I'm almost waiting for the other shoe to drop.

For something bad to happen. For everything to disappear. Vanish. Because it always does. Nothing good has ever lasted for me. The good moments in my life have been like those shitty animal tattoos they give to children at fairs.

Washable. Removable. Temporary.

At a young age, I learned to prepare for the worst and expect the worst. Always. It's ironic really. You're in school for the first eighteen years of your life, constantly learning, constantly being lectured, and then you're done. You're an adult. Expected to stand on your own two feet, hoping your education has given you the tools to succeed.

But I think that's totally backward.

From primary to secondary school we're taught how to behave, what's proper, what's acceptable, what's normal. We're packed into classrooms with people of different personalities, different upbringings, different strengths, and we're expected to be the same? To have the same values? Ambitions? Views about the world?

It's absurd.

I think school is for unlearning. For shedding the blanket futures educators drape over our shoulders when we're six. For peeling away expectations that there's only one path towards success. For silencing their voices and opinions, and instead, finding our own.

It's for carving our own paths.

As I step out of the school into the warm spring air, reinstating documents in hand, I'm confident that my path will lead me to where I need to go. To where I'm meant to be. Not all paths are linear. But those are boring anyway. I think my path is curved, maybe even a labyrinth.

There might be rocks. Branches. Obstacles. But that's okay. I'm ready. I can still prepare for the worst, that's smart, but I'm choosing to, from now on, hope for the best.

Optimism is a decision. And I'm deciding to be happy. Me. It's in my hands. It's always been my hands. I've always been capable of changing my mindset. It just took a mildly mental girl with a heart of pure fucking gold and a face that would make angels jealous, to finally figure it out.

I'm happy. I really am.

"Fuck!"

My head darts towards the bottom of the staircase, my gaze landing on Sawyer who's slumped over, fingers crossed over the back of his head as he mumbles under his breath.

Well...I suppose we can't all be happy, can we?

"Oi," I call out, grabbing his attention as I saunter towards him. Poor bloke. Rough year for the All-Star. "You good?"

"Fucking fantastic, thanks for asking," Sawyer grumbles, gripping his cell phone in his hand.

Christ, this school is full of emotionally stunned people.

"Right, well, carry on sulking then," I mutter.

"I'm not sulking, okay?" he states as he glares at me. He looks angry but I don't sense it's towards me. Odd. "I'm just-" He slams his phone on the stairs, running his hands through his hair. "I'm over it. I'm fucking over it. Fuck this school. Fuck everyone who goes here. Fuck Zeek. Fuck Corrine. Fuck everyone and fuck everything." His jaw locks. "I'm done."

I blink, surprised Malibu Ken has such a potty mouth. "I take it you and Corrine broke up?"

Sawyer tosses me a scowl. "You think?"

"Listen, mate, I don't want to sound like a fucking boomer, but there will be other girls, okay?" I say, shrugging. "It's not the end of the world, yeah?"

Sawyer huffs, hitching a shoulder. "Think you caught the last good one."

"She's not a fish, Redford," I say with a playful grin as I plop down beside him on the stairs. "But yeah, I'm pretty lucky."

"Just don't let her go like I did." Sawyer closes his eyes, shaking his head. "Fuck man, what's wrong with me? It's like I can't catch a break."

"Or a fish," I joke garnering the finger from Sawyer. Fair. "Mate, you realize you'll be in college in a few months, right? Forget all this shit-" I motion around the schoolgrounds. "None of it matters. You'll be in a new city, with new people, new girls-"

Sawyer blows air from his nose. "I'm done with fucking girls."

"Okay," I hum cheekily. "New boys then..."

Sawyer glowers at me. "Not what I mean, Knight."

"Hey..." I put my hands up, feigning ignorance. "You said it." I let out a chuckle when Sawyer rolls his eyes. "Okay, okay but I don't think cutting out girls is the solution to your problem."

"No?" he asks, raising a challenging brow. "And what is?"

I shrug. "That's for you to find out."

"I'll pass," he says, staring out into the distance. "Next year is all about football. I'm not gonna let anyone get in the way of that."

