You should have an answer to the chapter title by the end of this ;) I hope you enjoy!
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"And so now the Medicis are the ones who truly control Florence. Unofficial rulers, in a sense. Their name may not have been the same as those who were elected, but they handled every action behind the scenes. Next class we'll finally get to start talking about the kickoff of the Renaissance - something I know you've all been waiting for, or else you wouldn't have taken this class." Professor Dupuy glanced at their watch. "Alright, I'll let you out early. See you all Friday! And don't forget - we're having a quiz on Monday of everything that we finish covering this week!"
The room was filled with the sounds of books closing and binders snapping shut as people began to file out, idle chatter from the students gradually growing in volume.
"I can't believe my first quiz at this school is in one of my electives," Rayla groaned, slinging her booksack over her left shoulder. "I never should have taken this class."
"Aw, but then you wouldn't see me three days a week," Callum teased. "I'm sure you couldn't bear to be apart for so long."
Rayla rolled her eyes. "You give yourself too much credit, prince." Then she laughed. "But you're right - I do quite enjoy your company. My week would be boring without it."
Callum returned her smile. "The feeling is mutual."
The two then left the classroom together, waving goodbye to their professor as they chatted about Rayla's upcoming wrestling tryout that day.
"Although, to be honest, I'm not even sure 'tryout' is the right word," Rayla mused. "Because technically, I don't have any wrestling experience. Only martial arts. But Soren said that because of my strength and flexibility, he thinks I'd be a good addition to the team, and that I can pick up the experience I need via practices before I actually participate in any competitions."
"All because you successfully beat him at Twister and nearly beat him at arm wrestling," Callum said, shaking his head in a mixture of amusement and awe. "I hope you know how that is simultaneously insane and awesome, Rayla."
A mischievous glint appeared in her violet eyes. "Wanna know a secret about that arm wrestling match?"
Callum paused halfway down the steps out of the building, moving aside so other students could continue exiting. "Yes?"
"Soren is stronger than me. That's a fact." Rayla gestured to her arm. "I mean, I'm obviously no bodybuilder. But." She grinned at him. "Leverage is key. I'm not going to reveal all of my tactics to you, but let's just say that by positioning myself at a specific angle, my body weight helped add to my force."
Callum raised an eyebrow at her explanation, smirking. "Are you sure that isn't considered cheating?"
Rayla gently shoved him with her shoulder as they continued down the steps together. "It's not cheating. It's strategy. There's a difference."
"Barely." Callum pulled up the sleeve of his jacket to check the time, squinting to read the tiny lines on his watch. "You know, I don't have a class until 3. Want to get lunch together?" They'd met up at cafés a few times in the past couple weeks, but only for coffee or a brief chat.
"I can't, remember? I have my wrestling tryout in half an hour! We were just talking about this!" She sighed, rolling her eyes. "You have the worst case of 'selective memory' of anyone I've ever known."
Callum flushed, mostly because she was right - they had just been talking about it. Oops. "Right." He adjusted his satchel so it would stop sliding down his shoulder. "I'll... see you tomorrow, I guess?"
"Or..." Rayla drawled, her accent placing emphasis on the vowel in the word, "you could come with me to my tryout. Keep me company so I'm not forced to follow Soren around like a sad duckling."
Callum snorted at her comment, then proceeded to wince at the thought of being around the wrestling team for an extended period of time. Not only were they mostly juniors and seniors, but they also tended to be twice his size. Much too intimidating for his liking. "I don't know if that's a great idea. Being around them with..." He trailed off, unsure of how to properly articulate they don't like me already because Harrow is my dad and most of them could use my scrawny self as a toothpick without sounding like a paranoid idiot.
Hurt flashed across Rayla's face. "Right. No, I get it. Since they're 'cooler' and all. Don't want to ruin your reputation or anything." A mixture of sadness and bitterness edged her tone, and she turned away from him, white hair falling to shield her face. "Sorry. I shouldn't have asked in the first place."
Callum was confused by his friend's sudden change in demeanor. Her excitement seemed to have vanished into thin air. But why -
His eyes widened as he realized how his lack of finish must have sounded.
"No no no, that's not it!" he hastily said, moving around to look her directly in the eyes and placing his hands on her shoulders. "It has nothing to do with you! I just don't, like, fit in well with jocks. Because I'm... me. Harrow's son. I couldn't care less that you're..." He found himself trailing off as her expression remained stone cold, his hands falling down to his sides.
"Xadian?" Rayla finished, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms over her chest. "It's not a curse, Callum. Not a 'bad word'. It's just where I'm from." She glared at him. "Anyways. I'll be going to my tryout now. You feel free to do whatever you want -"
"Rayla, listen to me." He reached out and took her right hand in his left one. "You are amazing, and - and you're one of my best friends. Anyone who has an issue with that just because you're Xadian can shove it. I promise you that I'm just genuinely terrified of the wrestling team." He released her hand and gestured to himself. "Look at me! They could snap me like a twig."
