Locking In With My Life System

Seated alongside Aiden and Theo in the Principal’s office, was Megan and Damian.

”Congratulations on winning the Academic Decathlon. You have all brought great prestige to Silverlake High.” Principal Walters said once they had all settled, a proud smile touching his lips.

”Thank you, Principal.” all four simultaneously replied, their tones respectful.

Compared to the other three whose responses seemed to belie their excitement though, Aiden on the other hand had a notably laid-back expression.

Bobbing his head once in response to that, the stern-looking man then pulled open one of his drawers and retrieved a file containing a slip of papers and said as gently tossed it over;

”The scholarship mails came in yesterday night,”

Upon hearing that, Aiden’s previously laid-back expression morphed in real-time to stunned surprise as Principal Walters continued with an even wider smile;

”I suppose another set of congratulations are in order.”

Usually, scholarship offers and mails were often sent, directly to the individual whom had applied for it or was offered said scholarship.

However, in the case of the Javits Academic Decathlon where several schools across New York, several invited colleges from all over US attended, they opted to work with a two-mail system.

The primary mail, was directly linked to the school or college of whichever individual they wanted to reach across to was.

However, if they didn’t get a response back from said individuals after mailing their respective institutions within a day or two, they often used the secondary mail... which was to contact and inform the person directly, just to be on the safe side.

Aiden hadn’t been aware of all these, but the trio had. Perks of them being far more invested in the inner workings of everything as opposed to Aiden who had a more surface level information.

Heck, if Theo hadn’t even informed him last year, he wouldn’t have known that the academic decathlon had a scholarship system in place.

In his mind, his e-mail was going to be the first line of contact for the scholarship offer, hence why he had been rather laid-back in comparison to his peers whom had long caught up to why they were being requested for earlier in the day.

Gingerly, Damian was the first to pick up the file.

Retrieving the slip of paper with his name on it, he passed it to Megan, who in turn took hers and handed it over to Theo, till it subsequently reached Aiden.

Through it all, Aiden’s surprise was crystal, his excitement bubbling to the surface as he flipped open the file and read the mail.

’Partial scholarship...’ he inwardly repeated, his smile getting progressively wider by the minute.

Given he wasn’t in the Honor’s division, it made perfect sense that he was being given that, as only the students with a much higher GPA were awarded the full scholarship.

In fact--although Aiden wasn’t aware--rarely did students from the Scholastic Division ever get offered a scholarship...

...that is, unless, their performance was so exceptional, they had to make an exception as well.

As Aiden kept staring at the mail though, he found his eyes suddenly getting misty.

Though he was yet to establish a business that would afford him the opportunity to retire his Pops like he was working towards, this in its own right was going to lift some serious burden off the man’s shoulder and afford him a whole lot of breathing room.

The only thing the man would have to worry about now was housing, both of which Aiden knew he could easily cover given all the funds he’d been saving over the years in preparation for his college years.

Reeling himself in before he actually teared up, Aiden blinked his eyes a few times as Principal Walters spoke once again;

”Once again, congratulations to you all,”

”Ensure to follow up with all the in necessary steps to get your details sent across and processed. You can take your leave now.” he gestured with a palm, his smile reserved yet proud.

Following that, all four gave the man a curt bob of appreciation and then made their way out of the man’s office.

Exchanging excited convos between themselves, Aiden soon found out that Damian and Megan, much like him, had gotten a partial scholarship, with the exception of Theo whom had gotten a full scholarship.

Right now, the curly-haired youth was beaming with such joy, Aiden had to wonder if his cheeks weren’t already aching him as they made their way down and into the main corridor.

Not that Aiden himself was faring any better.

If he thought he was feeling chuffed before though, right now he was enraptured.

It almost looked like someone found a halo and placed it atop his head with how ecstatic he looked.

Walking down the halls with a pep in his step, he soon came across Clarissa whom had just put something in her locker and was about to close it as she conversed with her clique.

Upon spotting him amidst them, her expression brightening up, she hadn’t even managed to say a word as she walked over before Aiden effortlessly lifted her by the waist, twirled her around and placed her down in one smooth motion.

Casually walking away without saying a thing, a melodious hum escaping his lips, the queen bee looked visibly stunned, her face riper than a tomato’s as she watched his receding frame.

Then she slowly turned over to Megan, Damian and Theo as she rhetorically asked, all three just as surprised as her and her friends, as well as a couple other students in the corridor;

”That just happened, right?”

Damian would’ve reacted if not for the fact that he suddenly remembered something, hence why he called out;

”Hey, Aiden! Don’t forget about the trophy!”

Hearing him loud and clear, the youth simply ticked a finger off his head as he turned around the corner and disappeared from their view.

Stopping by his locker, he carefully slipped the scholarship mail into his bag and retrieved a small, insulated flask from it.

Then he closed it and made his way over to Dr. Kowalski’s office.

