Proud of you

Dex takes his tutoring very seriously and for the next 8 weeks I am studying every night without exception. He helps me finish my theses, proofreads them and helps me a little here and there. Except, of course, the work for accounting and commercial law, which I have to write alone like everyone else, but I can use his library and thus save myself the evenings in the university library.

Accounting law and business law are becoming my favorite subjects alongside European law, because that's where I see Nate and I'm happy to see him.

He doesn't correspond at all to the image with which my previous long-term and short-term relationships had to compete, but a smile from him is enough and I feel better.

My heart is beating faster and I can feel my cheeks start to glow.

As nice as this feeling is, I limit myself to looking at him secretly, because I can't take a step towards him.

He's my teacher and that means problems.

And I have to stay out of problems.

Every now and then we talk briefly and then I know that the day can only be good.

Nate builds me up, praises me and assures me that I can do anything.

I am no one else who has any faith, but I do believe him and it is good not always to be seen as the black sheep.

He even dares a little foray when he asks me if we want dinner together, but I gratefully decline. As hard as I find it, I just can't.

My mum still doesn't trust me, no matter how often Grace assures her that I'm taking my chance seriously, she can't believe her ...

She doesn't trust me, but is that really surprising?

I don't think any “normal” mum wouldn't trust her child either, what has taken off in the last few years, what I have now taken off without question.

Before I know it, Christmas is just around the corner and the semester comes to an end with the exams.

Where did the last 3 months go?

Didn't I just get here yesterday?

I'm wrestling with whether to fly to LA for the holidays.

What can I expect there?

Certainly no snow, because, to everyone's surprise, we've had it for two weeks.

God it's cold ... really cold.

"Did you get your results?" Grace welcomes me when I am let into the house with a snow gust.

"Yes." I hold up the envelope, my teeth chattering.

"And?" Dex comes out of the kitchen behind her and looks at me questioningly.

"I haven't checked yet." I admit and hang my coat on the cloakroom.

"Come in first, it's bitterly cold outside." Grace rubs my upper arms and leads me into the living room.

Even though I haven't had any tutoring for the past week, I still go to see Grace and Dex almost every other evening. On the one hand Grace is an excellent cook, on the other hand I have no one else where I can go and in the dormitory sometimes the ceiling really falls on my head.

Grace has become more and more of a friend and a confidante in the last few months, I feel safe with her and Dex, far away from what is called home, I have finally found a real home.

"I'll get some tea and then we'll see if our efforts are worth it." Dex winks at me and Grace sits down next to me on the couch.

“And other little things. How are you? ”She tilts her head.

"Very well, I still don't know if I should fly to LA over the holidays." I confess to her.

"Heather and William would be very happy." She nodded encouragingly.

"Mum hasn't spoken to me once since I've been here, let alone Dad." I shrug my shoulders.

"You don't trust the whole thing yet." Grace takes my hand.

"I know ..." I admit and Dex comes back with the tea and hands me a cup.

"I should be flying for the weather alone." I look outside and Grace chuckles.

"Hasn't Heather sent you a ticket yet?" She cocks her head.

"Yes, the flight leaves tomorrow evening." I take a sip of my tea.

"You know what, I'm flying ..." I decide spontaneously, "I need some sun again."

"Good girl." Dex praises me. "Now give me the goddamn envelope." He adds impatiently and I hand him that important envelope.

Please let me do it ... I pray silently.

“Okay…” he opens it and looks at me, then he begins to read “Legal history B-, legal philosophy C, legal sociology C +, fundamental right B, social law B +, accounting law B, business law B-, European law C-, family law B +, inheritance law C, criminal law B and procedural law B + ... "he looks further down on the page" Dear Miss Coleman, your semester is considered passed. "

"Congratulations!" Grace pulls me tight into her arms with tears in her eyes and I hug her back.

"Thanks Dex." I turn to him and he beams at me.

"You did it on your own." He also takes me in his arms.

"No, I would never have managed it without you." I assure him.

"I'm so proud of you." Grace brushes a strand from my face.

"Oh Grace." I look at my hands, embarrassed.

"To celebrate that, we're going to eat today." Dex decides, I look down at myself and raise an eyebrow.

There is not much left of the California Girl in terms of clothing. Rather, I've only worn jeans, sweaters or shirts for the past few months. I haven't even finished unpacking my things from LA.

But what do I need it for?

So that I look pretty while studying?

Definitely not…

“Don't worry, Ana, we'll go to our Italian restaurant, there's no dress code.” He winks at me and we set off.

We toast with a good red wine an hour later and I'm so happy that I don't have to repeat the semester and can finally make progress ...

"To Ana!" Grace smiles at me and our glasses clink softly together.

"To Ana." Dex also says and winks at me, "A really talented student who will go far." He prophesies me.

"I can't thank you enough." I take a sip of the wine and Grace takes my hand to squeeze it briefly.

The evening is really nice and I have the feeling that I've already managed to work my way from the black shaft to a dark gray one.

Let's see if Mum and Dad see it that way too.

The next day I am sitting on the plane heading for the USA, pretty tired, and when I leave the plane almost 14 hours later in LA I take a deep breath.

Finally sun again ...

I miss the sun, I could get used to everything else, but not to this constant rain, well, at the moment it's more snow ...

My mum is waiting for me in the arrivals area. Again in one of her expensive costumes and I notice the suspicious look as I walk to her in jeans and top.

She smiles, but the smile doesn't reach her eyes, then she takes me in her arms.

"It's nice to see you." She looks at me and I try to smile too.