I snort. "Famous last words, mate."

"What?" Sawyer asks, turning his head towards the swinging front doors.

"Well-" I smile as Kennedy gives us a questionable wave before walking down. Pushing myself up, I glance down at Sawyer. "I said the same thing before coming here. And now?"

"Hey." Kennedy joins my side. I wrap my arm around her, pulling her closer to me. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," I say, kissing her temple. "Just having a chat."

"About what?" Kenny probes, a tiny worry line on her forehead. She's probably afraid one of us will end up with a black eye.

Sawyer and I look at each other, a strange air of understanding between us.

"Fish," we reply at the same time.

Kennedy blinks. "You guys are freaking me the fuck out. What is happening right now?"

"Will you relax, love?" I lean down to kiss her face, my eyes watering from laughing. "Can't a couple of lads have a conversation these days without an inquisition?"

"Yeah, God, relax KC," Sawyer says grinning as he stands up. He holds out his fist. A Chad-ish truce? "I'll catch you later, kay?"

I hesitate for a second before bashing my knuckles against his. "See ya."

Kennedy crosses her arms, glaring up at me once Sawyer's out of sight. "Want to explain what just happened?

"Nope," I say, draping my arm over her shoulder and leading her to the middle of the quad. "So how was class?"

"Really?" Kennedy sits down on the grass, crossing her legs as she raises a brow. "Not gonna explain that at all?"

"Somethings are better left unsaid, love," I grin. Kennedy rolls her eyes but doesn't pry further. "So? How was class?"

"Meh," she mutters, scooting closer to me and leaning her head on my shoulder. "Glad it's over. I almost fell asleep." She yawns. "How was your meeting with Rothland? Everything good?"

"Yup," I say, passing her the document. "A student once again."

"That's great," she says quietly, rubbing her eyes and suppressing another yawn. "Now you can accept the internship, right?"

"About that-" I clear my throat. "I think I'm going to reject it."

As I said, paths aren't always linear. And honestly, I want to walk on the same path as her.

Just for a while.

"What?!" Kennedy props up, frowning at me. "Why?!"

"'Cause I want us to be together." I reach out, twirling her hair between my fingers before tucking it behind her ear. "Like physically together. I don't want to leave you, Ken. Not after everything we've been through."

Internships come and go. I can always get another one. For the first time in my life, I'm happy. I don't want to risk that. Not now.

"Oh, Ollie." Kennedy sucks in a small breath, hey gaze flickering across my face. "You didn't reject it already, did you?"

"I was going to talk to Takanaki on Friday," I reply, shifting slightly. "Why?"

"Well..." Kenny smiles, sucking in a long breath as she glances quickly at the school. "I've decided to defer Harvard."

"What?!" I balk, eyes wide.

"Just for a year or something," she adds.

"When did you decide this?"

"Like fifteen minutes ago when I almost fell out of my seat in class 'cause I couldn't keep my eyes open," she replies, cringing. I press my lips together, the image in my head quite hilarious. "Don't laugh."

"I'm not," I say, trying hard not to be a liar. "So, you almost fell asleep and now you don't want to go to college? Seems like a leap, no?"

"I'm just so tired, Ollie," she says. "I'm tired of studying and reading and sitting in class. I want a break." She sighs. "I used to love school... like it was actually fun for me, but now? I don't know. I think I need to just...exist for a little bit. Figure things out."

See? She's also unlearning.

"I think that's a great idea," I say, pride radiating off my body. "And uh- where do you plan on figuring things out?"

"Hmm," she hums, a flirty undertone in her voice. "I don't know. Maybe Texas? Oklahoma? Ooo... I've always wanted to go to Kansas."

"Really?" I smirk. "Those all sound like lovely places but I hear California is just magnificent, very warm, very beautiful." I tap my finger against my lips. "And correct me if I'm wrong, but a certain someone's mum lives there, no?"

"Huh, look at that, you're right. I didn't even think about that," Kennedy chuckles, giving me a light shove. "Guess you're stuck with me now, Knight. You okay with me tagging along?"

"More than okay," I grin.