That earned a laugh from her, which caused relief to flood through his body.
"I could snap you like a twig," she teased. "I doubt it'd be too hard."
"Exactly! That's why Soren and his wrestling buddies are so terrifying. But." He smiled at her. "If you vow to protect me while we're there, then I'd be glad to accompany you."
Rayla laughed again, offering him a mock-bow. "Of course, my prince. That's what a knight is for."
With the tension between them gone, the two continued walking, now headed towards a bus stop where they could catch a ride to the one of university's centers for sports. Little was said, at first, as they made their way there in a comfortable silence.
Then Rayla paused, grabbing Callum's shoulder to stop him from walking past her.
"Is something wrong?" he asked with a small frown as she turned him around to face her.
"No," she replied. "I just... wanted to apologize. I overreacted."
"No, you had every reason to -"
"I also wanted to thank you," she continued, ignoring his interruption. "For coming with me. And for being my friend. Even though I'm... Xadian."
Callum offered her a comforting smile. "I should be the one thanking you for being my friend even though my dad is the head of the school."
Rayla chuckled. "A couple of misfits, aren't we?"
The bus pulled up, and they got on together.
"Yes," Callum agreed as he sat down, a grin stretching across his face. "That we are."
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The ride to the wrestling building, as Callum didn't know what else to call it, was only about fifteen minutes. Within those fifteen minutes, the duo passed the time by playing Battle with a pack of cards Callum hadn't known he had at the bottom of his satchel.
(He lost. Twice.)
"This is it!" Rayla said as she exited the bus, spinning around in excitement with Callum only a few steps behind her. "This place is going to decide my future!"
Callum rolled his eyes. "I think you might be exaggerating the importance of wrestling."
Rayla paused. "Fair point. But." She shrugged. "You can't deny the importance of sports regarding a person's social status. If I get onto the wrestling team, not only will my physical prowess be officially validated, but I'll also be considered less of an outsider. People might still see me as the weird Xadian, but at least I'll be the weird Xadian who's on a sports team."
Well, she wasn't wrong. Soren was popular even despite the fact that his dad was the dean - maybe it was because he was the star of so many sports. Football, wrestling, swimming.
Following that logic, maybe Callum was unpopular because the only athletics he practiced were finger stretches when his hand cramped up while he was drawing.
Rayla continued to gush about her possibilities if she got onto the wrestling team as they entered the building and made their way towards the appropriate room. Although Callum only comprehended about a third of the words coming out of her mouth, her excitement was still contagious. The way she beamed as she spoke was... adorable. Which was almost funny, because Rayla as a whole was a pretty imposing person and would not typically be described as 'adorable'.
It almost... reminded him of Claudia.
Huh. Maybe living with Claudia meant Rayla had picked up a few of her quirks.
The two stepped into an elevator, and Rayla promptly leaned back against the wall and ran her hands through her hair as it began taking them up to the third floor.
"Okay, now I'm freaking out a little," she admitted, chewing on her bottom lip in the same place where Callum knew her cut had just finished healing. "This is kind of terrifying. There's no guarantee I'm going to get on the team."
"Hey." Callum moved across the elevator to reach up and give her shoulder a gentle squeeze, reminded of the several inches she had on him in height. "Don't let yourself get stressed over this. Everything will be great. You are going to be great. If they turn you down, then they're the ones who are crazy."
"Right," Rayla agreed, though it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than she was him. "It'll be great."
The elevator door opened and she hastily walked out, Callum stumbling and nearly tripping in his attempt to catch up with her.
"Rayla," he called, stopping her in her tracks. He walked around her in order to look her straight in the eyes. "I'm serious. You are so strong and so talented and if they can't see that, then they're just - they're just blind!" He paused. "Actually, that's an insult to blind people, because even a blind person could see how amazing you are."
Rayla hesitated, then she relaxed. Slightly, at least. "Thank you," she said, giving him a small smile. "You're not a half-bad motivational speaker."
"Well, I try my best."
They continued down the hall and arrived at the wrestling room - or one of them, from what Callum understood.
"We're here," Rayla breathed, anxiety edging her tone as she tucked her hair behind her ear, the lavender streaks more faded than the two and a half weeks ago when they'd first met.
She opened the door, and was immediately greeted by an eager Soren.
"Rayla! I'm glad you made it!" His gaze shifted to her right. "And... Callum's here, too?"
"I'm her moral support," Callum explained.
"Like my personal cheerleader," Rayla added. "Minus the pom poms."
Soren nodded. "Cheerleaders are badass. I vibe with that." He then ushered them into the room, where about a dozen wrestlers had paused in their actions to stare at the... unusual trio.
