Standing just outside the Administration Building's grand entrance, Jason pressed his thumb against the edge of the Edward University applicant sticker, carefully peeling away its glossy backing. The adhesive clung slightly to his skin before releasing, and he smoothed it onto the back of his smartphone with deliberate care – aligning it just so beside the case's protective edge. As he held the phone up to catch the light, watching the university's crest catch and reflect the afternoon sun, a small surge of accomplishment washed over him, warm and bright as the rays that now fell full across his face. He had done it – taken the first big step on the path he'd worked so hard to reach.
With a lighter step than he'd carried when he'd entered the building hours earlier, he pushed through the heavy doors and stepped back into the bustle of campus life. The afternoon sun was high and brilliant, casting long shadows across the wide walkways and making the lush green lawns glow with life. Students moved between buildings in small groups, their laughter carrying on the breeze, while others sat beneath the shade of ancient oak trees, textbooks spread across their laps as they studied. Jason paused for a moment, closing his eyes to take in the vibrant atmosphere – the scent of freshly cut grass mixing with coffee from the campus café, the distant sound of a marching band practicing in the stadium, the low hum of possibility that seemed to vibrate through every stone and blade of grass. For a fleeting second, everything felt perfect.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is."
The words cut through the warmth of the moment like cold water, sharp and unwelcome. Jason froze mid-step, his hand tightening around his backpack strap as recognition flooded through him. That voice – deep, drawling, and dripping with condescension – was unmistakable. Annoyance instantly prickled across his skin, raising goosebumps on his arms despite the afternoon heat. Slowly, he turned to see two figures cutting across the lawn towards him, their movements casual but purposeful, their expressions twisted into identical smirks of smug satisfaction. It was Jerry Simon – broad-shouldered, with perfectly styled dark hair and wearing a designer polo shirt that probably cost more than Jason's entire wardrobe – and right beside him, Chloe Evans, her long blonde hair falling in perfectly coiffed waves over a silk blouse, her eyes glittering with amusement as she looked him up and down. They were his classmates from Topaz City Northwood High, the same pair who had made his final years of school feel like walking through a minefield of mockery and disdain.
Jerry sauntered closer, his hands stuffed casually in the pockets of his expensive khaki trousers, stopping just far enough away to look down his nose at Jason. The condescending smirk playing on his lips made Jason's jaw clench instinctively. Chloe took her place beside him, looping her arm through his as she echoed his look of superiority, tossing her hair over her shoulder with a practiced flick. "Jason Hawkins," Jerry drawled, as if the name itself was something unpleasant he'd found stuck to his shoe. "Fancy meeting you here. Did you actually think you had a shot at Edward?"
Chloe let out a high-pitched giggle that made Jason's teeth ache, her eyes sparkling with malice as she nodded in agreement. "Seriously, Jason – Edward University? Of all places?" The brief moment of pride he'd felt just minutes before evaporated completely, replaced by the familiar, dull sting of their mockery – the same feeling that had settled in his chest countless times in hallways and classrooms back home. Before he could find his voice to respond, Jerry leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to a tone that was meant to sound sympathetic but came across as anything but. "Seriously, Hawkins, what are you even doing here? You know Edward is for the best, right? The top of the top. Not exactly a place for… well, you." He let the words hang in the air, letting Jason fill in the gaps he left unspoken – gaps that spoke of money, of status, of all the things Jason didn't have.
Chloe chimed in then, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger as she looked him over with a critical eye. "Yeah, Jason. We heard the entrance exam is brutal this year – way harder than it's ever been. All that history you can never seem to remember? Forget about it. I mean, even I had to hire a private tutor just to get through the practice tests, and you… well, you never were much of a bookworm, were you?" Her laugh was light and airy, but each word landed like a small stone thrown at his chest.
Jerry chuckled, shaking his head as if in genuine pity. "And the tuition! Last I checked, your family wasn't exactly swimming in cash. Edward's not exactly cheap – not with all the lab fees and housing costs and… well, everything else. You'll probably drop out before the first semester even ends, honestly. Stick to community college, Hawkins. It's more your speed – smaller classes, easier requirements, way less pressure to keep up with people who actually belong there."
They both laughed then, a coordinated chorus of derision that made the students nearby glance their way with curious or disapproving looks. Their words hung in the warm afternoon air, sharp and demeaning, cutting through the campus's peaceful energy like broken glass. Jason felt his cheeks flush with a hot mixture of anger and humiliation, his hands curling into tight fists at his sides as he fought to maintain his composure. He had always been an easy target for their snide remarks back in Northwood High – the quiet kid from the village, with worn clothes and a part-time job to help his family make ends meet. No matter how hard he studied, no matter how high his grades climbed, their arrogance had never diminished in the slightest, their privileged worldviews blinding them to anything that didn't fit their narrow definition of success.