"Yeah?" she coos. "Even if I don't let you eat on the bed?"

I give her a crooked smile. "Bed? Singular?"

Kenny shrugs coyly. "Perhaps."

"Now I'm really excited," I say, my gaze flitting down to her lips.

God, the things I want to do to those lips. I swallow, simmering myself the fuck down.

Kennedy blushes. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Not a chance," I reply, taking my hand in hers. "All kidding aside, I'm proud of you, Ken. I think you're doing the right thing."

"Me too," she smiles, playing with my fingertips. "I just hope my parents agree."

"It's not up to them," I note. "It's your life. Just tell them you need a break. If they understand then good, if not, then whatever. They'll get over it."

Kenny's lips twist up in contemplation. "What if they ask me what I plan to do during this 'break'? I don't have a plan."

"You don't need a plan," I say. "Tell them you plan on doing nothing for a year."

"Nothing?"

"Yeah, nothing," I repeat. "Say you're gonna be a beach bum and just tan for three hundred and sixty-five days."

"That's a lot of tanning, babe," she muses, scrunching her nose. "And I burn easily."

"All I'm saying is that you don't need to decide right now," I say, rubbing her back. "It's okay not to have a plan."

"It's kinda scary though," Kennedy groans. "I've always had a plan."

"Don't be scared, love. I've got you. Always," I say, nodding at her cellphone. "Go call your parents."

"Right now?!"

"Why not?"

She chews on her bottom lips for a second before grabbing her cellphone and dialing a number. "It's ringing," she whispers to me. A beat later her eyes widen. "Hi, Dad, it's me. Can you hang on for a second?"

I frown as she presses more buttons. "What are you doing?"

Kenny holds up a finger as she stands up. "Mom?" Oh Christ, she called both of them? At the same time? What a nutter. Although, the shock might mitigate her news. She might be a nutter but she's a smart nutter. "Hi Mom, hi Dad. I know this is super awkward but I have something to tell you."

I give her an encouraging nod as she walks a few yards away.

"Prom tickets!" voices yell from the distance. "Get your prom tickets!"

I crane my neck towards Leon and Felicity who are handing out flyers. Shit. I forgot about prom. She's going to be want to go, isn't she? It's like an American rite of passage. I'd be a total turd if I denied her that experience.

Fuck sakes.

"Oi!" I wave my hand. "Leon!"

Leon comes sprinting over. "Hello lover boy," he sings, wiggling his brows. "How's it going?"

"Better than I deserve," I mutter, stealing a glance at Kennedy who's pacing back and forth. She's not crying. Must be a good sign. I take my wallet out of my pocket. "Can I get two tickets?"

"Oh," Leon laughs. "Kenny already got your tickets."

I blink. "Of course she did."

"Get used to being the beta, my friend."

Leon places a supportive hand on my shoulder. "I'll pray for you."

"Thanks, mate," I say, pocketing my wallet. "So, how long is it customary to stay at prom for? Few hours?"

"It won't be that bad," Leon chuckles, handing me a flyer. "We've got a real band playing, plus, there'll be food and booze. We're even raffling off a shit ton of awesome prizes, including a trip to Paris!"

"A band?" I ask, gears whirling in my head. "Really?"

"Yeah, they're pretty dope," Leon says, slightly annoyed that I'm not more stoked about the possibility of going to France apparently. "I heard a cover of theirs on YouTube and I had to book them!"

"Hmm," I hum, rubbing my chin. "Any chance they play Oasis?"

He shrugs. "Probably, why?"

"I need a favour, Leon."

Maybe prom won't be so bad after all.

—————————-

Ahhhhh we're almost done!! I'm on vacation now and my computer is dead and my charger is broken so I'm writing on my phone but YA'LL WHO IS STOKED FOR PROM??

Thoughts?! Anyone catch the potential spin off starring none other than Sawyer Redford? AM I GONNA WRITE A STEAMY SPORTS ROMANCE AT SOME POINT? Yes. Yes I am.

One left then da epilogue ❤️

Sorry no bottom banner haha

VOTE. DON'T VOTE. WHO CARES?