Owen proclaims, shining red hair like a halo. Everyone calls him an angel. His best friend, Laurel calls him the devil in red. Closing his car door shut, Owen whoops and dunks an imaginary ball at Laurel which he closes with a heart shape and a wink.

It’s the start of the school term which means there are students trooping into the school by the dozen which makes this the perfect time and place to embarrass Laurel. 

It is a term by term tradition of his. Declare his undying love to an audience and witness that angry blush he loves so much.

Jogging to her, Owen ducks just in time to avoid her attack and uses that arm to drag her to him.

“If you don’t get off me this instant, that heart will be still forever.”

“It’s nice to see you too, Laurel.”

Holding her at arm’s length, Owen adopts the best ‘love eye’ he can fake without feeling like to barf. “I’ve missed you tremendously, my love.”

“You saw me yesterday.”

“Yesterday too long.” He makes kissy faces at her.

“Red. Catch!” Whirling around, Owen is quick enough to catch a flying Andy but stumbles back at the weight. “We’re officially juniors. One more year and it’s varsity, baby.”

Andy’s whooping is joined by other members of their team, chanting Black Hawk at a decibel too high for this morning. Making to drop him but Andy holds onto his arm tightly. 

“Walk me to the doors.”

“Bridal style.” Laurel unhelpfully joins in, tucking her arm with Owen’s. 

“Ménage à trois, baby!”

“No, thanks I’m gay.” He and Laurel chorus, sharing a smile when Andy doesn’t once again take the hint.

Good ol’ Andy. Friends since grade 9 yet doesn’t believe Owen or Laurel when they first came out to him. He’d thought they ‘couple pranked’ him and haven’t taken it seriously.

At first, Owen was upset by Andy’s flippant ignorance, Laurel more so but along the way, they decided that Andy’s flippancy is better than most people’s vitriolic homophobia directed at them.

Noah tells them it might be because Owen has been referring Laurel as ‘his wife’ for eight years of their friendship, the moniker has stuck and shaped who Owen and Laurel are in Andy’s eyes. 

For a teen, Noah is quite insightful.

Speaking of the devil, Noah gives Andy a high five and opens the door for Owen—for a best friend, Laurel is pretty useless at opening doors.

“Thanks. Andy’s acting like a baby today.”

“I’ve just missed you.” Andy playfully rubs his hair against his cheek. “You’re my best friend for life, dawg.”

“What about me?”

“You too.” 

Getting an idea, Owen forcefully drops Andy when he reaches out to hug Noah. Noah is slow and Andy crashes to the ground. 

“Hey, not fair.. Hey, pretty lady.” Andy adopts a model pose—a leg tucked under the other and his chin in his palm. His voice, purposefully deepens at Gina walking towards them. 

The tall brunette rolls her eyes and sidesteps Andy to Noah. Owen shuffles to Laurel and together they hold their breath and try not to make a sound, their cheeks hurting from too much smiling at how those two are ridiculously crushing on each other. 

Noah finger-combs down his crew cut hair while Gina twirl a strand of her hair around a finger. Their situation reminds Owen of his. His will never in a million years happen but he wishes Noah and Gina all the best.

“Don’t look but Parkinson is at eleven o’clock.”

Owen whips his head and sure enough there’s Parkinson hugging a brown umbrella to his chest as he listen raptly to what his friend is telling him. At least Owen thinks he’s listening raptly and not frowning.

“I said don’t look.”

“He isn’t facing my way. Is it supposed to rain today?”

“I don’t know. Why?”

“Because he’s—”

“Brother-in-law!” Kass screams, spreading her arms for a hug as she jogs to him, grey skirt flowing in the air.

“Sister-in-law.” Owen carries and twirls her around, careful not to kick anyone in the head.

“Morning, mi amor.” Kass says as she chastely kiss Laurel on the lips.

“Red, you’re gonna accept your girlfriend kissing someone else?” Andy questions, still posed on the floor. 

“Stop staring at them then.”

“If only I was Spanish, I can go around kissing girls.” 

Everyone frowns at him. Andy sees their expression and amends his statement.

“I didn’t mean I’ll go around kissing girls.”

“That is what you said.” Gina helpfully reminds.

“Spanish don’t kiss people on their lips. We kiss on the cheeks.”

“Why are you two kissing on the lips then?” Dusting himself from the floor, he points at Kass who’s hanging her arm over Laurel’s shoulder. 

“Is it because you’re both girls? That is what I’m talking about. If only I can do that.”

Noah shakes his head. “Your reasoning is getting worse, buddy.” 

“It’s not fair, is what I’m saying. Girls can kiss girls and do gay things without being gay. That’s backdoor gayness.” 

