This is a rough draft. It has undergone little editing and no re-writes. Enjoy as this story comes together. 

In addition to standard tuition (about twelve-thousand dollars annually), every student at Huber University Prep was required to purchase at least three uniform sets each year. To differentiate the students’ grade levels, the school crest and necktie varied in color: Freshman wore green, Sophomores wore blue, Juniors wore red, and Seniors wore pearlescent white. Boys wore pants. Girls wore skirts that matched their ties. Sweaters over the collared shirt and long black socks were allowed in winter. Shorts were never permitted.

A set of athletic wear was provided to all members of any athletic club or subject of study with slight situational differences. This was typically knee-high performance socks, breathable shorts, and v-necked sleeveless jerseys with the school crest above the left breast. These utilized the official school colors; a deep purple with white details.

Wilona was dressed and facedown on a bench by the soccer pitch. Her arms dangled and swayed with the wind. The men’s soccer and women’s field hockey teams were splitting the field today. They were particularly motivated despite the afternoon heat, though the boys seemed to be taking extra water breaks that turned into vacant stares across the field.

“I would have thought you had enough sleep during trig.”

Wilona rolled her head away from the field and squinted up at the voice. Edmund had finished changing. He had grown taller over the summer. His limbs looked more gangly and his dark hair was long enough to sweep perfectly to one side.

Wilona grunted and bent her legs so he could sit.

“Long first day?” Edmund asked.

“Had I timed it, I’m sure science would be baffled,” Wilona replied. There was a pause while Edmund greeted a few fellow runners that had just emerged from the lockers. They then left to join the rest of their team that was waiting a few yards away. Wilona could feel what was coming next and she clenched at the thought. Sure enough…

“Lyn is in my Human Anatomy class,” Edmund said. Wilona couldn’t help herself.

“Well that’s appropriate,” she said.

“Come on, Wilona, you can’t still be mad on my behalf. It was one kiss—”

Wilona pushed herself up to look at him.

“Edmund. You’re gay,” she said incredulously.

“I—I know that… but, honestly, it wasn’t bad. I think I get what other guys go on about.”

Wilona frowned and flopped back down.

“That’s not even why I’m mad,” Wilona said. She could feel Edmund staring at the back of her head. His damned caring eyes boring through her tangled hair, through her skull. Damn him.

“She never told me she liked you,” Wilona said finally. Edmund flinched in surprise.

“I’ve told her everything. You’ve told her everything. She didn’t trust either of us to talk about it,” Wilona said.

“Well. To be fair, it’s rather embarrassing to like someone who won’t like you back,” Edmund said.

Wilona shot up, her wild hair flailed around her.

“Oh, Edmund, I know. I didn’t mean anything by that—”

She broke off. Edmund had erupted into laughter, practically toppling off the side of the bench. Scowling, Wilona sat up and waited.

“I’m sorry,” he said finally. “But your hair and your face— It just looked so ridiculous.”

But Wilona had gone catatonic. Her already abnormally large eyes were wide green moons and she didn’t seem to be breathing. Even her freckles were pale.

“Wil? Are you ok?”

Edmund followed her line of sight. Lyn had just arrived. Her blonde hair was tied back and her pale skin shown like the September sun above. She was dressed like the rest of their teammates.

While Wilona was small in about every possible way, Lyn was big. Her jersey showed just how much training she had done over the summer. But that wasn’t the worst of it.

Behind her was Dr. Edden dressed in coach’s attire. The purple of her jersey radiated against her skin showing off how unusually young and fit she was for a scholar.

Dr. Edden jogged past Lyn to the front of the crowd of runners. Wilona sprung from the bench like she’d sat on fire and moved closer with Edmund tailing behind.

“Good afternoon, runners!” She called and soon she had the entire group’s attention.

“I don’t believe I’ve been introduced to most of you so let me begin. I am Dr. Nalini Edden. As we are not in a classroom, ‘Coach’ is perfectly acceptable. Coach Gefford decided he wanted to focus on baseball’s chances this year so he has stepped aside.”

Many in the crowd grumbled at this. Wilona soaked in every word, taking in every detail of Dr. Edden as she spoke. Edmond noticed Lyn glance over twice but no other acknowledgments were made.

“He obviously doesn’t appreciate the noble pursuit of Cross Country!” Dr. Edden said. Her voice carried across the fields. A few of the soccer and field hockey members had paused to listen in.

“Unlike baseball this sport is not about power. It’s not about split-second choices. It’s about patience. It is the essence of the long haul. The gradual grind that leads to perfection. The polished work of art.”

She paused to let that sink in.

“I expect to learn all your names in the coming weeks. But let’s not waste the daylight. Follow me!”

She took off down the sidelines of the soccer pitch. The group hesitated but one by one they ran after her with Lyn near the front. Edmund elbowed Wilona and they scrambled to join their team.

“Edmund,” she said as they ran.

“I know,” he said.