Page 9 of Only ever you-Ana & Byron
"I can't," Cadi said, gripping hers like it was cursed. "You open yours first."
"No way," Ana shot back. "You go first. You're the brave one."
"Brave? I cried when Edwin OD-ed in 'Little Miss Sunshine'." Ana stared at her envelope like it was a rabid dog.
After procrastinating for a full 10 minutes of 'you do it... no… you do it first’, they tore them open together, eyes scanning nervously, and then, almost at the exact same moment, their faces lit up.
Ana stared at her results sheet like she couldn't believe her eyes.
A* in English Literature. A* in English Language. A* in History. A* in French.
She blinked once...twice. Cleaned her glasses.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," she said flatly.
Cadi peeped over her shoulder before going elbow-deep in her envelope.
"Ana, that's insane. That was a clean sweep!"
"What'd you get?"
Cadi shoved her sheet at her. "A* in Bio and Chem, A in Maths, and-miracle of miracles, A in Physics."
Ana's jaw dropped. "You said Physics made you want to run away and join the circus."
"I still do," Cadi said, but she was already pulling Ana into a hug. "We did it! We actually did it!"
They jumped up and down like 10-year-olds, arms flailing, drawing amused glances from the teachers and one bored groundskeeper who had seen it all.
Gray strolled up a few minutes later, his envelope already folded and tucked into his back pocket, casual as ever.
"Well?" Cadi demanded, turning to him with flushed cheeks and tangled auburn curls.
"Three A-stars and an A," he said with that breath taking grin of his. "Didn't set fire to anything."
Cadi launched herself at him. "You legend!"
He caught her with a laugh, spinning her once before setting her down.
Ana grinned. "So med school's actually happening, then?"
He nodded. "Aye. Long road, but we're on it." Then, glancing at both of them, "Byron said he'd meet us at Pizza Corner. Said somethin' about celebratin' like champions."
Cadi raised an eyebrow. "Did he open his results yet?"
"No idea," Gray said as he slung his arm around Cadi’s slender shoulders. "But he sounded smug, so I'm guessin' it wasn't a total disaster."
They gathered their bags, still buzzing with adrenaline and relief, and made their way down the hill, already laughing and planning pizza toppings. Once there, Gray crowded Cadi into the booth, his sheet folded once and shoved into his back pocket. "Three A*s and an A," he repeated with a soft grin. "Not bad, eh?"
Cadi bumped her shoulder into him. "Same here. I think my Chemistry paper was marked by a saint."
He winked before stealing a kiss. "Either that or they were scared o' your handwriting."
Byron strolled in 5 minutes late, with his hair a mess and the envelope crumpled in his fist. He dropped into the seat beside Ana and relaxed into a lazy sprawl.
"Missed me?" he asked, already reaching for Ana’s waterglass. Byron had no boundaries.
"You're lucky you got here before the food," Ana replied. "We were about to declare you lost at sea. And stop manspreading."
