Page 5 of The Drama King
"Your GPA must remain above 3.8," she reminded us for the third time, her pale eyes scanning the small group of scholarship recipients like she was already calculating which of us would fail. "Any grade below a B+ in your major courses will trigger an automatic review of your scholarship status."
I made notes mechanically, my hand cramping from the detailed requirements. Work-study obligations: minimum twenty hours per week now, not ten as I'd originally been told. Mandatory academic progress meetings every two weeks. Restricted participation in social activities that might "interfere with academic excellence." The list grew with each sentence.
The most humiliating part came at the end: a special session for Omega scholarship students. Our “wellness session”, as they called it.
Out of the twenty total recipients, only four of us remained in the room. Myself, a physics major with nervous hands who kept adjusting his glasses, a music student who smelled faintly of violets and anxiety, and surprisingly, a male Omega—a pre-med student who kept his gaze firmly fixed on his notebook.
"As Omega students on scholarship, you face unique challenges," the director said, her tone softening to something that might have been sympathy if it weren't so patronizing."Your biology requires special accommodations, which Northwood is prepared to provide—within reason."
She distributed additional paperwork that made my cheeks burn as I skimmed through it. Heat cycle documentation requirements. Suppressant brand regulations. Emergency protocols. Questions about family medical history and designation patterns that felt invasive even by university standards.
"All heat cycles must be registered with Student Health Services at the beginning of each semester," she continued. "Northwood provides basic suppressants at a subsidized cost, though many students find these inadequate and prefer premium formulations."
The "premium" suppressants, I knew from my research, cost upwards of three hundred dollars per month—more than my food budget for an entire semester. The subsidized options came with notorious side effects: nausea, headaches, concentration problems, mood swings. Not exactly conducive to maintaining that mandatory 3.8 GPA.
"Emergency heat protocols are outlined on page seven," the director continued, her voice taking on a warning tone. "Should you experience an unexpected cycle, you are required to contact Student Health immediately and remain in designated safe spaces until medical assistance arrives. Failure to follow these protocols puts both you and the broader student body at risk, and constitutes grounds for immediate disciplinary action up to and including scholarship revocation."
Translation:if your biology inconveniences the institution, you'll be punished for it.
"Finally," she said, lowering her voice to something almost conspiratorial, "a word of personal advice. Northwood's social environment can be challenging for scholarship students of any designation, but particularly for Omegas. I strongly recommendfocusing entirely on your studies and avoiding social entanglements that might complicate your academic journey."
Her gaze lingered meaningfully on each of us in turn. When she reached me, I forced myself to meet her eyes steadily, refusing to show the shame she clearly expected.
"Are there any questions?" she asked, though her tone suggested there shouldn't be.
The physics Omega raised a trembling hand. "What if we experience harassment? The materials don't outline a clear reporting process."
A flash of obvious discomfort crossed the director's face. "Any concerns should be brought first to your faculty advisor, who will determine if escalation to administration is warranted. However, I must emphasize that Northwood takes all allegations very seriously, and false reports carry serious consequences for the reporting party."
In other words:keep your head down, don't cause trouble, and if you do report something, you better be prepared to prove it beyond any doubt.
The pre-med student spoke up unexpectedly. "What constitutes harassment versus normal social dynamics?"
The woman’s smile became razor-thin. "That's precisely the kind of judgment your faculty advisors are trained to make. I trust you'll use their guidance wisely."
By the time we were dismissed, my jaw ached from clenching it. The other Omegas looked equally deflated—the physics student practically fled the room, while the music major looked like she might cry.
The male pre-med student caught my eye as we both stood to leave. "Michael Park," he said quietly, extending his hand. "Pre-med track."
"Vespera Levine. Theater." I shook his hand, noting that his grip was firm despite his earlier nervousness.
"Good luck," he said, but something in his tone suggested he thought I'd need more than luck to survive.
I checked my phone to find three texts from Stephanie:
Is the meeting still going? Robbie and I are at the Campus Cafe. He's eager to meet you.
Their scones are amazing btw. I'm saving you one.
I texted back quickly:Just finished. Taking the library route. Be there in 10.
The September morning had warmed considerably, golden light filtering through the ancient oak trees that lined the winding pathways between buildings. Despite my anxiety, I couldn't help admiring the campus. Northwood was undeniably beautiful: gothic architecture mixed with modern amenities, extensive gardens, and carefully preserved old-growth trees.
As I rounded the corner near the science building, I glimpsed a small group of students gathered beside one of the memorial benches. Their body language immediately put me on alert: two tall figures looming over a much smaller one.
Corvus and Oakley, minus Dorian, had cornered someone against the bench. The victim was slight, dark-haired, wearing the standard uniform but with posture that suggested he was trying very hard not to show fear.
It was Michael Park, the pre-med student from the scholarship meeting.