Andrew arrived at school just in time. Ever since that one time he'd been a few minutes late, the first and only time, it had never happened again. It wasn't that he went out of his way to arrive early, things just flowed naturally. There hadn't been any unusual traffic or last-minute delays this morning.
Classes went by with the typical energy of a game day: an air of anticipation buzzed through the hallways, a mix of excitement, nerves, and nonstop talk about that night's matchup.
Every time Andrew walked down the corridors, he was met with words of encouragement, fist bumps, pats on the back. Some students looked at him as if he were already a professional athlete rather than a high school classmate.
After the first period, he grabbed his lunch, packed in a small container this time so he wouldn't have to go to the cafeteria, and slipped away to one of the quietest corners on campus: a small side terrace behind the science building, overlooking the track field, surrounded by shrubs and shade.
There he could eat in peace, far from curious eyes and constant greetings. Not that the attention bothered him, but eating with twenty or more people staring at him made him feel like he had to eat neatly and properly.
Besides, he had another reason for going there. He'd prepared a draft of an important assignment that he wanted Nancy to review, a senior student who was his academic mentor and, without realizing it, one of the few people Andrew could talk to at Mater Dei without feeling the weight of his reputation.
Aside from his football teammates, everyone else treated him with a mix of distance and admiration.
Since arriving at Mater Dei, Andrew had managed to build genuine camaraderie within the team, between jokes, practices, and victories, he'd formed real bonds with guys like Nick, Victor, Thomas, and Sedric.
But in class, things were different.
Mater Dei was huge, and because of the number of students and the academic level, he rarely shared classes with his teammates. In the classrooms, students from all programs mixed together.
At the start of the year, he was just the new quarterback, the guy who had taken the position from a senior with a USC offer, and the famous YouTuber. That alone drew plenty of stares, rumors, and a bit of resentment.
But it only took a few weeks for everything to escalate. When he started throwing four, five, even seven touchdowns per game, the media coverage exploded. Networks began broadcasting his games, clips flooded forums, Twitter, and his already popular YouTube channel skyrocketed, becoming the number one channel in the world.
High-profile figures like Justin Bieber mentioned him online, which pushed his fame even higher, turning him into a kind of modern cultural icon.
Suddenly, Andrew wasn't the "new QB" anymore, he was a celebrity on campus.
And while that might sound glamorous, it actually made things more complicated. In the hallways, everyone greeted him with smiles and enthusiasm, fist bumps, pats on the back, shouts of encouragement before every game. His reputation was spotless.
He was respected, admired, even liked in a collective way, but that created an invisible distance between him and everyone else. Most people were polite but kept their distance. Some seemed intimidated, others just didn't know how to talk to him without sounding nervous or overly interested.
So forcing new friendships was harder. Still, he didn't really need to. He already had his childhood circle, Reggie, Steve, Archie, and Kevin, and then Leonard, Howard, and Willa.
Plus, with his Mater Dei teammates, he was more than covered in the friendship department.
But Nancy was different.
She didn't look at him like a star or treat him with that mix of fascination and caution most people had. There was no reverence, no curiosity, no nervousness when she spoke to him.
To Nancy, Andrew was just another student.
Sometimes she'd tell him "good game" or make a brief comment about a match, but she always did it with complete naturalness, like someone mentioning something in passing. She never reduced him to his fame, nor exaggerated his accomplishments.
And Andrew liked that sense of normalcy.
Nancy was already there when Andrew arrived: sitting on the ground, back straight, a notebook full of notes resting on her legs as she calmly ate a sandwich. Beside her, a small juice box with a straw completed the scene.
She had that serene, focused expression you'd expect from someone in the top 1% academically. She never wasted time on gossip, never raised her voice, and her tone of speech was always steady and composed.
"I see you managed to sneak away without any fans following you," Nancy said, glancing up just enough to smile at him.
Andrew sat down beside her. "Told you I'd come today. And you know how it is, this school crucifies you if you're even a minute late anywhere."
Nancy arched an eyebrow, amused. "They don't crucify you. You're the Jesus of football. You've got certain privileges."
Andrew chuckled, nodding. She wasn't wrong. The one time he'd been late, no one said a thing, not the teacher, not the security guard, not even the lady at administration. Everyone greeted him with a forgiving smile.
"Well, I guess leading the school to a historic season earns me a few minutes of grace," Andrew replied with a half-smile.
Nancy smiled back and pointed at the notebook he was holding. "Is that the History paper you wanted me to review?"
"Yeah. I already applied all the feedback you gave me last time," Andrew said, handing her the notebook.
It was a major research project, the kind that could determine the final grade, so he had decided to put more effort into it than usual.
