Chapter Text
Mid Wilshire High School seemed to have a large campus from what Wesley Evers could see when he stepped foot into the main building. He was greeted by an older, kind man named Principal Grey to welcome him to his new school, but the real welcome came from the student tasked with showing Wes around.
“Welcome to Mid Wilshire. I’m Chris, and I’m a senior,” Chris Sanford introduced himself with a kind smile that reached his deep brown eyes.
“I’m Wes, and I’m a senior, too,” he introduced himself.
“Well, Wes, Principal Grey asked me show you around. I’ll take you on a quick tour to make you feel a little more comfortable.”
“Cool.” He listened intently as Chris pointed out the biology lab, and the lunchroom, but then he saw something not on the tour, or rather someone. Wes’ ears stopped working, and his eyes could only see HER. “Who’s that?”
After following his eye line, Chris shook his head. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Why not?” Wes had no idea where to look as he studied the most beautiful woman’s frame. She had tawny skin, generous curves, curly chestnut hair, and chocolate eyes. “Is she even real?” He thought perhaps he had imagined her as a stress response to moving schools. If that were the case, he wanted to be stressed for the rest of his life.
“She’s very real, and…” before Chris could say anything, another student approached her, flirted with her, to which she offered him a smile, then sashayed away. “Everyone wants her.”
“I like a challenge. What’s her name?”
“Angela Lopez.”
Wes smiled as he whispered her name with awe, “Angela.”
Chris rolled his eyes, because of course yet another classmate had fallen under her spell.
“Are you two friends?” Wes questioned.
“Not really.”
“Do you have any classes with her?”
“Statistics.”
“Great, I can walk with you to class, and you can introduce me to the future Mrs. Evers.”
Chris shook his head. “It’s not gonna happen. Not in a million years, buddy. Statistically impossible.”
“It’s our senior year. Anything can happen. I’m sure you’re learning that in Statistics, right?”
“No, we’re literally learning quantifiable possibilities, and yours is at a 0% chance. Though, Angela wouldn’t be able to tell you that. It’s only been a couple of weeks into the spring term, and she’s already struggling.”
“That’s perfect!” Wes grinned.
“You’re happy your supposed future wife isn’t doing well in school?”
“She’s not doing well in a class I took last year at my old school, which means I can help her. If I start tutoring her, that’s my way in,” he plotted, then he clapped Chris on the back. “I’ll invite you to the wedding.”
∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗
When the bell rang, Wes rushed to the doorway of Angela’s Statistics class. He saw her, then cleared his throat, and stepped forward. “Hi,” was all that came out of his mouth.
“Do I know you?” She asked.
“N-not yet. I’m new here.”
“I have to go to lunch, so I don’t have time to help you if you’re lost or whatever.”
“Right, well, actually, I’m here to help you.”
Angela surveyed him and asked, “How exactly do you think you can help me?”
“I hear you’re not doing well in your stats class. I can tutor you.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Is this some ploy to ask me out?”
“Th-that’s not, I-I, no,” he lied horribly.”
“Points for ingenuity. Nerds normally know they don’t stand a chance, so no one’s actually tried that one on me before.”
“Since I’m so obviously unlike anyone else at this school, does that mean you’ll give me a chance?”
Though he had beautiful blue piercing eyes, perfectly coiffed dirty blonde hair, and nice snow white skin, his appearance could not change her mind. “I’m not very good at stats, but the probability of us going on a date is 0.”
“Everyone’s gotta stop saying that. How about I tutor you anyways? I’ll get to spend time with a pretty girl, and you’ll do better on your next exam.”
She considered the offer. “I do have to keep my grades up, or I could be benched from the soccer team.”
“You play soccer? Of course you do. That’s hot.”
Angela smirked at that. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Wes.”
“Okay, Wes, I’ll let you tutor me twice a week during my free period in the library as long as you accept that I’m never going out with you.” She stepped into his space to prove her point, but unfortunately, her heart picked up speed in response. His face started lighting up, and her pulse quickened even more.
“Are you sure that’s nonnegotiable?”
“If I get above a C on the next exam, I’ll let you kiss me, but that’s the best I can do.”
He pointed out far too smugly, “I know I haven’t started tutoring you yet, but I’m starting to see why you’re not very good at Statistics. You said the probability of us going out is at 0, but it seems like it’s higher than that.”
She was intrigued by him, of course, and she found him attractive, but, “My stepdad has this rule: my stepbrother and I aren’t allowed to date in high school, which means I can’t go out with you even if I wanted to.”
“Is that a hard and fast rule? I might be able to persuade your stepdad.”
“Good luck with that. He’s too stubborn to listen to anybody but himself.”
