( + ) Sweet, Caring, Positive, Trusting, Forgiving
( - ) Naive, Trusting, Ignorant, Shy, Sheltered
If you had to live in one house and never leave for 17 years, how would you turn out? Well, that’s exactly the predicament that Laurel Stewart was in. When she was about two years old, her mother passed away and she was sent to live with her grandparents. Laurel had no idea what had happened, or why she had to stay with them while her sister got to go travel the world with their dad, but it had happened; because of that factor, Laurel lived a completely sheltered life. Because of orders from her father to her grandparents, Laurel had to stay inside and never go out. She had been home-schooled, took dance lessons from a private instructor and worked for her Grandmother’s bakery from the kitchen in their house. Laurel had never experienced real life, which left her without necessary social skills, any knowledge on the real outside world, or any friends. She was suffering a Rapunzel complex in the finest. She had a fairly good life apart from all of that. Her grandparents were the sweetest and she really had enjoyed the life that they provided for her. She had been raised to be a god-fearing person and was told that if she abided by the things that the bible said and she would be okay. She saw her dad and her sister every once in awhile--maybe once a year--and they were nice enough for Laurel to gain love for them, but she still felt betrayed. Like the wrapping paper on a present that was pretty and you didn’t want to ruin, but you don’t care enough about to actually keep. All that changed though a couple months before her 17th birthday.
Laurel had just graduated early from high school and she was looking at college’s to apply to. Her grandparents and father all decided that she needed to know what was out there and college was enough of a controlled environment that she would be safe, while still learning to make her own decisions. She had chosen a couple and her father wanted to review them before letting her apply, so he came one day with her sister, and that’s when it happened. Laurel still doesn’t know what it was, but all she remembers was this dark, evil, vile feeling. She remembers feeling attacked by whatever it was and it overtaking her. And then she remembers seeing a white light and then…nothing. Laurel had passed out for a few moments when that thing took over. But, probably quicker for her than it was for her family, she woke up. She was in her bed, all nice and warm, and she felt perfectly fine. Laurel actually felt a bit stronger and she felt different, but happy. To this day, she still has no idea what happened. Her family refuses and after a while, she just gave up. Eventually they chose a college, but her dad sent her sister to tag along with her. Now, Laurel is free to do whatever she wants to, but she still is living underneath somebody’s standards. Laurel’s a bit frustrated with the situation.
As mentioned, Laurel has a very different view on life. Getting to college was a huge culture shock for her, as college is nothing like being locked up in a house with a bible. Laurel is very naive but curious about the things going on at the college. Because of this, Laurel can come off a bit air-headed but most of the time, she honestly doesn’t know what’s happening in the situation. It helps her make friends easily, but the bad part is most of the friends that she makes are horrible influences. The only two she can really trust are her roommate Nellie and a very quiet kid named Weston. She loves these two with all of her heart and she often turns to them for advice on how to act or what to do. They have helped her in learning more about life and helping her experience fun for the first time. They are more family to her than her actual family.
Needless to say, Laurel has had a very interesting life but it’s not over yet. The school year that she’s about to experience will be the most interesting experience of her life. There’s drama, danger, and evil so close to her, but because of how naive she is, she doesn’t see any of it. And now that she’s aware of how innocent she is, she’s getting a bit nervous for all of this. But in the words of her father, all she needs to do is fuck it and let it happen.
