CRESTON UNIVERSITY

He clear skies on the spring season along with the winds that rushed, blowing across the grassy plains of the suburbs. Birds flew in groups and in pairs Creston University is a college campus where graduates come to continue their education. The campus is located in the suburbs and has twenty-five acres of land which is just enough to have many kinds of sports fields; at the center of it was a large cylinder shaped building measuring about one-hundred and fifty feet high and one hundred twenty feet wide. The school of birds flew in unison over the building into the clouds.

Unlike most colleges, Creston has been lacking students for the past years, they've been lucky to have over two thousand young people this year. The Owner, Founder, and Principle of Creston, is a wealthy man named, Rick Harwick. His reason for starting Creston was for young people to have an independent life experience and to train them to be ready for the world. Though the many years that past seemed like the same boring everyday routine in life, there is something about this year that brings out a growing excitement to all the students and throughout the campus.

The main lobby of Creston U, many students rushed with up roaring excitement to their dormitories to start unpacking immediately, while others would take tours to only stand in awe of the sports fields.

Among the many students, a young man stood at the public square of the campus staring at the enormous building. The breeze of the wind brushed pass by his black wavy hair as the young man looked around the outsides of the building, glaring up at the many floors through his emerald green eyes. He took a deep breath and then continued walking to a guard standing at double doors. The guard stood tall and proud dressed in a fine pair of black slacks and a black jacket that came with it.

The guard greeted everyone with a smile and a formal handshake. When he saw the young man coming toward him he spoke with a smile, "Good afternoon, Sir!" The guard greeted happily. "May I assist you with anything?"

The young man looked the guard with his green emerald eyes, "Yes, I am looking for a Principle Harwick, do you know where I can find him?" He asked.

With a smile, the guard pointed inside the building to the elevator that was followed by a corridor. "He’s on the last floor; just go in and take that elevator."

The young man followed the direction of where his hand pointed, "Okay, thank you sir." He thanked gratefully.

The guard nodded, "No, thank you Mister—?"

"Atkins!" he interrupted. "Jedidiah Atkins, sir."

After he finished talking to the guard he walked inside, and watched everyone else greet each other. Everything seemed in place and in order; he’d never have to worry having any trouble, but felt that a part was feeling sick. It could have been feeling home sick.

Up on the last floor is the Principle’s office, which has a long corridor with a red carpet leading to it. On the walls made of dark green marble, were small upside down cones with lights. At the two smooth Cedar doors were Romanian statue stands with vases filled with beautiful flowers.

Inside the room was a desk which had papers neatly piled, in the background was a window that is large enough to view the entire landscape of the University. The left side of the room had a black leather couch with a painting of a pond over it, on the right side there is a door that leads to a bedroom. A man with brown hair combed to the side wearing a black Armani suit with black alligator shoes, was having a very civil conversation with his daughter…

"Lillian please behave yourself!" The man pleaded. "I have work to do, why don’t you go meet your boyfriend...um...what's his name...Carey! Yes, Carey, down at the lobby, okay?"

His daughter complexion is smooth light skinned with her face that shined which was both very attracting and well shaped. With her long straight blond hair with crystal blue eyes and sweet fragrance that roamed around her, would make every guy receive chills down their spines. "His name is Craig!" Lillian said frustrated. "We’re both going to the movies later, but Daddy that’s why I need you to buy me an outfit from the mall for the movies tonight."

Though her appearance is outstanding, her attitude is, well… reasonable. Lily was always known for her spoiled attitude, though at times of seriousness she always had an open mind and heart to things.

"Haven’t I bought you enough outfits in the past-" Then he was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. He brushed off the dust off his suit as quick as he could. "Yes," He said clearing his throat, "Come in."

Jedidiah opens the doors, making a screeching noise that came with it and slowly and looks around, then cautiously walks in the room trying to make the best first impression. Lillian indifferently sat on top of the desk, pulled out an emery board from her pocket, and started to file her nails with no care.

"Ah, you must be one of my new students." Hardwick said with a smile, "Let me introduce myself, I am Rick Harwick, founder, owner, and principle. Welcome to Creston University." He puts out his hand out for a handshake.

"Mr. Harwick, Sir" Jedidiah said boldly as he shook his hand firmly. "My name is Jedidiah Atkins, it’s a pleasure to meet the richest man around, and I’m honored."

Mr. Hardwick chuckles "The pleasure is mine; and this is my daughter, Lillian."

Lillian puts out her handshake. Jedidiah walks over and gently grabs her hand, bends over and instead of a shake kisses the back part of her hand in a fancy fashion. She gave him a disgusted look as she out down her emery board feeling properly violated, due to the upset feeling towards the gentleman act, though she’d enjoyed it.