He realized something that made him grin despite the news that his crush was off limits. “Are you telling me you would go out with me if I could get your stepdad to change his mind about dating in high school?”
She shrugged to feign nonchalance. “I guess I’d consider it if you were successful.” Wes looked as if he was already starting to celebrate an impossible victory if his face splitting grin was any indication.
“This is why I like Statistics- the probability of us dating is going up by the second.”
Angela shook her head. “No, it isn’t.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
“Can I ask you a question? Are you always so delusional?”
“This isn’t being delusional. This is me knowing what I want.”
“I’m not some prize just because I’m hot.”
“We don’t know each other very well, but I already knew from the moment I saw you that you’re special, and when I’m allowed to take you on a date, we’ll find out why we’re perfect for each other.”
“Perfect for each other?” She scoffed. “Slow down, Romeo.”
He flashed her a fond expression. “See you tomorrow during free period.” He turned on his heel down the corridor to his next class that he would most certainly be tardy for, but he did not care at all.
She watched him leave, more than a little taken aback; she had no idea how to describe what occurred in that hallway, but it made her stomach swoop.
∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗
Tim Bradford changed after soccer practice then waited by his truck for his stepsister. When she came into view, he asked, “Why do you always take so long?”
“I have more hair to shampoo than you do, and I actually care what I look like,” Angela answered before taking her seat on the passenger side of his car.
“Why do you care what you look like for the idiots at our school?” He questioned as he slid into the driver’s side.
“Some of us care about being liked,” she spoke loud enough over the engine as it purred to life.
“Why? After graduation, we’ll never see most of them again. You and I are off to Stanford to play soccer, and we’ll be free from this hell.”
“You hate everything, don’t you? I don’t hate high school.”
“Of course you don’t,” he said, annoyed.
“You wouldn’t hate it if you had friends.”
“I’ve got the team.”
“The team that you refuse to hang out with? You play well with those guys, but you’re not actually friends with any of them.”
“Am I supposed to care about not having any friends? I need to stay focused on soccer. I have to do well this year. There’s no time for besties.”
“Other than me, of course.”
“You’re my stepsister not my bestie.”
“We were best friends before our parents had the dumb idea to marry each other, but at least it means you’re forced to hang out with me even though you shut out the rest of the world.”
“Don’t try to psychoanalyze me, or you’re walking home.”
“I get that you’re so focused on soccer, but I believe I can have a great soccer season and have a boyfriend.”
“My dad will never let you have one.”
“Can’t you talk to him?”
“If this is about Sean Del Monte again, I told you not to go anywhere near him. He’s a solid goalkeeper on the pitch, but I’ve heard him in the locker room and how he talks about girls. He’s disgusting.”
“No, there’s someone else.”
“What sport does he play?”
“I don’t think he plays any. He seems kinda nerdy.”
“Since when are you interested in nerds?”
“He’s a cute nerd,” she smiled.
Tim rolled his eyes as he made a right turn. “My dad won’t care if he’s the most brilliant mind since Einstein. He’s not gonna let you date.”
“Why not? Where does this dumb rule even come from?”
“Your mom never told you the story?” He glanced at Angela to see her shake her head. “Your mom and my dad dated in high school. Then, senior year, my dad had that injury, and his soccer career ended. He broke up with your mom, because he was angry at the world. Then, your mom started going out with your dad, and…”
“And, my dad knocked her up with my brother, Damian, so my parents got married right after high school. Yeah, I know that part of the story.”
“My dad is convinced that if he never let your mom go, they would’ve gotten married from then.”
“What’s the likelihood people actually marry their high school sweetheart?”
“Our parents, who were high school sweethearts, are now married to each other,” Tim pointed out.
“I guess.”
“Look, my dad doesn’t want us to date, because he doesn’t want us to have a high school sweetheart that we’ll lose. If he wasn’t such an ass all the time, I would say he’s looking out for us. He probably just doesn’t want us to get distracted from soccer, though. Either way, it means you can’t have a boyfriend until we go to college.”
“Try changing his mind, please? He’ll listen to you.”
“You really like this nerd, don’t you?” Tim assessed based on her pleading.
“He’s different, and he’s nice, and…I don’t know. There’s something about him.”
Groaning, because he knew he was going to give in, he said unhappily, “We’ll talk to him together at dinner, but you have to do my chores for me for a week for sticking my neck out for you.”
“Fine,” Angela agreed.
He parked his truck in the driveway and hopped down. Together with his stepsister, he entered their house and immediately went up to their rooms to get started on homework.