“Or just gay.” Laurel shrugs.

“Sitting on each other’s laps, hugging too close, whispering too sweetly. Backdoor romance.”

“Or just romance. Like Kass and I.”

“And if we’re talking backdoor gay, Red should know about it.”

Owen can’t count how many times they’ve told Andy that Laurel and Kass are dating. Andy is either pranking them or being purposefully daft. 

“It’s true. I’m smart, gay and athletic. The perfect combo.” 

“You’re not smart.” Laurel objects.

Andy glances at Owen in confusion. “You’re not gay either.”

Owen plants a hand on his chest, faking hurt. “Don’t break my heart this early morning, Andy.”

Wrapping each arm on Laurel and Andy’s shoulder, Owen conspiratorially whispers. “Those were my god given talents. Irish luck, you guys.”

“I’ll jam potatoes down your throat if you don’t let me go.”

“Don’t propose. It isn’t time yet.” Owen winks and laughs when Laurel shoves him back. 

“Anyways, where’s my kiss, Kass?”

“It’s over…” dipping her hand in her pocket, Kass brings out a fuck you finger, “here.”

“So crude. Red, fight for me.”

“You deserve…” He’s cut off by a ping from his phone. Retrieving it from his pocket, he’s confused at the notification.

“The Guidance Counselor’s office messaged you? Did you forget to sign up for a class?”

“No. I’m not Andy.”

Andy guffaws. “It was two. That was funny.”

Swiping the notification down, his stomach flips at the succinct message. The Guidance Counselor’s office at room C requires your presence during homeroom.

“I’m sure it’s nothing. Probably a mix-up.” Noah tries to cheer him up and the group follows along. Owen smiles for their benefit, shrugging off the worries but his gaze is lost on the school’s logo on Laurel’s breast pocket.

****************

“Effective immediately, your scholarship has been revoked.”

Getting called to the Guidance Counselor’s office first thing in the morning isn’t a great start to the morning but hearing those words sinks a rock in Owens’s chest and attempts to drown him from the inside out.

“What?” he croaks, sweat soaking his armpits.

“Is what I’ll be saying if the school isn’t impressed with your athletic talent.”

“So… I’m not getting the boot?”

“You’re not getting the boot.” Ms. Sterling’s lack of her infamous smile isn’t reassuring. 

“But something is wrong?”

“Owen. I’ll be candid with you. While you’re one of our promising star athletes, your grades leaves a lot to be desired.” Tapping a paper in front of her, Ms. Sterling adds. “This is not why the school granted you a scholarship.”

That’s right. William Jameson Preparatory School granted him a scholarship based on his athletic merit and not his academic superiority. In the three years of attending WJP, Owen hasn’t had any issues. Why now?

“You have been an exceptional athlete so far but unfortunately, that is only the cusp of getting you into the college of your choice which is still Duke, yes?”

Owen’s school of choice isn’t Duke exactly. It is one of the schools most WJP athletes get accepted into every year. He doesn’t want to be left behind.

“Yes. Duke.”

“WJP requires students to be well-rounded including in the academics. I won’t beat around the bush. You need to raise your GPA. Duke won’t offer you a scholarship if they see your academic standing is low.”

“Is my GPA that unacceptable?”

For the first time since he has been here, Ms. Sterling genuinely smiles. “It is not horrible. If you apply yourself from this year, you could’ve a 4.0 by senior year.”

She laughs but he doesn’t join. Clearing her throat, Ms. Sterling softens her voice and offers him a booklet, WJP Tutoring Programs as the heading.

“Here’s an extensive list of tutoring programs approved by the school.”

It is uncouth to whistle and thus Owen doesn’t. The prices are so steep he’ll have a better chance surviving from a cliff than being able to pay. 

One hundred dollars for one session? And according to the booklet, WJP requires mandatory two sessions. Spread that two sessions per week and Owen will be looking at eight hundred per month. 

He understands that WJP is a prestigious private high school and does things their own way but their way is ridiculously expensive.

The booklet had the audacity to suggest that a student can schedule four sessions per week for a better result. And that price varies from the five tutoring programs listed. Owen doesn’t dare glance at the others. 

“Or if you prefer someone from our student tutoring program—”

“Yes.” A fake smile. “I think that’ll be better.”

“Are you sure? The tutors are all experienced and have a higher success rate than our student body—”

Sliding the booklet back to her, Owen nods. “I’m sure.”

“Okay. When I’ve finished, I’ll call for you.”

“Alright, Ms. Sterling.” Standing, Owen remembers his manners. “Thank you, Ms. Sterling. I appreciate it.”

“No problem, Owen. Helping students reach their potential is my job.” This time when Ms. Sterling flashes him a smile, he returns it.