She left off an impression to Jedidiah that she was too respected through out the campus. Mr. Harwick saw what Jedidiah did and became amazed. He was the only student that would use a gentlemen’s approach.

"That’s a very bold move Mr. Atkins, but in a very proper manner." Mr. Harwick commented, "You must be quite a gentleman, your parents must be proud."

"Likewise Sir, you must be proud to have such a lovely daughter."

It was an honoring praise comment, but Lillian ignores the comment and continues to file her nails. This concluded the fact that the daughter of Mr. Harwick was indeed spoiled.

"So, how can I help you son?" Mr. Harwick asked.

"I came to tell you Sir, that whatever you need, I am here to help; so don’t hesitate to call on me Sir. I’ll make time for you to help with anything."

Jedidiah had a reputation of lending a helping hand to others in need, he wanted to have the same reputation, and by doing so he thought he would let the principle know that he will be willing to help him with anything at anytime needed.

Mr. Harrwick simply smiled noticing the goodness that shined in him. "I appreciate your offer and I will take it under consideration." He walked around for a little then continued, "I see that you are someone special. None of the students ever gave me an offer like this, and you show yourself to be a very fine young man, I trust that you will show that same attitude in your work this year."

"You can count on me, Sir!" Jedidiah said happily. "Uh Sir, I also came here because I was told that I would receive the key to my dormitory here?"

"Oh yes, well…" Mr. Harwick walked over to his desk where a key safe was and opened it up and pulled out the keys.

Lillian was familiar with what type of keys they were, knowing that it was special, "Daddy, you can’t be serious," She snaps. "That’s right next to my room!"

"Now now, Lillian." Mr. Harwick said calmly. "I want you to show Mr. Atkins to his room, would you hon?"

Not understanding what was going on, Jedidiah stood there with a raised brow questioning why those keys were so special. Lillian sighed and agreed to what her father said. She put away the emery board, hopped off the desk, grabbed the keys from her father then headed out the door while Jedidiah followed.

"Enjoy your room Mr. Atkins!" Mr. Harwick said with a grin.

The two walked through the corridor toward the elevator. When they got there Jedidiah pushed the elevator button, the elevator doors opened and they both went in. Lillian used the keys and inserted it in the key slot that lead to Jedidiah’s room and the elevator went up. Jedidiah looked at buttons to the right and saw that there were ten floors and obviously a floor he hasn’t been to. The back of the elevator is glass which showed the endless plains of the suburbs and the sun that shined over it. Lillian leaned against the wall sitting at the railing on the side of the elevator while Jedidiah just stood looking out at the plains.

Jedidiah wasn’t the talkative person especially when glaring at the scenery, though he enjoyed high places and likes to cherish the time spent just looking. Lillian was different, with her rich life; it would seem that the only things that seemed "special" were the jewelry she gets from her father and her boyfriend. So the scenery's meant little to her.

Unlike Jedidiah, Lillian was a social person so to spare the moment, Lillian started to ask questions. "How old are you Jay?" Lillian was never good at memorizing new student’s names. Usually she would make nicknames for her friends to comprehend them better.

"…It’s Jedidiah." He corrected.

"Whatever," She said nonchalantly. "Your name is too long. I’ll call you Jay from now on."

"Jay?" It was a weird nickname, but it didn’t seem to bother him much, "Okay, well I’m twenty, and you?"

"Nineteen."

There was a small pause for a moment, the feeling of awkwardness spread in the elevator. Jedidiah looked out the glass wall then turn back to Lillian.

"So Lillian do you—?"

"It’s Lily." She interrupted, "My friends call me Lily." Lillian was a name that her father used when they both engaged in conversation, she never liked anyone to call her by her full name since it would bring seriousness, and she took it as an offense.

Jedidiah apologized and continued. "Lily, I see that your father is a highly respected man but what about your mother, I’m sure she looks just as pretty as you are."

"She must’ve been." Lily said unsure.

"What do you mean?"

Lily continued. "After I was born, my mother passed away of Toxemia and loss of a lot of blood."

Jedidiah stood there in shock and guilt; "Wow!" he thought. He wanted to say something relating to this about his parents and childhood, but couldn’t at that moment, so he listens instead.

"I heard many stories from my father about her and how they both fell in love; I heard that she was a Christian and she lead my father to Christ. When my mother was in labor, daddy rushed her to the emergency room; he was so excited that he was going to become a Dad, the doctor came out of the room with bad news, that her body was afflicted with poison. My father was devastated and started to pray for her to live, moments later I was born, his prayer wasn’t answered and my mother died, and when she died so did my father’s religious beliefs."

"Lily, I’m sorry." Jedidiah felt horrible to have asked about her mother.