Taking a slow, steadying breath, he forced his hands to unclench, lifting his chin slightly as he met their eyes with as much calm as he could muster. "Look, Jerry, Chloe, I'm just here to take the exam like everyone else," he said, his voice steady despite the way his heart was racing in his chest. "What's it to you? We all have the same chance to try – that's what the application process is for, isn't it?"
Chloe's eyes widened mockingly, and she pressed a hand to her chest as if he'd said something shocking. "Oh, we just care about your future, Jason – really, we do! We wouldn't want you to get your hopes up for nothing, to waste all your time and energy on something that's just… unrealistic. I mean, let's be honest – Edward is for people who are prepared for what comes next, who have the resources to succeed. You can't just wing it here."
"Exactly," Jerry agreed, nodding emphatically as he pulled his arm free from Chloe's to gesture broadly at the campus around them. "Some people are just meant for certain things, and Edward University? That's definitely not your thing. This place takes dedication – and money, let's not forget money – and from what I remember, your family's been struggling enough as it is. Why put yourself through all that stress just to fail spectacularly?"
Their taunts continued for what felt like an eternity, each word a little jab at his confidence, his background, his dreams. They spoke of his part-time jobs in high school, of the second-hand clothes he wore, of the fact that he'd had to take extra classes just to afford the application fee – all things they'd learned through gossip and careless observation, all things they now wielded like weapons. They seemed to revel in making him feel small and insignificant, feeding off the discomfort they were causing, and Jason felt his mind racing, searching for a sharp retort that would make them stop, make them see how cruel they were being. But the familiar feeling of being cornered – of being the quiet kid who didn't belong in their world – silenced him, leaving his throat tight and his words trapped behind a wall of frustration. All he wanted was to get away from them, to put as much distance as possible between himself and their toxic presence.
Taking another deep breath, feeling the heat of anger simmering just below his skin, he forced himself to keep his voice even as he spoke again. "Look, Jerry, Chloe, I appreciate your… concern," he said, letting the word drip with the same sarcasm they'd used on him. "But I really need to go. I have some things to prepare for the exam, and… actually, it's my first day at my new part-time job. I don't want to be late."
Jerry raised an eyebrow, his smirk still plastered firmly across his face as he let out a low whistle. "A job? Already? Guess those tuition fees really are a stretch for you, huh? Where are you slinging burgers – that fast-food place on Main Street? Or maybe the drive-thru over by the highway?"
Chloe giggled again, covering her mouth with her hand as if she'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. "Probably some greasy diner downtown, serving coffee to truck drivers and cleaning up spilled milkshakes. Don't get any stains on your nice university registration shirt, Jason – it's probably the nicest thing you own. Wouldn't want to look too out of place when you come back here for the exam."
Jason felt his patience snapping, the anger he'd been holding back starting to rise to the surface. "It's at The Porch, actually," he said, his voice a little sharper now as he gripped the strap of his backpack more tightly. "And I really do need to leave – I have to walk there, so I can't stand around talking all day. Good luck with… whatever you guys are doing." He started to sidestep them, his eyes fixed on the path leading towards the campus gates, hoping to make a quick and clean escape.
But Jerry wasn't ready to let him go that easily. "The Porch? Fancy!" he called out, his voice loud enough to turn more heads. "Oh, you mean that little café over by the old market square? I think my mom went there once – said the coffee was terrible and the service was slow. Well, good luck with that, Hawkins. Don't forget to wipe the tables properly – use a clean cloth, not your apron. Wouldn't want to disappoint your… patrons." He emphasized the last word with a sneer, making it clear he thought Jason's customers would be nothing like the people he and Chloe associated with.
Chloe snickered again, and Jason felt his jaw clench so tightly his teeth ached, every muscle in his body tensing as he resisted the overwhelming urge to say something he might regret – something that would only give them more ammunition to use against him. Taking a final look at their smug faces, he turned without another word and started walking, his steps quick and purposeful as he headed towards the downtown area. He didn't have any extra money for the bus – with all the fees he'd had to pay for his application and exam materials, walking was his only option – and the thought of being late for his first day at The Porch sent a fresh jolt of anxiety through him. As he walked, the sounds of their laughter fading behind him, he kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, his hands stuffed in his pockets, determined not to let their words dim the spark of hope that had brought him to Edward University in the first place.