Page 50 of The Beta Test

“Well, no, technically,” Kim stumbles a little before taking a breath. “The boys’ hockey team has had a co-captain arrangement within the past couple of years, so this situation isn’t totally without precedent at Valley Prep in general.”

I feel Analiese’s gaze boring into me, almost willing me to support her in arguing with Kim. But then I realize… perhaps a spirit of supportive compromise will make me appear the more mature ‘captain’ here.

“Thank you so much for trusting me to co-lead this year’s team. We,” I emphasize with a plastic grin, “will work together with no issue, Coach.”

Analiese releases a little huff. She knows when the battle is lost, and I know she wants to put “captain” on her resume as much as I do. “Yes, thank you, Coach. I’m looking forward to the season. Let me know what I can do to help with scheduling or anything else,” she says.

I don’t think it’s my imagination making her tone feel completely fake. It’s almost impossible to resist the urge to roll my eyes at her clearly platitudinous offers of assistance.

“Great, I knew I could rely on you girls,” Kim says. “This information isn’t public yet, but the assistant coach won’t be returning this season, so I’ll be leaning on you a lot.”

Kim dismisses us and I hoof it out of there to avoid any more interaction with Analiese. By mid-morning, my brain is already fatigued from imagining all the up-close-and-personal time I’ll have to spend with her as co-captains, but a fresh wave of energy hits as I stride down the hall for the meeting with my academic advisor. This meeting isn’t strictly necessary, as Mrs. Nelson, my advisor, reminded me, but I am a big fan of dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s. Spring semester is not the time for a surprise trapdoor to open under me when I’m sprinting toward graduation while balancing everything in my life.

I breeze through the school admin area toward the hall where the guidance counselors have offices. There’s a bright banner reminding students the school provides assistance with college planning. I don’t need the reminder—my college applications are done and submitted.

Mrs. Nelson is sitting at her desk and brushing what looks like the remains of a butternut donut off her silk blouse when I gently knock on the open door to get her attention.

“Mrs. Nelson? I’m here for our 10:15 meeting?”

“Ah, yes, come in, Avery. Take a seat.”

I sit down and open my bag. My tablet screen lights up with a message on Connection Services from Mr. Pi, spinning my mind back to our last conversation. I shouldn’t have let my guard down—maybe I confided in him too much, even if it is anonymous. I don’t need some rando telling me there’s nothing wrong with me; what I need is Mrs. Nelson to reassure me my plans are on track. I darken the tablet screen and shove it behind a binder.

I pull my notebook out of my backpack and pop open a fresh blue ballpoint pen, ready to take notes. A quick review of the bullet list agenda I’d written for this meeting, then my most recent transcript comes out as a reference.

“So, what would you like to discuss?” She crosses her arms on her desk and leans forward slightly.

“Well, as you know, I’m proactively planning my college career.” I pause as she releases a long-suffering sigh and nods. It’s true that I’ve prioritized meeting regularly with her for the past three years, but as a school counselor isn’t this part of her job? She should be thankful to have a student so motivated on her roster.

“All the colleges we've previously discussed have received applications, including early decision for MIT. However, there are still some items on my agenda that need to be crossed off the list. I’ve recently been made captain of the swim team.” There’s no need to mention the ‘co-captain’ issue for now.

“I always forget we have a swim team, what with the pool being in the basement. But that’s great! Congratulations, Avery.”

“Thanks. Now I’d like to discuss the issue of this year’s valedictorian.” Obviously, this is imperative. This is one of the crowning achievements of my high school career and the pinnacle of success on my vision board.

Mrs. Nelson’s eyebrows crinkle in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I want to make sure I’m on track to be valedictorian.”

She scootches her chair forward and taps her fingers on the keyboard for a moment, then clicks with the mouse. I assume she’s checking my current GPA and lightly doodle in the margin of my notebook while waiting. I cringe as I remember my last “doodle” of the burning dumpster. This time I stick to doodling my favorite snacks. That’s safe.

After a few moments, I look up to see Mrs. Nelson STILL clicking around on her computer with a pensive look.

“My grade in calculus started out weak this semester, but I’ve really turned it around and it should only go up from here. I assume I’m still at least in the top two, correct?”

She finally tears her eyes away from the computer screen to look at me. Her green eyes no longer look exasperated at my thoroughness. Instead, they look surprised.

“I’m sorry, Avery, but… no. It seems in this year’s graduating class, you’re currently ranked sixth.”

“WHAT?!” I shoot to my feet, notebook and pen flying off my lap and clattering onto the floor. Both hands land on her desk as I crane my neck to see her screen.

“Really, Avery!” Mrs. Nelson exclaims then quickly pokes the power button on the monitor to turn off the display. “You can’t see other students’ private information! Sit down, Avery James.”

Her voice is filled with the authority of a woman who’s raised and disciplined children for many, many years. After a deep breath, I reclaim my chair, then lean down to retrieve the notebook and pen.

“I apologize for that outburst, Mrs. Nelson,” I say as I primly smooth my skirt and flick my hair over my shoulder. “But there must be some mistake. At the end of last year I was neck-and-neck with Analiese for top of our class.”

“Yes, I remember. However, your class is very competitive and there have always been several kids with high GPAs very close to yours. And while art is great for rounding out your transcript, it doesn’t have the GPA weight as something like AP Art History. Also, there have been a couple transfer students with very impressive records.”