The Boy Uniform

1: Crestwood's Newest Boy (Who Definitely Isn't Sweating)

Evangeline "Eva" Grayson stood outside the towering gates of Crestwood Academy, the crisp air nipping at her cheeks. A gust of wind caught the edges of her oversized jacket, and she pulled it tighter around herself, feeling the weight of what she was about to do. She tilted her head back, gazing up at the looming brick buildings of the all-boys school she had somehow convinced herself was her ticket to her dream.

This was it. There was no turning back.

Eva took a deep breath, smoothing her short, choppy hair—hair that used to fall in graceful waves down her back, but now sat like a boyish mop on her head. She had spent weeks preparing for this moment: practicing how to walk, talk, and act like a guy. Everything from her loose jeans to the way she slouched was a calculated decision, designed to erase any trace of the girl she used to be.

"Eli Grayson," she whispered to herself, testing the name. It still felt foreign on her tongue, but soon, she'd have no choice but to live and breathe it.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she stepped forward, crossing the threshold into Crestwood. She had rehearsed this a hundred times—straight shoulders, casual confidence, a hint of indifference like she didn't care about being the new kid in a school full of testosterone-fueled teenage boys. But inside, she was a mess.

Her reasons for doing this were sound, at least in her mind. After years of being stifled at the exclusive, all-girls ballet academy her mother insisted was her only path to greatness, Eva craved something more. Crestwood had a world-renowned swimming program, obvious as the prestigious athletics of Crestwood Academy was no stranger in the world of the rich and famous. But it was only open to Crestwood and Bellemont students and alumni. Since her aunt Cresta was on the board of directors in Bellemont, it didn't leave her much choice but to choose the former.

It didn't matter that she had to dress up as a boy to get in. She was willing to risk everything if it meant that she could get on the swimming team. That's how desperate she was.

It won't be for long. She will be on her senior year at Crestwood and as soon as she is confirmed to be on the swimming team, she'll leave the school and rejoin the program as an alumnus, as her real identity. She didn't know how to do that yet, but she'll deal with that later.

First, just get the damn diploma.

Eva adjusted her backpack, feeling the familiar weight of her sketchbook and worn ballet slippers inside. A reminder of why she was here. She didn't have time to get caught up in the fear of being found out. All she had to do was make it through orientation, figure out the lay of the land, and survive the term. She fixed her binder through her uniform and stepped up the stairs toward the big front door.

The silence from the outside broke as she stepped inside the prestigious halls of Crestwood Academy, a towering gothic structure that loomed with an air of ancient wealth. Its arched windows, framed by intricate stone carvings, stretched high above, casting soft, golden light that filtered through stained glass. Chandeliers, dripping with crystal, hung from the vaulted ceilings, casting flickering shadows across the marble floors. The scent of polished wood and aged leather filled the air, the kind that hinted at old money and generations of tradition.

She held her breath, feeling the weight of the place, trying to make herself small as she walked through the sea of boys in their immaculate uniforms, the gold-embroidered crest of the academy sewn neatly onto the left side of their navy blazers. The boys, products of privilege, moved with confidence, their voices echoing through the grand corridor. She tried to blend in, her steps mirroring their purposeful strides, her gaze kept low.

Just as she thought she'd slip by unnoticed, a jarring bump to her shoulder threw her off balance.

"Watch it, man," a deep voice grumbled.

Eva froze for a second before instinctively dropping her voice. "Uh, yeah, sorry."

The guy who bumped into her barely glanced in her direction before walking off, clearly not caring enough to give her more than a grunt. Relief washed over her—at least she didn't draw too much attention to herself on the first day. But the real challenge was just beginning.

As Eva neared the dormitory, her gaze fell on the other students, all of them so effortlessly fitting into this environment. Groups of boys slung backpacks over their shoulders, laughing loudly, tossing footballs, or leaning against brick walls, as if this was just another day at the office. She envied how easily they navigated this world.

Her eyes scanned the courtyard, and that's when she spotted him.

He was leaning casually against one of the stone pillars, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he chatted with a couple of his friends. Even from across the courtyard, Eva could feel the confidence radiating from him. Tall, athletic, with that effortlessly tousled hair and a face that looked like it belonged in a magazine, he was the kind of guy who could command attention without even trying.

Hell, she had her eyes on him for one second, and it already so hard for her to look away.

Eva's stomach did a nervous flip as she looked up, her heart lurching in her chest. She recognized him instantly from the school's website—Crestwood's golden boy, Chase Hartley. The one who excelled at everything—captain of the rugby team, student council president, straight-A student, and effortlessly popular. He had that natural charm that made everyone gravitate toward him, as if the world bent to his will.

Eva's pulse quickened. She would have to avoid him at all costs. Guys like him had a way of sniffing out weakness, exploiting it with ease. If Chase even sensed something was off about her—if he caught the slightest whiff of her secret—it could mean the end of everything. Her disguise, her place at Crestwood, her dreams. She swallowed hard, her breath shallow, knowing that from this moment on, Chase Carter wasn't just a threat—he was her biggest obstacle.

Trying not to look his way again, Eva ducked into the dorms. She pulled out the crumpled schedule from her back pocket and squinted at the room number.

"Third floor, room 307," she muttered.

The stairs creaked beneath her feet as she climbed, her heart thudding louder with each step. She had rehearsed all of this in her head—how to act, what to say if anyone asked too many questions—but the reality was already more overwhelming than she had imagined.

When she finally reached her door, Eva hesitated. This was it. Her new life, her new identity. She plastered on what she hoped was a relaxed expression, squared her shoulders, and turned the doorknob.

Inside the room stood a guy—a tall, lean boy with messy black hair and a friendly, if slightly mischievous, grin on his face.

"Hey, you must be the new guy. Eli, right?" His voice was light, easygoing. Not what she expected.

"Uh, yeah," she replied, her voice just a little too low. "Eli Grayson."

"I'm Landon." He extended his hand, and she quickly shook it, grateful that her first encounter wasn't with someone like Chase.

"Nice to meet you, man," Landon said, already throwing himself onto one of the beds. "Welcome to Crestwood. You're in for one hell of a year."

Eva managed a small smile, but inside, her thoughts were racing. If this was just the beginning, she could only imagine how complicated things would get from here.