The Life of Levi Rupp

Chapter 1: A Fresh Start

A cloudless, breezy Saturday morning! A bright start to a bright new future awaits as Levi unlocked the front door to his new home. His home. Levi, barely seventeen saved up enough money from odd jobs, and mowing lawns that he was finally able to call a place his own. It was a large home for rent in a nature focused neighborhood known as Parkside. He was still in high school, but Levi grew up in and out of foster care and was finally able to support himself. Unwilling to be forced to rely on others who really only wanted government money for housing him. He found this home for rent at an affordable price, and the owner agreed to rent it to him so long as he didn’t do drugs, and would promise to consider going to college after high school, something Levi always aspired to do anyways. The house came fully furnished, it was a two-bedroom, one bathroom single story home with a great open concept for entertaining. Levi always found a way to cope with his stressful and unpredictable upbringing through the common and relaxing vibrations from music. He even began to write his own songs!

In order to make rent and bills, Levi needed to work a few hours for big money, and the only way to do that was commuting to the bustling inner city doing construction work. He also mowed lawns in the past, and looked forward to meeting his neighbors in hopes of being able to mow their lawns to keep the side hustle alive and as much cash flowing in. Levi was determined not to let this opportunity of being on his own slip away. His last foster parents scrutinized him and were adamant that Levi would fail and come crawling back, but after talking with his social worker, Levi was able to find his way out of their toxic grasp. Although the home came newly furnished, Levi wanted to bring something of his own, something that would make the space feel more like his. A grand piano he found on the marketplace of his Facebook account, free to anyone who could take it! Levi was thrilled and got a few of his buddies from the school’s football team to move it into the spare room. “Levi, you should really consider trying out this year, it’s your senior year afterall!” Malcolm said, as they finished positioning the piano in the spare room. Malcolm was the senior captain for the football team at school. Malcolm was over six foot, and well over two-hundred pounds of pure muscle. He could barely find clothes that would wrap around his massive frame. “C’mon Malcolm, you know me…I just want to finish school early and get into the Foxbury Institute of Fine Arts.” Foxbury was a fine art university on the outskirts of Parkside, one that required a high grade point average and for Levi, he would need a full ride scholarship. “Levi, you and I both know how hard that place is to get into. I’m trying to help you achieve that. You need to do something other than playing in front of your bathroom mirror on the weekends and posting pixelated videos of yourself on YouTube and social media! Besides, the fine arts program is highly competitive. You need to find a way to stand out to have a fighting chance. And I happen to know just how competitive you are Levi!” Levi swallowed the truth behind Malcolm’s words and nodded, “Alright, I’ll consider it. You make a valid point.” Levi was better than his peers at seeing the bigger picture, more so because he had to grow up so quickly on his own. While Levi began to sink into the depth of realization that this would probably be his toughest year yet, Malcolm was beside himself, practically doing a workout from the excitement that he had finally got me to agree to join the team. Levi didn’t hate sports, but he found himself unable to fit into the sports clique. The kids at school somehow all knew of his predicament. Levi wasn’t bullied simply because of his friend Malcolm, although Levi was never afraid to stand up for himself, no one really knew how strong Levi truly was. His lean frame was a misleading guise of strength and endurance that no one at school could match. Being in a small town, Levi knew most of his peers and remembered being able to outrun and outplay them when he was younger. Levi was unable to focus on sports in school due to his looming responsibilities, something no one else at school was having to live with. They barely worked, let alone work more than one job and pay bills all on their own. They all had parents who took care of them. Something Levi never experienced, nor could he risk messing up this new life he was starting. If Levi was serious about being a competitive applicant for Foxbury, he was going to have to work overtime! Meaning attending practice and then work sometimes on the same days. “I have one condition.” Levi spoke up, interrupting Malcolm’s uncoordinated dancing and hollering of enthusiasm. “Anything! What is it Levi?” “Coach has to agree to my work schedule.” Malcolm, seriousness spreading down his face knowing all too well of Levi’s situation, blinked as if in thought, “Of course Levi, I’ll talk to the coach myself. You get him the schedule, we’ll get you in practice! Man! This is going to be the best season! My best friend is going to be on my field, getting me the ball! I can see it now!” Malcolm continued fantasizing how I would be the new quarterback for the team, dropping perfectly placed passes to him all season long. “Calm down Malcolm, we haven’t even talked to Coach yet, and besides I haven’t even tried out yet!” Bringing Malcolmm back to reality. “Don't worry Levi, you just need to show up, Coach will see your arm and he won't be able to resist starting you over Silas!” Silas was the current quarterback for our school’s team. He was also an all-around athlete, playing in several sports like Baseball and wrestling. He lived and breathed to be the MVP for anything he participated in. It wasn’t something Levi wanted to take from him, but he knew Silas wasn’t the greatest at the quarterback position when they all played together in recreational leagues as little kids. When we got to high school however, Silas went on his own path. He was the cliche Jock on campus, swooning the hearts of the cheerleaders, influencing the other burly teammates to be his followers because that’s just who Silas was, an influencer and a massive instigator. He was the celebrity on campus, and he made sure to take down anyone who challenged him, or who he felt threatened by. “Look Levi, I gotta get going man, but promise me you’ll show up next week for tryouts!” “I promise.” Levi said with a forced laugh as he walked Malcolm out the front door who was smiling ear to ear and practically running with joy down the road towards his house around the corner. At least Levi knew someone in the neighborhood he thought as he began turning back into the house and locking the door behind him. Safety was just a fluid thought for Levi, perhaps it was a trauma response from his upbringing. Levi began looking over the tryout flyer on the school website, putting a reminder in his phone for the dates, and comparing them to the work schedule he already had for next week. Relieved the two didn’t have any conflicts, he decided to relax by playing on his new grand piano. Levi’s strife ceased to exist as his fingers pressed down on the ivories and gently played melodious notes stringing them together to tether his emotions between himself and the sensations vibrating from the piano, filling the room with a light and airy tune where Levi became lost into bliss.