When dinner started, Angela’s mom, Emilia Lopez, sat beside Tom Bradford, Tim’s dad, and they spoke quietly to one another. Angela gave Tim a look from across the table to urge him to speak up and act on his part of the deal.
“Dad,” Tim began as firmly as he could. “You know that I’m too committed to soccer to even think about girls.”
“As if any girl at our school would go out with you, because of your sparkling personality,” Angela teased.
He was not surprised she got a jab in even as he was trying to help her. “Anyways, Angela is a senior, too, and she’s mature enough to make more decisions for herself, and she wants to date even though I don’t. I would personally vet anyone she likes, and-”
“Absolutely not,” Tom snapped. “The rule has always been no dating in high school.
Emilia took his hand to calm him. “Tom, dating is a completely normal part of the high school experience, and our kids are seniors.”
“Please, Tom. I promise it won’t effect my grades or my soccer season,” Angela begged.
Feeling completely cornered, Tom knew he would have to reconsider despite being uninterested in changing a family rule, so he made a modification that would ensure he would have his way while still seeming to relent, “New rule: Angela, you can date…” Her mouth dropped open in shock and joy. “But, only when Tim does.”
Angela’s face fell. “Are you serious? Mom, no one likes Tim. He’s a jerk to everyone.”
“Tim is a handsome boy,” Emilia complimented him. “I’m sure there are plenty of girls interested in him.”
“He’s driven them all away with his scowls and one word answers that still manage to come out rude.”
“It’s called being focused,” Tim defended himself.
“Come on, Tom!” Angela frowned.
“My decision is final. Not dating in high school is for the best, anyways. Let’s discuss something more important. How was soccer practice?”
∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗
Eager for his first tutoring session, Wes ran to the library to meet up with Angela. He pulled out his calculator and a pencil, then he watched her approach him. Before he could give her a smile and a warm greeting, he noticed that she seemed upset. “Is something wrong?”
“My life is over,” Angela answered as she dropped into her chair next to Wes at the table he had selected for them to study at.
“What happened?”
“My stepdad is being so unreasonable. I asked him to let me date, and he said that now I’m allowed to date…”
“That’s great. Wanna go to the movies this weekend?” He asked so quickly, ready to take his chance with her.
“Not so fast,” Angela responded. “I can only date if my stepbrother does.”
“Who’s your stepbrother?”
“The biggest grump in this whole school. He’s made himself completely undateable. No one will go out with him in a million years, which means I’ll never date. I’ll be alone forever,” she said then put her head in her hands.
“Not necessarily.”
“I know you’re new here, so you don’t get it. Even some of our teachers don’t make direct eye contact with Tim. No girl is strong enough to handle him.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“With 100% confidence, I can guarantee he’s not interested in anyone here, and no one wants to be with him.”
“I don’t like those odds,” he deflated.
“Statistics sucks, and I’ll be alone forever,” she said in mourning.
∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗ ⚽︎ ᯓᰔ ∗
Because Wes had never given up on anything in his life, he spent the next day at school observing Angela’s stepbrother from a distance. Tim grunted more than he spoke, and when he did speak, he did so harshly, plus, he wore a permanent scowl to drive absolutely everyone away from him. Not a single female student looked at him with a hint of interest if they looked at him and his harsh glare at all. After a day of gathering some very disadvantageous evidence, he went to his locker with his head hanging low.
“You haven’t even been here a week, so what’s got you looking so down? Did your future wife rejected you enough times for you to get it through your head that you don’t have a chance with her?” Chris inquired.
“Actually, Angela seems interested,” Wes replied.
“Wow, that’s surprising, but she’s still off limits.”
“I know. Her stepdad has a ridiculous rule, which apparently was just changed to keep me away from my true love forever.”
“Changed? Mr. Bradford wouldn’t change his mind.”
“He did. He said Angela can date if Tim does.”
Chris winced. “Oh, tough break. Every girl here knows he’s more likely to chew their head off than meet under the bleachers. You’re screwed.”
“Pretty much,” Wes shut his locker door and slumped his shoulders forward. “I didn’t know the thing standing in the way of me being with the woman of my dreams would be her stepbrother.”
Chris felt badly for his new friend, but then he got distracted by the girl walking towards him. Her kind chocolate eyes and matching smile captivated him instantly. She was wearing a white sundress that stood out on her honey skin with her brown hair cascading down past her shoulders in loose waves making her look like an angelic vision floating down the corridor.
Wes noticed who Chris was ogling and whispered, “Who’s that?”
“Lucy Chen,” he sighed her name.
“You like her?”
“Who wouldn’t. She’s the smartest girl in our school. Valedictorian, senior class President, debate team captain, editor of the ‘Mid Wilshire Weekly’ newspaper, and probably the nicest person you’ll ever meet.”