History had never been his strong suit. He found it tedious, full of dates and events he had to memorize. His memory was sharp, but only for things he truly cared about: football scores, player stats, performance numbers, even video game sequences.
And although Andrew had already lived nearly all of his junior year in his previous life, it didn't help much with History. It wasn't like Math, where methods repeated themselves and review alone could bring mastery back. Here, he had to relearn, research, and adapt to each teacher's style.
Nancy began reading the paper with complete focus. She flipped through the pages at a steady pace, murmuring faint comments under her breath, occasionally nodding in approval when she found something well-written.
Andrew watched her quietly while eating, his back against the wall.
Finally, after a few minutes, Nancy closed the notebook gently. "It's perfect," she said, looking up at him. "I don't think you could get less than an A, unless the teacher decides to hunt for errors just for sport or gets overly picky."
"Sounds like something the old lady from History would do," Andrew said, grimacing at the thought of their strict teacher.
Nancy raised an amused eyebrow. "Maybe. Mrs. Jikings is strict, but she knows when something's well done. The only thing I noticed is that your handwriting looks rushed, like you wrote it in a hurry. I told you before, you write like you're running out of time."
Andrew laughed softly. "Not all of us have handwriting as perfect and pretty as yours."
Nancy blushed faintly, lowering her gaze to hide her smile.
Her handwriting was a small source of pride, she spent time practicing it, correcting strokes, aiming for uniformity. Having someone notice it, especially Andrew, made her smile genuinely.
"Thanks," Nancy said softly. Then she looked at him again with a hint of curiosity. "You've been taking school pretty seriously lately. Are you really planning to graduate early?"
Andrew nodded. "Yeah. If everything goes right, I'll graduate next December. It's better to start preparing now, raise my grades, keep everything up to date… so when the time comes, I don't have to rush."
Early graduation happens when a student, usually an athlete, completes all high school academic requirements ahead of schedule, typically in December of their senior year instead of graduating in June.
In theory, any student can do it. All it takes is taking extra classes over the summer or adding more courses during the year to meet the school's credit requirements.
However, graduating early doesn't necessarily mean a college will allow immediate enrollment. That's the difference between a regular student and a recruited athlete.
Colleges, especially those with major athletic programs, only authorize early enrollment in January for a very select group of players: the most talented ones, those with full-ride scholarships already secured, and the ones the coaching staff considers essential for the team.
In those cases, the athlete not only enrolls earlier than everyone else but also starts training with their new team during spring practices, getting familiar with the playbook, the coaches, and the college environment. It's a huge advantage, but one reserved for very few.
An average player, even with a scholarship, usually has to wait until the regular summer intake to join the program. That's why, while anyone can technically graduate early from an academic standpoint, only elite athletes are invited to do it in practice, because colleges want their top recruits in the system as soon as possible.
Matt Barkley, for instance, had done it. He graduated in December, joined USC in January, and thanks to that head start, entered the following season months ahead of any other freshman.
That's why Andrew wanted to do the same. Already a five-star recruit, he had that privilege. The colleges pursuing him would gladly offer the early graduation path, in fact, they'd want him to take it.
Not just because it was common among top prospects, but because a talent like his was far too valuable to wait until summer.
If Andrew followed the plan exactly, he would finish high school in December of the next year, earn his diploma, and just a few weeks later, he'd already be settled on his new campus, with his locker assigned, practicing alongside college players much older than him.
Nancy nodded slowly, understanding. She knew that for high-level athletes, early graduation wasn't unusual.
But achieving it required extra effort: advanced exams, heavier course loads, and maintaining a spotless GPA. Not every elite athlete managed to pull it off on time, especially if academics weren't their strength.
"It's ambitious," Nancy said, with a mix of respect and admiration. "But coming from you, I'm not surprised. I'm sure you'll make it."
"Thanks," Andrew replied with a small smile, taking his notebook again and setting it on his lap.
The conversation became more relaxed after that. They talked about trivial things while they ate: upcoming exams, an overly demanding teacher, even a random movie Nancy had caught on TV that Andrew had also seen.
Until Nancy shifted the topic and asked, "Is that offer you made me a while back still good?"
Andrew looked up, confused for a second, then remembered.
He had once told her that if she ever wanted to go to a game, he could give her a ride home afterward. He knew Nancy lived far away, over forty minutes from Mater Dei, and going back alone at eleven at night without a car or direct transportation was difficult.
"Of course," he replied, surprised she remembered. "Are you coming to the game tonight?"
Nancy shook her head, "Not tonight. I have a ton of studying to do this weekend. But next Friday I could go, if the offer still stands, of course. You know, without a car, getting home that late is an odyssey."
Andrew nodded. "Of course, I'll take you. No problem."
"Really? I don't want to bother you, especially if you're tired after the game."
