Frankie

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The Friday that will mark one week of school left, during seventh hour, I’m paged to the Dean’s office. At the same time Keyon Blackhawk is called. What could this be about now? Keyon is the most popular guy at school, always has been. But now that we are seniors, he’s been captain of the football and baseball teams and was Homecoming king. It’s rumored that he’s a player and has dated almost every girl in our class, although he’s not had a steady girlfriend since 10th grade. I know Keyon through our fathers. His dad owns the company my dad works for, and they’ve been good friends since college. They say they both met our moms and were in each other’s weddings. While Keyon’s parents had him almost immediately after getting married, my parents were unable to have a child of their own and adopted me when I was an infant. I leave my train of thought as I walk into the office with Keyon entering right behind me.

The secretary, I think her name is Mrs. Jones, shows us into the Dean’s office together. We take our seats across from the Dean and wait to see what he has to say. “Greetings, you two, thank you for coming so quickly”, Dean Strauss says. “I’m sure you are wondering why I called you here. Well, it’s good news. Beginning with your class we have begun a new way of selecting a Valedictorian from the class. It has been tradition that the person with the highest GPA gets the honor. However, after much debate we have decided it’s important to take into consideration those students who are dividing their time between academics and athletics. The board has come up with what they feel is a fair formula to figure out how athletics can affect the GPA of a student”, he pauses here.

They can’t be serious. I have worked hard my whole life I have not only been 4.0 my entire time in high school, I never got less then the top grades in all of my lower levels grade. I’ve even taken college classes and have half of my credits earned for my bachelor’s degree, and because he can throw a ball, he gets to be my equal. No matter what I do here in the stupid tiny town the jocks are still going to win. I take a deep shaky breath and look at Keyon who is eyeing me strangely. I don’t give him any thought and look to the Dean to continue.

The Dean smiles at us and begins again, “Congratulations you two have tied as the top students at this school. We would like both of you to speak at graduation. You will be given until Wednesday to write your speech, we will look it over and then you will be cleared to give it at commencement. Are you both ok with that?” Keyon and I look at each other and then both at the Dean and nod, I speak first, “yes sir, I have already given it thought. Also when you speak to the board please ask them if a students additional college GPA is taken into account in this matter”, with that I leave before Keyon can speak.

When the final bell rings I meet my best friend, well only friend Ella at our locker and she gives me a ride home. “Hey, girl what did the dean want with you and Keyon?” Ella asks me as she puts the car in drive and turns towards my hours. “Not much, just that we both are going to be Valedictorian”, I say rolling my eyes at “both”. Eller gasps and gives me a smirk, “you do know that means you will be expected to walk with him. You tow will be so cute!” she squeals and giggles. Every girl in our class wants to be the one to walk with Keyon at graduation. Every girl except me that is. I don’t want the attention, not do I want anyone to know that we are actually on good terms outside of school because of our dads. “Ella, I don’t think anything about Keyon and I would be cute. He only got this because he’s a popular jock and they think he’ll have something ‘awesome dude’ to say”, I tell her and we laugh at my stupid joke.