“Are you gonna ask her out?”
“She doesn’t date. She’s too focused on school. Besides, most of the Neanderthals in this place overlook her because she isn’t a cheerleader.”
“Why? She’s pretty.”
“Get your own girl,” Chris growled.
Putting up his hands in an act of peace, he promised, “I want Angela and Angela only, but I’ll never be able to be with her. Maybe you can wear Lucy down, though. One of us deserves to be with the girl we like.”
As if lightning struck him, Chris came up with an idea. “Wait a minute, there might be a way for both of us to get what we want.”
“I’m listening.”
“Let’s go talk to Lucy.”
“You need a wingman to ask her out?”
“No, just follow my lead.” Chris strode down the hallway to Lucy’s locker. He took a breath to ready himself to talk to her, and then kindly said, “Hey, Lucy.”
“Hi, Chris,” she replied plainly as she put her last textbook into her backpack.
“I have a proposition for you.”
“No, I won’t go out with you,” she rejected him as gently as she could.
Though it wounded him that she turned him down yet again, he had to focus. “You want to get into Stanford, right?”
“I got waitlisted,” she responded glumly.
“But, it’s still your dream school, right?” Chris wondered rhetorically to which she nodded. “I know how you can get yourself accepted.” To that, she seemed more interested. “Tim Bradford’s dad is the Head of Athletics at Stanford. If you were to go out with Tim a couple of times, and his dad found out someone so accomplished was waitlisted, he would be willing to put in a good word for you.”
“No way. I’m not using someone like that.”
“You wouldn’t be using Tim. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want to date, but his stepsister isn’t allowed to date unless he is. Tim might agree to hanging out with you a couple of times so that Angela can be with my new friend, Wes.” She did not seem convinced. “Lucy, you’ve been talking about wanting to go to Stanford since elementary school. It’s your dream, and you’ve worked so hard to get there only to unfairly end up on the waitlist. All you have to do is go to the movies or something with Tim once or twice, and then you could get the acceptance letter you already should’ve gotten.”
“Tim is an ass. I don’t want to hang out with him even if it would get me into Stanford.”
“So, all those years of sacrificing your social life and passing up on having fun to get into school, pushing yourself to join like every club, and working so hard to be the perfect applicant was all for nothing, because you won’t sit in a movie theater with Tim Bradford? You don’t even have to talk to him if you go to the movies.”
“Let’s say I was willing to do it. Neither of us are keen on dating. What makes you think he would agree to even take me to the movies?”
“You’re the sweetest girl in school, and you’re beautiful. Anyone would be lucky to take you to the movies,” Chris reasoned.
She would not allow her face to show how his compliment made her feel. Instead, Lucy said, “I don’t know. It feels so mean to do that to anyone even Tim.”
“He was an awful lab partner to you freshman year, remember?”
“We almost got a B in the class, because he said he didn’t care about chemistry, since it had nothing to do with soccer,” she recalled. “But, I wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings.”
“Angela said he only cares about soccer, and that’s why he ignores everyone and everything else,” Wes chimed in. “I can ask Angela to convince him to take you on a date, but it doesn’t sound like he’s interested in a relationship. He probably won’t catch feelings for you, no offense.”
Chris knew he was close to convincing her. “You two are polar opposites, and you would never work out long term. We’re not asking you to get married. Hang out with Tim a couple of times for my lovesick friend’s sake, so Wes and Angela can be happy together, and you’ll be admitted to Stanford. Everyone wins.”
She was curious why he came up with such a selfless plan. “Do you get anything out of this?”
“When this works out, and you’ve helped true love conquer a strict stepdad and mean stepbrother, and you’ve gotten into your dream school, I’d like to dance with you for a song at prom,” Chris replied.
“One song, but no more than one song, and it’s not going to change my mind. I see you as a friend and nothing more, Chris. I won’t go out with you after all of this is over.”
“Whatever you say, Lucy,” Chris said, though he hoped he still could convince her to go out with him.
She looked between Wes’ pleading eyes and Chris’ smug look. Lucy had never done anything so underhanded, but she had to contemplate her options. No one would get hurt, since Tim would never actually develop feelings for her, and she would never feel anything more for him beyond annoyance, there was no risk to hurting either of their hearts. Moreover, the one goal she had worked towards her entire life was just barely out of reach, but Tim and his father could help her. It would be unorthodox, but she could get what she always wanted, and all she would have to sacrifice is a few nights of studying to spend them with Tim. She had made greater sacrifices to balance a packed schedule of extra curricular activities and her advanced classes. “As long as you can promise no one will get hurt, I’m in.”
