I'm very excited about this chapter. *puts in the first part which wasn't in the original plan* I wasn't prepared for this chapter.
Year One: Wingman Duties Commence
Five Years Ago - Rogers Household
Enraged, Xavier climbs up the stairs, skipping two to three steps at a time. Stupid private school boys… He's never going to play a casual football game against them again. On any other day, Xavier can accept defeat. If it was a fair game and everyone had fun, he's more than happy to take the L. But not today. Oh, no definitely not today. Because today, his team lost to cheating. Cheating. And those stupid private school boys wouldn't even admit it!
He's not exaggerating when he would say that this is the worst day of his life.
Running down the hall, he opens Angela's bedroom door and starts letting it all out when he sees her.
"I already told Daniel and Apollo this but listen to me," Xavier starts. "What's the point of claiming a victory after cheating if the people you lost to know that you cheated? It's a waste. It's meaningless. There's no merit. And don't tell me that it's trivial since it was just a game in the park but there was no merit!"
"Xavier," Angela states but the call goes right over his head.
"Those boys can't even tackle," Xavier continues. "If you can't tackle in football, then you don't deserve to win." Cheating or not.
"Xavier!" Angela yells this time.
"What?!"
Xavier looks at his twin and doesn't even have to watch her gesture to turn. He didn't even notice that Angela has a friend from their school in the room, especially since it was her. Seeing her took his breath away like when she first walked into their classroom as the new girl. And he didn't expect her to be here, watching him with her big green eyes as he went on a long-winded rant about losing to cheaters. How embarrassing. There's nothing more he wants to do now than back out of the room and go hide in his room, but he can't move because she's staring at him with a beautiful smile and wave.
Xavier takes a quick breath to regain himself. "Hiya, Britney."
He should've kept quiet. Hiya? Really? First, he loses a football against cheaters and says hiya? He meant to say hello, not perform karate.
-o-
Present Day - Camp SHIELD - 11:23 AM
Xavier looks ahead at the open field. He has a large tire in front of him that he has to flip across. Classmates by his side are in the same position. Once the whistle blows, they start the drill. It's moments like this when Xavier understands why everyone's so harsh in The Academy. Or rationalizes why Camp SHIELD is a living hell. It's not about whatever tiny infraction has gotten them singled out. It's about discipline and performing under pressure while keeping a level head to follow orders.
Xavier was lost in his thoughts and didn't notice he passed the finish line a bit back. If he didn't almost crash into Orchid, who he didn't know was running over to him, he would've flipped that tire back to New Jersey. Or even Brooklyn.
"Guess what," Orchid says. Her body jitters excitedly as if she's about to explode. "I found him."
He didn't even get a chance to guess. "Found who?"
"My man."
Xavier blinks. "Again, who?"
Orchid scoffs, nudging him. "My high school sweetheart! Xavier, I thought you remembered you were helping me!"
He hesitates a little. "I've had a lot on my mind."
"Like what?"
Nothing, if he's going to be honest. "Who is it?"
Orchid beams. "He's a god."
Xavier nods. He knows a couple of gods so he's interested to see who this guy is. Maybe it's Apollo. That'd be hilarious.
Xavier watches Orchid stand on the tire. Using his shoulder to help her balance, she squints her eyes as she scopes the field where the rest of his class is. Xavier looks that way as well although he has no idea who he's looking for. Some of his classmates have finished the drill and others are almost there.
"There!" Orchid says, pointing.
Xavier follows her gesture and, at first, it doesn't help since she's pointing at a group of guys. But then he takes a hint when she swoons and almost melts into him. He even heard her sighing like a deflating tire.
Xavier watches the centre of the pack walk out mid-bro-hug with a classmate. Wearing that bright smile, he whips his long blond hair as he parts from the half-embrace. It might as well be Apollo but it's not. His beached-tan skin glistens from here, fresh with sweat from the drill. He lifts the bottom of his shirt up to wipe his face, casually showing off his tight abs and flexing his arms.
Xavier has no opinion because he doesn't swing that way, but Orchid has hearts so big in her eyes that she wants to run for home.
Once the shirt is lowered, Orchid returns to reality and leaps off the tire.
"I'm going to need your help with this," Orchid states.
"What am I supposed to do?" Xavier asks.
"You know boys. You are one."
As if that'll help. "I don't know how to get them."
"He's in your weight class."
"So? A lot of people are. I don't know him."
"We'll work on that. Maybe you can make new friends too."
Xavier gives her a look. "I made you as a friend, didn't I?"
Orchid puts a hand on her chest. "The fact that you asked hurts my heart and soul."
"You wanted to be besties."
"Yes, but I also want you as my wingman so get started on your wingman duties. Don't worry, I won't let you work alone. I'll pull my weight as I do on the farm. I learned some tips from the girls in my cabin."
"Like what?"
"They said that I have to like a photo on his profile. Then, he'll like one of mine back. I'll like another of his and he'll like another of mine. The cycle continues until he sends a DM or, as they say, slide into them."
Xavier doesn't understand that at all. But he'd be lying if she said girls here didn't try that with him. He just didn't like any photos back because he thought that liking the most recent photo, which was from months ago, would seem creepy. Whatever. He barely understood girls let alone guys and online lives. Dating Britney was so easy compared to this nonsense.
" … that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Xavier tells her.
Orchid smacks his arm with the back of her hand. "And how did you get your prize hen's attention?"
"I said hi."
Orchid raises a brow. "Did you really?"
"I said hiya but I was nervous. She was just in my house with Angela. I didn't expect her to be there."
Orchid looks at him with disbelief that says she believes it based on what she knows about him. Before she could question, the boy of the hour starts running up to them. Orchid inhales sharply, gripping Xavier's arm. It's fate! Xavier doesn't notice at first but immediately gets her off him when he does. He has to make sure Orchid doesn't faint in front of them.
"Prof Burke wants to know if you're taking a break," the golden boy says to Xavier.
Australian accent. That's new to both Xavier and Orchid. He notices the hearts in her eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. That accent must be beyond desirable to her Southern one.
Xavier clears his throat. "I guess I am."
"I'm heading down to the mess hall to grab a bite. Wanna come with?"
"Yes!" Orchid exclaims for Xavier. "Yes, we will." She sticks her hand out for him. "Hiya, I'm Orchid."
Xavier tries not to laugh at the hiya.
Brody gives her a strong handshake in return. "Like the flower."
Orchid nods. "Yes, like the flower."
Xavier smiles to himself. He hasn't started his wingman duties and maybe he won't have to. This ship looks like it was going to sail by itself. Or maybe he did help since the boy ran up to him. Either way, being a wingman was easier than he thought. He didn't see that coming.
The golden boy smiles a little, continuing to shake her hand since she didn't let go. It's not like he minded. "Brody Ocean."
"Like the …" Orchid hesitates. "...big body of water."
Never mind. If they couldn't see him, Xavier would've facepalmed. And he thought he was bad at flirting. Orchid glances at Xavier for a second and he gives her a thumbs-up to be supportive. She looks mortified but not so much after Xavier's reassurance. He has a lot of work to do and he doesn't know where to start.
But at least she got his name.
Brody laughs a little. "Yes, like the big body of water."
He'll have a better introduction in an upcoming chapter, but allow me to introduce our third and final rando for first year, Brody Ocean.
I didn't plan for the Britney flashback to be there. Originally, she was going to first appear with Apollo in a later chapter, but this draws a nice parallel in which Xavier and Orchid are awkward at flirting. (And I miss Britney.)
Britney's Counterpart - Chapter 73: (Britney Braun) What's My Answer?