"Guys, this is Rayla," Soren explained. "She's the girl I told you about - the one who beat me in Twister and almost beat me in arm wrestling. I'm gonna talk to Coach B about letting her join the team. She'd be a perfect secret weapon for us."
"Does she know how to wrestle?" someone asked.
"Not yet," Soren admitted, and Callum noticed Rayla wince, "but she's a quick learner, and she's got a lot of natural talent. With some practice, and our support, she's going to be an ace for us. You guys know I have an eye for this kind of thing."
Callum didn't know that, but he figured it'd be best for him if he kept quiet and pretended that he blended into the wall. Too bad his jacket was blue and the wall was an awful shade of beige.
There was a pause. Then a boy with dark curly hair shrugged and came forward, offering his hand for Rayla to shake. "Anyone who beats Soren in anything has my respect. Nice to meet you."
Rayla grinned and accepted his hand. "Thanks. I could probably beat you in anything, too."
The boy laughed. "We'll see. I hope Coach B lets you on the team so we can find out."
Soren then went around the room introducing his teammates to Rayla, which Callum promptly tuned out. It wasn't like he'd remember any of their names, anyway. Not that he didn't care about the wrestling team, but...
Yeah, he didn't care about the wrestling team.
Unless Rayla got on. Then he'd care a little bit.
Callum idly scrolled through Instagram to pass the time. He commented on a post from Claudia's spam about her upcoming exam in bio, reminding her to keep her chin up and that she'd do fine. He liked Ezran's latest photo of Bait - what was it, the fifth that day? His brother seemed to have a slight problem.
He glanced up every now and then to check on Rayla. If the massive smile on her face was an indication of her mood, she seemed to be doing quite well amongst people who loved sports as much as she did.
"What, exactly, is going on in here?"
Callum jumped at the sudden, furious tone, shoving his phone into his pocket and turning around to see a tall, muscular man whose face looked like it had been engraved with a permanent scowl. A scar trailed down from the bottom of his lip to his chin.
He had a bad feeling about this.
"Coach B!" Soren said, his face lighting up at the sight of the man. "I'm glad you're back. I wanted to introduce you to -"
"Why is that Xadian in here?" the coach interrupted, his voice sharp as a blade and dripping with venom. Rayla looked like she'd been punched in the gut by his words. "I don't recall granting permission for this scum to be allowed in our practice room."
Rayla's face was slowly growing paler. Her eyes glinted with frustration, and she was clenching her jaw in a clear attempt to keep back a shout of protest, or maybe to prevent tears from falling. Callum instinctively moved forward and slipped his hand into hers. He wasn't sure if his presence would provide much comfort, but it was the only way he knew to express his support without saying anything. And though she didn't move to look at him, she did give his hand a grateful squeeze.
"Rayla is the person I was telling you about earlier," Soren said, putting emphasis on her name. "I think she'd make a good addition to our team."
The coach snorted. "A Xadian? She'd lose on purpose just to make KSU look bad."
Rayla stiffened. Her nails dug into Callum's palm, but he didn't let go. She still did not speak, gritting her teeth and bearing the verbal abuse.
"Coach, you can't be serious -" Soren started to protest, but his words went ignored.
"I wouldn't put sabotage past her either," the coach snarled. "At least if any equipment malfunctioned or went missing, we'd know exactly who to blame."
"Coach B!" Soren snapped. "Rayla is an athlete and a damn good one at that! You can't seriously be considering turning her down just because she's Xadian?!"
His protests fell on deaf ears as the coach took a step towards Rayla, giving her an icy glare that sent a chill down Callum's spine. "Listen up, Moonshadow. I don't know why Harrow approved your stay here. Plenty of us were against it, and I'll have you know that I was one of those people. I don't regret my stance, either. Your kind don't belong in Katolis and -"
"Shut up!" Callum interrupted, his grip tightening on Rayla's hand. He couldn't listen to the man's bigoted tirade any longer. "You can't talk to her like that!"
"It's free speech, kid," was all the man snarled in response.
"We'll see what my dad has to say about your so-called 'free speech'," Callum retorted, seething in anger. "Come on, Rayla. You don't have to listen to this." He pulled her out of the room, slamming the door behind him and cutting off whatever final words the coach had prepared for them. He didn't stop walking until they'd gone completely out of the building, and even then he didn't let go of Rayla's hand.
He turned around to face her, an apology ready about how he was beyond sorry that she'd had to go through that, but the words fell from his lips when he saw the defeated look on her face.
