Chapter 600: The Commons

Monday, March 6th, Afternoon

Sawyer left Keni and Brett in the hallway and headed to the commons, as she said she would. Finding a table, she took a seat and pulled out her books. Since Sawyer gave up basketball, her chances of going to college debt-free were curtailed. It was a matter of pride that they made their way through college on their abilities. But where Sawyer wanted to go, there was little in the form of sports opportunity. So, to the books, she went and the internet for scholarship opportunities.

"I'd figure you'd be gone by now," a young male voice said; this caused Sawyer to jump. She looked up at him.

"Ken, you startled me," Sawyer said.

"Sorry, wasn't my intent," Kenelm Parker said.

"Well, you did," Sawyer said.

"Again, I am sorry," Kenelm said.

"It's okay," Sawyer said.

"Can I join you?" Kenelm asked.

"Sure, I guess," Sawyer said.

Kenelm sat down and looked at Sawyer. "I'd expected you to be home by now," he said.

"Practice," Sawyer said, "And I could say the same for you."

"Office hours, trying to catch up with my assignments, I don't want to repeat," Kenelm said.

"That's good," Sawyer said.

"Practice has been over for a while," Kenelm said.

"Keni is talking with Brett," Sawyer said.

"I see; what are you studying?" Kenelm asked.

"Maths, want to keep my grades up," Sawyer said.

"You're busting your ass; why?" Kenelm asked.

"I want to get into a certain college," Sawyer said.

"I can easily see you at one of the Ivies, maybe Harvard or Yale," Kenelm said.

"Thanks," Sawyer said, blushing, "If I want an Ivy, it would be Columbia, and I'd probably stay with my sister."

"You have a sister living in New York?" Kenelm asked.

"Yeah, I do," Sawyer said.

"So, where do you want to go?" Kenelm asked.

"Where I want to go and where I will probably go are different things; I'll probably end up going to Chapel Hill, like my parents, brother, and sister," Sawyer said.

"Still a good school," Kenelm said.

"Just not in what I want to study," Sawyer said.

"Okay," Kenelm said, "What do you want to study?"

"I'd rather not say," Sawyer said.

"You're probably one of the most put-together people I've ever met," Kenelm said.

"Thanks, kind of have to be," Sawyer said.

"Why?" Kenelm asked.

"Everyone in my family is quite accomplished. So, it's a tough act to follow," Sawyer said.

"Why follow? Forge your own path," Kenelm said.

"Even if I did that, I'd still be measured by what they have accomplished," Sawyer said.

"Who's measuring?" Kenelm asked.

"Everyone," Sawyer said.

"Everyone or Sawyer?" Kenelm asked.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Sawyer asked.

"You should try to accomplish only what you want to accomplish, not what you think other people expect you to accomplish," Kenelm said.

"Why do you say that?" Sawyer asked.

"Look, my dad ran a highly successful cyber security consulting firm. After my mom died, he sold it and moved us here," Kenelm said.

"So? Your point?" Sawyer asked.

"My point is some people would want me to go into cyber security, but I'm not," Kenelm said.

"So, what do you want to get into?" Sawyer asked.

"Male pornstar," Kenelm said.

"Are you fucking serious?" Sawyer asked.

"No, I wanted to see how you react," Kenelm said.

"Shock would be the beginning of it all," Sawyer said.

"I see," Kenelm said.

"You want to keep people on their back foot," Sawyer said.

"I do like to keep people guessing," Kenelm said.

"Why?" Sawyer asked.

"I don't know," Kenelm said.

"Maybe, you should ask yourself that question," Sawyer said.

"Maybe, I should," Kenelm said.

Sawyer saw Keni coming from the hallway. She closed her book and started to put it into her backpack. Sawyer looked up at Kenelm, and he was questioning; the look in his eyes said it all.

"Keni is done, and so am I," Sawyer said.

"Huh?" Kenelm asked.

"Keni and I ride home together, so, see you," Sawyer said, stood up, and slung her backpack over her shoulder.

"I see," Kenelm said.

"It was an enlightening conversation; maybe, I'll see you tomorrow," Sawyer said.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Kenelm said.

Sawyer walked away and met up with Keni. They walked side by side and left the school. Once outside and about halfway to the waiting limo, Keni turned to Sawyer.

"So, that's Kenelm," Keni said.

"Yeah, that's him," Sawyer said.

"Okay," Keni said.

"Just okay?" Sawyer asked.

"If you want to make Gar jealous, he's a good choice," Keni said.

"What?" Sawyer asked.

"Just be careful," Keni said.

"Good afternoon, girls," Mina Vasquez, their driver, said.

"Hi, Mina," Keni said.

"Afternoon, Mina," Sawyer said.

The two girls climbed into the backseat. Mina closed the door and headed towards the front. Once she was behind the wheel, they drove off.