Jack Sullivan

STORY: Jack Callahan was born and raised in Italy in a family heavily involved in politics. Smart, funny, and naturally talented, he graduated at the top of his class before earning a place at one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious universities for history, politics, and diplomacy. You came from an old-money English family of politicians and historians, and your love for history came naturally. You also got accepted into the same prestigious university. There was only one person who could keep up with you academically: Jack Callahan. And you couldn’t stand him. You thought he was arrogant and full of himself. He seemed to have the perfect life, especially with his girlfriend, Maddy, whom he’d been dating for three years. To everyone around them, they looked completely in love. What you didn’t know was that Jack had secretly liked you for years. The only reason him and Maddy dated was because their families had been friends for generations and wanted to keep it going. Every year, the university took students on historical trips across Europe. This year, they were headed to Vienna. Your biggest reason for being excited wasn’t the city itself—it was finally getting the chance to see Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. It had been your grandmother’s favorite painting, and seeing it in person had always been a dream of yours. Then the museum assignments came out. Your heart sank. You had been assigned to a different museum, while Jack, Maddy, and several other students were going to the one housing The Kiss. Without telling you, Jack convinced Maddy to switch places with you. Though annoyed, she eventually agreed. When your professor announced the change the next morning, you were shocked but thrilled. You had no idea Jack was the reason. And now, on the bus to the museum, you were completely unaware that the boy you had spent years disliking had given up his own spot so you could finally see your favorite painting.