She pulled her hand out of his, wrapping her arms around herself. She sighed, the gray sky matching her tone of voice with an eerie accuracy. "I knew it wouldn't be easy here," she murmured. "The first few weeks were so much fun…" She sighed. "I guess I should have realized it was too good to be true. I only signed up for this stupid exchange because it shaved off half my tuition, which I knew would be a huge help to Runaan and Ethari. Something like this was bound to happen." The defeat in her eyes was then gradually replaced by a white hot anger. "And the worst part is that most people aren't at all like that bastard! Most people have been nothing but kind to me, even if I can see the discomfort in their eyes. Even if I know they don't like me because I'm Xadian, at least they don't… at least they don't show it." She trailed off, her fists clenching tightly before slowly falling open.
Callum said nothing. He knew it wasn't yet his place to speak.
Rain started to fall, landing on Rayla's cheeks with a heartbreaking resemblance to tears. Although, tears didn't match the steely determination growing in her violet eyes. "Sometimes I wish I'd never come," she finally said. "At the same time... I know it's a good thing that I did, because someone has to take that first step. But..." She turned to face Callum, and this time he wasn't sure it was only rain falling down her face. "Is it bad that I sometimes wish that person didn't have to be me?"
There was a pause before he spoke. "You're only human, Rayla. Of course it's not wrong that you don't want people to judge you just because of where you're from. And I know it's no consolation, but the way you deal with the glares and the stares and the angry words so, so calmly - you're the strongest person I know!" He gave her a soft, genuine smile. "Rayla, you don't know how grateful I am that you came here. My freshman year would have been incredibly miserable and lonely without you in it."
Rayla chuckled at his comment - not quite a laugh, but Callum still considered it a small victory. "Thanks. You and Claudia, Soren, and even Professor Harrow and Ezran - you guys are the reason I'm staying. That, and I do enjoy most of my classes here."
Callum nodded. "Don't let this one jerk bring you down! Like you said - that coach is a bigot, unfortunately, but at least he's one of a few. I'm sure there's another sport, probably several other sports, that you'd be amazing in."
"Hey - you took the words right out of my mouth, little guy."
The two turned around to see the boy with curly dark hair from the wrestling room walking their way.
"Soren's trying to pacify Coach B still," he explained, "so I was sent to deliver messages in his stead. One, he apologizes for his coach's actions and regrets to inform you that wrestling may not be the right sport for you here. Two, he instead wants you to try out for the football team."
Rayla raised an eyebrow. "Isn't Katolian football typically not... co-ed?"
The boy shrugged. "Soren said there's nothing officially in the rule book to prevent girls from trying out - it's just that no girl has ever done so before. He seems to think you can do it. He also says that you're built like a wide receiver."
"Oh? In what way?"
"Tall, strong, and fast."
"Hm." Rayla smiled. A small smile, Callum noted, but a smile nonetheless. "Well, he's right. For once."
The boy laughed before continuing. "He also says that Coach Zhou is a lot more cooperative than Coach B, so there should be less of an issue of... er, prejudice."
"I'll consider it," Rayla said after a pause. "That's all I can agree to for now. When are tryouts?"
"Next Friday on the football field. Starts around one, ends whenever it ends. People tend to be released at different times." He winked at her. "You can just text me if you forget."
Rayla tilted her head to the side, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "You know very well that I don't remember your name, much less have your number."
His grin widened, and a strange feeling began gnawing at the inside of Callum's stomach. "I'm glad you asked." He handed her a slip of paper, which she accepted but stuck into her pocket without looking at it. "Talk to you later, then?"
Rayla shrugged. "We'll see."
Her blasé response didn't seem to faze the wrestler, who simply winked at her again before he returned to inside the building.
"He seems... interesting," Callum finally said, unsure of why his words felt so forced.
Rayla shrugged. "I guess. A little cocky, maybe. Not unlike Soren." She smiled at him. "That being said, not only did he not care that I was Xadian, he also didn't care that I was a girl who wanted to play a 'boy' sport! It's hard finding men who've worked to unlearn institutionalized sexism, you know."
"Does that mean you're going to try out after all?" Callum found himself asking.
"I might," Rayla admitted. "Playing football is better than playing no sport at all. And I do know a decent amount of information about the game already. But I'll have to start practicing tomorrow if I plan to go through with it."
Callum nodded. "Well, I'm sure you'll get on the team." He meant it.
"Aw, you flatterer," Rayla teased. "But I hope you're right." She pulled her phone out of her pocket, shielding it with her free hand to keep rain from falling onto the screen. "You know, this tryout got cut much shorter than I thought it would." She put her phone away and gave him a tentative smile. "Does... lunch still sound good to you?"
Callum grinned at her, feeling happier than he had all day. "Lunch sounds great."
It seemed every cloud did have a silver lining. Wrestling mats, too.
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Second semester has me really stressed right now and I'm genuinely terrified that I'm either gonna lose motivation or inspiration for this fic. But right now, I want to keep writing, and keep writing I will. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you so much for reading!
