C.O.Z.Y

Chapter 10: Chef at Home

15-year-old Maverick Augustus has never been more attentive as he was at this moment. It was like every cell in his body refused to relax, he felt physically incapable of sitting back in the plush opera house seat.

The dean of students, Dr. Mosley, had just stepped off the stage after her speech about school pride, acceptance, and whatever else she was spewing. Eventually, she got to the part everybody cared about; the awards for the fall quarter.

Marybelle Starling was just as competitive as any other private high school, maybe even more so because of the cold war between the scholarship students and their more privileged counterparts. There were a bunch of awards like honor roll and participant awards, but the most sought-after award of the night was the superiority award. They are offered three times a year, once per season, and the best student in each grade is honored with an award. The Bookman Award for freshmen, the Scholar Award for sophomores, the Intellectual Award for juniors, and the Man of Letters Award for seniors. The winners of these awards are most likely the students you will see in the running for valedictorian at the end of their high school careers.

Anticipation hung in the air as students, parents, and staff waited with bated breath as one of the school's biggest donors walked onto the stage.

"Good evening students, parents, and faculty. I am Joanna Meginnis- Halmich and I will be presenting this fall's Harrold Halmich scholar award. This award is for the student who's not only an academic leader, pulling in the highest marks in all their classes, but a true scholar. Their hard work and continuous dedication to education have brought so much pride to Marybelle Starling. This scholar is an inspiration to us all. I am so honored to announce that this year's fall scholar is... Amara-Amour Azor."

A low and sparse applause of surprise took over the room. A transfer student who's only been at the school for a couple of months won the scholar award.

Amara confidently strutted down the long aisle towards the stage while large butterflies attacked Maverick's stomach as he watched. Her chin was raised high, she never once faltered or misstepped. With perfect posture she looked down on everyone around her, there was no doubt in her eyes or fear in her stance. She belonged at the head of the class, and no one could tell her otherwise.

Mrs. Meginnis-Halmich beamed as she handed Amara the framed award and shook her hand. They took a quick photo before Amara took the podium.

"Wow, thank you. I am so grateful to be standing in front of you all. I want to thank Mrs. Meginnis-Halmich and the Marybelle Starling board for all their hard work at our amazing School. I also want to thank all the amazing teachers whose commitment to teaching has made it possible for me to be here. Lastly and most importantly, I want to thank my fellow students whose consistent encouragement is the only reason I stand here today."

Amara scanned the room, and she captured the eyes of some of her main competitors, her standing on that stage was a slap to the face. A deep smile touched her lips as she addressed them.

"I want to make a promise to my fellow students.  I will always work as hard as I can to stand above the herd and face every adversary head-on. I might be a mare pebble but I'm a pebble in your shoe. The harder you step on me the harder you'll bleed. Thank you."

Then she glided off the stage with the same effortless grace.  

12 years later, Amara still walks with the confidence of someone who's never experienced self-doubt and Maverick is still in awe of her, she was enthralling.

He couldn't look away even if he wanted to.

Thankfully Inho came to the rescue and snapped his fingers in Maverick's face.