A few minutes later, he was seated before the guidance counsellor, the pretty middle-aged woman amusedly asking;

”What in teenage heaven has you feeling all joyous?”

Aiden didn’t even bother to hide it as he replied with a bright smile;

”Just got a partial scholarship to study at Pacific Heights.”

Upon hearing that, Dr. Kowalski’s eyes widened, her pupils doing the same.

Then, with a genuinely relieved smile, she softly said;

”It’s so relieving to hear that, Aiden. I’m so proud of you, and I’m sure your father would be as well.”

”I’m sure he will, and I can’t wait to see the look on his face when I tell him. I live for that.” Aiden replied with a mirthful, soft laugh.

Then he said with an appreciative smile;

”Thank you, Doc.”

”Thank you for your hard work, Aiden,” Dr. Kowalski regarded him over her glasses with a small tilt of her head and a gentle arch of her brow as she continued with a light smile;

”College applications was one of the major things I intended to discuss with you today, but now that it’s off the table, I don’t think we need to delve into it any further.”

”I also presume you won’t have any issues in your upcoming AP and final year exams next month, yes?” she then asked.

”Yes. I’m well prepared.” Aiden humbly replied.

”Without pulling all-nighters?” she pressed further, a knowing smile touching her lips.

Despite Aiden not knowing how exactly how she’d gotten her hands on that info--though he could easily infer a couple individuals she may have acquired it from--he smiled nonetheless in assurance;

”Without pulling all-nighters.”

”That’s great to hear.” the middle-aged lady smiled and then gestured with a palm;

”Now, let’s have that homemade brandy assessed.”

Promptly, Aiden handed over the flask to her.

Taking a sip out of it a few seconds after, her pupils dilating in genuine surprise, the nutritionist then asked, her curiosity evident;

”How’d you make this?!”

Naturally, the youth followed up, confidently explaining just how he did it to her.

By the time he was done, the middle-aged lady had a genuinely impressed look on her face.

”I have to say Aiden, you’ve outdone yourself.” she said, then followed up immediately;

”I’ll still have to do some tests, of course,”

”But, with what you’ve explained...” she studied the flask as if she was peering through it.

”Yes. I think I can have Walters vet it for the Prom by tomorrow.” she confidently said.

In response to that, Aiden smiled in appreciation and said;

”Thanks, Doc.”

Then, leaning forwards immediately after, his palms interlocked and his smile slowly shifting into a more reserved feel, he continued;

”If it isn’t too much to ask though, Doc, I’d like to request for your help with something, and also propose an offer, if you’re willing.”

To that, the middle-aged woman curiously arched her brow.

Then she gestured for him to go on and Aiden let out a soft, deep breath before he began speaking.

...

...

...

Aiden, stepped back, clipping the calligraphy marker in his hand with a satisfying click and a curt, acknowledging bob at his handiwork.

Damian, Megan and other students from the decathlon team, alongside a couple members of the theatre club, stared in satisfaction at the loser’s trophy which was made solely out of cardboard.

Having just finished its lettering, the words on it read;

-

WE LOST THE DECATHLON.

Ask Silverlake High about it.

-

Shamelessly, Damian raised his fingers into an ’OK’ sign and said;

”Perfect.”

A minute after, he was already lifting the almost weightless prop, heading out the theatre club with a satisfied smile... presumably to head over to Midtown High and drop it off.

”He’s having way too much fun, isn’t he?” Aiden pointed at him using the marker as his back receded to which Megan and everyone else around chuckled in amusement.

Following that everyone dispersed as most began to make their way out as well.

The closing bell had rung ten-minutes ago after all.

As Aiden slung his bag over his shoulders, Clarissa soon walked up to him and casually asked;

”Lilac or teal-green?”

”Cryptic much?” Aiden replied with an amused smile as they both walked out the door.

”You don’t get to say that after that stunt you pulled earlier today. Had me feeling like a fairytale princess and all.” the queen bee countered with a light grin to which she then followed up;

”So?”

For a brief moment, Aiden didn’t respond as Clarissa waited, her hazel-irises glinting in anticipation.

Then,

”Lilac,” Aiden replied, and Clarissa beamed.

To her, it didn’t really matter which color he picked.

All she really wanted was for him to be a bit more involved in the process itself, as she knew she’d look just as good in both dresses for prom...

Well, that was until Aiden thoughtfully added;

”I think you’d look most regal in lilac,”

”Or maybe that’s just me.” he flashed her an honest smile.

This time, Clarissa’s expression slowly morphed into genuine adoration as they kept walking side by side.

Not once had she mentioned what she meant to him, but he’d easily picked up on it nonetheless, and was thoughtful enough to think the one she’d look the best in.

That alone, had her releasing an enamored sigh as she gazed up at him, the youth saying something she was honestly just tuning out at the moment.

At the same time, she really couldn’t wait for Prom to come... even despite it just being two days away.