The Kings IV II

54

Henry

"Man of the hour," Eros sang, "yo."

I turned around, shooting him a smile. "Hey."

He smiled and jumped on my back, earning the eyes of a teacher. He quickly jumped down and stumbled a bit, but began walking with me.

"So," he said, "I'm planning this date for Josie."

"Oh, God," I muttered.

"Do you think your dad will let me take her to a hotel?"

I couldn't help but to laugh, looking over at him. "E, don't get too comfortable. He will still kill you."

He leaned his head back against the lockers as we stopped at mine, making me open it and throw my books inside. "Do you have any other solid ideas?"

"It's gotta be romantic," he said, "I'm breaking some news, man."

"Like what?"

He proudly pulled out a piece of paper from his back pocket, holding it out to me with a broad smile.

I grabbed it from him and opened it up, my eyebrows shooting up at the contents.

"Y-you already got accepted, shit," I chuckled out, but it wasn't exactly a happy chuckle.

"U-Dub, baby!" He excitedly said, "I-I mean, I can't say I'll go, I'm still holding out for UCLA, but shit. This is a big deal."

"Y-yeah," I said, nodding as I looked over at him, "congratulations, man."

"Thanks," he said, grabbing the paper from me with a smile.

"Alright, I've gotta go. I cannot afford to be late again. See you, man."

I watched as he ran off, feeling more emotions than I could handle. I was happy for Eros, but U-Dub? U-Dub wasn't even on my list. I didn't want to do college without my best friend, even if I knew I was eventually going to have to accept that we wouldn't be going to the same college.

I was also jealous. Eros and I had played every sport together for the past ten years of our lives, and I hadn't gotten a scholarship nor acceptance letter from some college?

I let out a sigh and closed my locker, clearing my throat. I turned around and saw Zach on the other side of the hallway, my breath hitching in my throat.

Walk away? No, don't. Wait, yes. Definitely walk away.

I casually pushed myself off of my locker and walked towards class, hopefully not catching his attention. I was nervous to see him.

You're going to see him in class, but okay.

I quietly entered class and sat at my table, letting out a shaky breath as I began to pull out everything I needed. I heard Zach's voice approaching, making my breaths speed up.

"Hey, could I get your name?"

I snapped out of my trance, looking up at the substitute teacher. He'd been filling Mrs. Thompson's empty place since she'd gotten fired, and was just trying to familiarize himself with everything still.

"U-uh, yes, sir, I'm Henry," I said, nodding up at him.

"Henry King?"

"That's me," I said, smiling up at him.

"Awesome. Thanks so much. I'm sorry, I should know this by now," he chuckled out, making me shoot him a sympathetic smile as he walked off.

Hero walked in the room, carrying a grocery bag. I lifted an eyebrow and he placed everything on his table, bracing his palms against it.