Chapter 200.

Christian reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"What’s wrong?"

Kylie sighed. Her eyes moved toward the laptop. "I got an email. It was a sad one." Sbe swallowed. She hated talking about her academic life with anyone.

Even Mrs. Hayes know nothing about her academic life. Just Emilia. School, and education was singlehandedly the most important thing in her life at the moment. And she dreed letting people see that part of her.

She would prefer they rather take her as the party girl than someone who has a life outside it.

Christian followed her gaze. "From?"

"Westbridge."

His brows lifted. "The university?"

She nodded. "Canada."

"You sent them an application?"

She nodded again.

Christian looked at her. He searched her eyes. "And?"

Kylie hesitated. She felt so embarassed at the idea of not being accepted. "They didn’t accept me."

His face changed. "Why?"

"They said my application was excellent."

Christian frowned. "That doesn’t sound like a rejection."

"It is."

She walked toward the bed and sat down.

Christian followed her but didn’t sit until she moved slightly, giving him space.

"They said my grades were good. My essays were good. My references were good." She looked down at her hands. "They said I had an exceptionally competitive application. The next school said nothing."

Christian waited.

"But they don’t have enough spaces."

He nodded slowly. "So they’re asking you to apply again?"

"Next enrollment." She laughed without humor. "Which is basically them saying, ’You’re good, just not good enough right now.’"

Christian shook his head.

"No."

Kylie looked at him.

"They said your application was competitive."

Her lips trembled. She bit her inner gum to steady herself. "They still didn’t accept me."

"Because they had limited spaces."

"Same thing."

"No." Christian’s voice was firm. "They’re different things."

Kylie looked away. She let out a shaky breath. "I don’t know." She cleched her fist, as her nose reddened. "Perhaps, my dad was right."

Christian studied her.

She was disappointed. Disappointed enough that she was trying very hard to pretend she wasn’t.

"How long have you wanted to do this?"

Kylie blinked back her tears. "Do what?"

"Your master’s."

She looked down. "Since I finished law school. Seven months ago."

Christian waited.

Kylie smiled faintly. "I’ve always wanted to become a criminal lawyer."

There was a pause.

Christian stared at her.

Kylie noticed his suprised glance. "What?"

"Nothing."

She rubbed her eyes softly with the back of her hand. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I’m surprised."

Her eyebrows rose. She knew this wqs coming, but she still asked. "Why?"

He leaned back slightly. "I don’t know."

Kylie narrowed her eyes.

Christian smiled at her. "I suppose I always pictured you doing something else."

"Like what?"

He thought for a second. "Event planning."

Kylie stared at him. "Event planning?" She asked.

"No offense, but that was what I had always pictured your profession to be."

"I told you I wanted to be a criminal lawyer and your first thought was event planning."

"I didn’t know."

"You’ve known me for months."

"I’ve known that you’re social, and good with people."

Kylie stared at him thoughtfully. "Keep going."

"Organized when you want to be."

She pointed at him. "That part was unnecessary."

Christian laughed. "And you love parties."

"So?"

"I thought you’d enjoy planning them."

Kylie folded her arms. "I’d rather argue with criminals."

Christian’s smile widened. "I can see that now."

She looked at him. "You’re still surprised."

"A little."

"Why?"

Christian shrugged. "Because you’re you."

Kylie stared at him hard. She exhaked quietly. "Now that you say this, I might care of what people think of me. Just a little."

Christian’s expression softened. "I see the woman who walks into a room and makes everyone straighten up." He reached for her hand.

"And at the same time, the woman who turns everything into a joke when things get uncomfortable." His thumb brushed over her knuckles. "The woman who can talk to almost anyone."

Kylie’s smile faded slightly.

He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. "I never said you couldn’t do it."

Christian leaned closer, then kissed the crown of her head. "How about we wait for the next school reply?"

Kylie immediately pulled out of his arms. "I can’t wait."

Christian looked at her.

"It’s been months already." She stood. "They might still reject me."

"One university didn’t."

"They basically did."

"They didn’t."

"Christian."

He remained calm. "You applied to more than one."

"Yes."

"Then wait."

Kylie shook her head. "I can’t."

She walked toward the laptop and rested her hand on it. "I sent my application essays to some of the professors individually."

Christian’s eyebrows lifted.

"You contacted professors?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

"Four." She panicked lightly. "I hate how I feel right now."

Christian stood. He walked toward her. "Tell me about it."

Kylie hesitated. Then she opened the laptop again, and turned it toward him. "This was the personal statement I sent." She showed him.

Christian leaned over.

Kylie scrolled. "I wrote about why I want criminal law."

He read silently.

She watched his expression. "I talked about victims."

Christian nodded.

"I talked about how sometimes the law isn’t enough if people don’t know how to use it."

He continued reading.

"I want to represent people who have been dismissed before they even get the chance to speak."

Christian turned to her.

Kylie swallowed. "I know it sounds dramatic."

"It doesn’t." He assured her.

"I just..." She paused. "I want to be good at something that matters."

Christian’s expression softened. "You already are."

Kylie shook her head. "Not like that." She closed the laptop again, and dropped it.

"I don’t want to spend my entire life being known as the party Kylie who might as well just be a dumb blondie."

Christian’s eyes narrowed slightly. "I don’t think of you that way."

"You might not. But other people might."

Christian stepped closer. "Then let them."

Kylie frowned.

"I don’t care what people think."

Kylie took a breath. "I need something that’s mine."

Christian nodded slowly. "I understand."

Kylie picked up her laptop again, and climbed unto her bed. "I need a moment, Christain." She met his gaze. "I’ll see you tommorow?"

"Kylie...."

"I’ll see you tommorow, Christain." She turmed away from him. "I need to be alone right now."

Christain nodded. "I’ll call you."

Kylie climbed unto her bed. "I can’t promise to pick up." She dropped the laptop beaide her, and laid on her side. "My phone would be on do not disturb until the next morning."

She pulled the duvet to her shoulder, now staring back into her laptop. Her eyes watered. "See you tommorow."