"I offered because I wanted to," Andrew replied. "Don't worry about it. Besides, if you actually come to a game, it'll be a huge event, the best student at Mater Dei attending a football game. That'd make headlines," he said with a smile.
Nancy laughed softly, rolling her eyes. "I'm not the best student."
"Yes, you are," Andrew shot back. "You just won't admit it. I doubt anyone's got better grades than you."
The distant bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Both stood up almost at the same time, gathering their things. They walked together for a few steps until their paths split.
"Well then, good luck tonight," Nancy said. "Make sure to crush them, so the school's best student has a reason to show up next week."
Andrew laughed and waved goodbye. "Count on it."
Classes went on as usual. When the final bell rang, Andrew dropped his notes in his locker and headed straight to the locker room. Ahead was the usual light pregame practice, more tactics than physical work: play reviews, timing with receivers, and defensive reads.
By sunset, golden light filtered through the campus trees as it came time to leave.
In the parking lot, three buses waited in line: one for the football team, one for the marching band, and one for the cheerleaders.
Andrew was chatting with Nick and Victor when a familiar voice called from the side.
It was Madison, wearing her red and white Mater Dei jacket, flashing that flirtatious smile that always appeared when she looked at him.
"Good luck tonight, superstar," she said, walking right up without hesitation. Then she hugged him casually, right there in front of everyone.
Andrew noticed a few glances and knowing smiles around them but said nothing. Madison pulled back just slightly, looked him in the eyes, and lowered her voice.
"And I've already got the goth outfit ready for tonight," she whispered teasingly.
Andrew smile, trying to hide how much that line amused, and intrigued, him.
"Perfect," he said quietly. "Then I'd better win, huh?"
Madison smiled, stepping back. "Yeah, but I'd wear it anyway. Still, I doubt Lakewood stands a chance against you."
She left with a confident smile, heading back to her bus. Andrew watched her for a few seconds before hearing laughter behind him.
Victor, Nick, and Sedric were watching with wide grins, trading knowing looks.
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "What? You've never seen a guy and a girl hug before? Come on, get on the bus before Coach leaves you here!"
Their laughter grew louder as the players climbed the bus stairs, joking and teasing while Andrew ignored them. The atmosphere was light and full of energy.
Unlike what anyone would expect in a quarterfinal game, there was no tension or nervousness in the air.
The reason was simple: Andrew. His presence had completely changed the team's atmosphere.
It wasn't that Mater Dei had ever been insecure or weak, quite the opposite. They had always been a powerhouse, an elite program within the Southern Section.
But the previous year, at this very same stage of the playoffs, things had felt different: a lingering tension, the kind of nerves that appear when you know a single mistake could end your season. And that's exactly what happened, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Now, though, there was a whole new sense of confidence and conviction. Not the arrogance of someone who believes they're unbeatable, but the calm assurance of a team that knows what it's capable of, and has proven it, week after week, against tougher opponents: Servite, Bosco, Orange…
Everything felt under control. Defeat seemed distant, almost impossible.
And that's exactly how it played out.
The Santa Ana Stadium was packed to the last seat. From the very first drive, Andrew set the tempo. The offense flowed effortlessly. Within minutes, it was clear that Lakewood had no way to match Mater Dei's level.
Andrew delivered yet another historic performance: six passing touchdowns. One of them, a sixty-five-yard bomb to Victor, left the entire stadium silent for a heartbeat before erupting in screams and applause.
The final score was decisive: Mater Dei 47 – Lakewood 17.
The visitors managed only two touchdowns and a field goal, while the Monarchs closed out the game with authority.
With that win, Andrew reached 48 touchdowns on the season, cementing numbers that were already record-breaking.
But beyond the stats, what truly mattered was the meaning: Mater Dei had advanced to the semifinals, overcoming the barrier that had stopped them the year before.
The team was now just one step away from playing in the most coveted championship game in the nation's toughest section.
...
Author's Note:
This changes things for Andrew's future.
If Andrew decides to graduate early in December 2011, he could enroll in college in January 2012, several months before the rest of his class. At first glance it might not seem like a big deal, but in football, that small head start could mean reaching the NFL a whole year earlier.
The rule is this: a player can only declare for the Draft three years after graduating from high school. What matters isn't when they start playing in college, but the exact date of graduation.
So, if Andrew finishes school in December 2011, his three-year clock would run out in December 2014, making him eligible for the April 2015 Draft.
On the other hand, if he graduates with the rest of his class in June 2012 and doesn't start college until September 2012, those three years would be up in June 2015, and by then, the 2015 Draft would already be over. He'd have to wait until the next one, in April 2016.
In short, that six-month difference between December and June could determine whether Andrew reaches the NFL in 2015 or 2016.
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