At First Blush

Chapter 29

Don't forget that we have your Grandmother's birthday party coming up!

Ollie smiled and rolled his eyes as the text from his mom popped up. He glanced up, and saw that the student in front of him was still talking to Professor Hewitt, so he swiped and wrote back: Oh no, I totally forgot...about the thing we do every year for the past twenty-two years... :P

The reply was instant: Brat. What I meant was see if that nice young man you're seeing is available...

Ollie flushed beet red and shoved his phone into his back pocket. Juls. At his prim and proper Grandmother's birthday party. Oh God. He shifted his weight, glancing at the student packing up. Juls. His boyfriend, his partner....at Grandmom's birthday party...being introduced as someone important...

"Be with you in a second, Ollie!" Hewitt called as the student came out. The student, a tall Alpha-frat looking guy, gave Ollie a once over, then made a face. Ollie rolled his eyes. Yes he was wearing a pink crop top and jeans. Sue him.

"Okay, come on in, Ollie."

He ignored the other student and went into his advisor's office. Professor, or rather Doctor, Reginald Hewitt was an esteemed professor of History, particularly the nexus of Queer and Rank history. Ollie had been giddy about being able to work with him. A letter of recommendation from Hewitt would get him into any grad program or certificate program.

"Open or closed?" He asked, holding onto the door knob.

Hewitt stared at his desk a long moment, before saying quietly, "Closed, please."

Ollie's heart dropped as he let the door click closed. "Hewitt?" He asked nervously, sliding into his seat.

Hewitt shifted a little in his seat, then sighed. "Oliver, I want to start by saying that you are a brilliant mind and a stellar student. I have enjoyed working with you."

Ollie's stomach felt like it was going to curdle. "I really enjoy working with you too." He forced a smile, but it wobbled and fell away. "What's going on?"

Hewitt leaned back, and took his glasses off, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "As you may or may not be aware, in a student's records, their Rank is listed. And when you first Presented, it was noted and submitted to your permanent record as an addendum."

"Okay..." Ollie said slowly, frowning.

"I had recently been approached by another academic for nominations to a scholarship towards a Masters in Education at New Haven University."

Ollie's jaw dropped, and he leaned forward. "Are you serious? What did you say? What does this mean? You know that's my-"

"Top school, yes. And yes, I did nominate you. And you made it into the final running. However," Hewitt paused, his gaze dropping from Ollie's to the desk, "however when your addendum was added, I was informed that your name had been dropped from consideration."

Ollie's blood ran cold. "What? Why?" He managed, lips cold, hands shaking. He grabbed the wooden armrests to hide it, but it didn't seem to help much.

"They were very...vague. They know that they cannot seem like they are discriminating, so they said that while the funding would be very generous, the work would match that, in terms of rigor and expectations and they had not budgeted time in for..." here Hewitt's broke and his gaze flashed to Ollie's, gold flecks in his otherwise warm brown gaze. "They said they did not budget for parental leave, and due to your new Ranked status, they did not feel as if they were the best match for you, and encouraged you to apply to universities where parental leave care is included in the offered financial aid."