtered in through the slightly open hotel window. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted in from the kitchenette, courtesy of Donna and Mariah, who were already chatting about their plans for the day.

Daniela poked her head into Olivine's room. "You ready? Mom's talking about dragging us to some art gallery before lunch."

"An art gallery sounds nice," Olivine replied, trying to muster enthusiasm.

Daniela gave her a look. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were bummed out about something. And no, don't give me the 'I'm tired' excuse again."

Olivine sighed, setting her brush down. "I'm fine, Dani."

Daniela stepped fully into the room, crossing her arms. "Is this about him?"

"No," Olivine said quickly, too quickly.

Daniela raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Okay, maybe," Olivine admitted, sinking back onto the bed. "It's just... frustrating. I feel like I'm moving forward, you know? Meeting with the dean, looking at the campus—it's all so exciting. And then there's him, dragging me back into this mess."

Daniela sat beside her, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're not being dragged into anything, Liv. He's not here, and you don't owe him your peace of mind. You've got way bigger things to focus on. Like, hello? Your whole future."

Olivine nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're right. I know you're right."

"Of course I'm right. I'm always right." Daniela grinned, giving her shoulder a playful squeeze. "Now, come on. Let's go pretend to appreciate some fancy paintings."

The art gallery was quaint and quiet, tucked away on a side street not far from the university. Donna and Mariah lingered near a collection of landscapes, marveling at the brushwork, while Daniela wandered off to examine a sculpture display.

Olivine found herself drawn to a series of portraits hanging in a small alcove. Each one depicted a different person, their expressions captured in stunning detail. She studied a painting of a young woman with piercing eyes and a slight smirk, her face half-lit by shadows.

"She looks like she knows something we don't," a voice said beside her.

Olivine turned to see a man around her age- a bit older in a tweed jacket, smiling kindly.

"Maybe she does," Olivine replied, returning the smile.

"You have an eye for detail," he said. "Are you an artist yourself?"

"Not really," she said. "I'm a dancer. Ballet."

"Ah, an artist of movement," he said with a nod. "That's even better."

The compliment caught her off guard, and she thanked him before he moved on. For the first time in days, she felt a sense of calm.

That evening, back at the hotel, Olivine finally allowed herself to relax. She curled up on the couch in her room with a book, the soft glow of a lamp illuminating the pages. Daniela was next door, likely watching some cheesy reality show with Donna, and Mariah had stepped out to grab tea from the lobby.

Her phone buzzed on the table. Heart skipping, she reached for it, only to find a text from Daniela.

daenerys: Room service dessert? I'm craving chocolate.

Olivine laughed softly, texting back, Liv: You're obsessed. I'll order it.

She placed the order and set the phone down, staring at it for a moment. It was ridiculous to keep expecting Rafe to call or text, but some part of her still held on to that hope.

Pushing the thought aside, she returned to her book. Tomorrow was another day, and she'd be one step closer to her dreams. Whatever Rafe was doing—wherever he was—she couldn't let it derail her anymore.

And yet, as she drifted off to sleep that night, her last conscious thought was of him.

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KIKI SPEAKS ;
not edited !!

umm hiiii yall i wish all of you a happy new year's eve and or new year and here's your dessert. I'll see you next year !!!

word count : 1.9k

ENJOY !!
xoxo kiki 💋💋