Lily shrugged it off and laughed. "It’s okay. I’ll laugh it off and besides you’re going to be my roommate for the year, so I should start trusting you with listening to my sob stories." She said joyously.

Jedidiah felt glad that Lily, in a sense, had trusted him, but he still had a guilt feeling. What did this moment need? Lily needed a sign of comfort, so he thought.

"Lily?" Jedidiah said gently.

She turned and looked into his emerald green eyes, "Yes?"

He placed his hand her shoulder as a sign of comfort, "If you need any help with anything, let me know. I’ll be there for you…okay?" He winked.

Lily stood staring at him with a certain look for a few more seconds thinking to herself many things. It wasn’t normal for a person to be kind and considerate to another. It was a bold move which gave off a fair impression on her. Throughout Lily’s life she never encountered a person this kind or loving before, she might have dreamt of a person like that, but never thought that he would be a real person. Who does that anymore?

The elevator finally stops and the doors swing open. The room was similar to the one in the corridor that leads to the principle’s office. It had the same dark green marble wall with the same Romanian statue stands with same flower filled vases at the corners of the room, except the room is smaller with two red carpets, one lead to the left to one double door while the other lead to the right to another double door.

The elevator doors stood open. He waited for her to walk out the elevator first, but Lily continues to look at him a look of wonder and Jedidiah noticed it, and clears his throat loudly.

The sound woke her up; she looked away feeling being embarrassed. "Sorry, uh… it’s here." A small red blush appeared on the sides of her cheeks.

"The door to the left is my room," Lily walked toward the doors to the right "and this-"As she unlocked the double doors "is your room."

The room was marvelous. When he walked in, he noticed that all the walls were painted in a sky blue color with a wooden fan spinning in the center of the room on the ceiling.

The left part of the room had a large fireplace with a mesh, fireproof gate that closes to keep the flames from burning the room; on the top of the fireplace was a mantle with empty frames, above it hung a large picture of a sky with the sun in the clouds shining through them, and at the corners were large tree plants.

To the right side of the room was two blue medium sized couches that were positioned in a square facing a twenty-inch plasma screen television placed on the wall; five feet left of the television was a full size bed with sky blue sheets and a blue blanket laid neatly folded on the bed. A few feet more to the left was white door that lead to the shower. The floor was made of scratch resistant wood; at the center of the room on the floor was a small blue patterned rug. Overall the room itself is a thirty by thirty room, larger than any standard dorm. On the other side of the room was a glass trap door that leads outside to the balcony.

On the balcony were two white reclined patio chairs with a three foot tall white table; there was a five foot scaffolding that connected to the left side of the glass door to the other side. When Jedidiah saw that balcony he dropped his red bag, slid open the glass door and went outside, he leaned on the scaffolding crossing his arms. He loved high places, he could see the sports fields and beyond from where he was. He felt closer to the clouds than he was to the ground.

Lily walked up beside him, "Your weird y’know that?" She said sarcastically.

"In what way?" He chuckled.

"The ways you act makes you weird. Bird watching the campus makes you weird and odd!"

He looked back out over the balcony, "Sometimes, watching things like this … I just feel I can soar up in the clouds." He said daringly.

Lily looked at him, thinking he was weird. "Whatever! Just be downstairs in time for class."

"Class?" It was Jedidiah’s first day in the campus, and already he needed to be prepared for work. "That sucks!" He thought.

"Yeah, today’s half day, it’s from twelve to three o’clock" Lily handed him a paper. "Right now…" Lily looking at her watch "… it’s 9:45; you have two hours to do whatever you want, just be downstairs in time for your class." As she walks towards the door she said, "Well, I have to get going, so I hope you enjoy your room." Lily said as she winks at him, and leaves the room.

Jedidiah simply smiles and then turns back to view the landscape. For a few more moments he stood staring at the landscape, he wondered why Lily doesn’t enjoy looking at the landscape. Whatever the matter was, he paid no mind to it.

Jedidiah kneels down, while putting his hands together in front of his face locking them together; he closes his eyes and starts praying.

Above him there stood a hooded man in a long black robe looking over Jedidiah, and then he looked up at the sky. "Is it time, Lord?"

Hey everyone. I'm LIONZHEART here putting up my first ever story I've written when I was fifth-teen. It took half the summer to come up with an idea and to write a story like this, I really hope you like it.

Really I had lost the story after my computer caught a virus but, I was able to save it to a CD. Apparently I lost that too. Now for the past two years, I finally find it and now posting it up. Yes Christian story based on the supernatural and the things not seen.

Read and Review. I can finally say proudly that I own ALL of this story and it characters.

Enjoy and God Bless.