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“I'm telling you, you're going to do fine.” Colt sighs.
“B-but wh-what if I fail!”
Colt groans loudly. “If you fail then I'll launch myself into space. Deal?”
“No! Colt, that's not funny!” Ryland grips his hair, leaning against the lockers in the hallway.
Colt blinks, seemingly realizing that Ryland is genuinely panicking. Colt steps closer to Ryland and holds up his hands. “Hey breathe.”
“I-I can't!” Ryland sobs and pulls his hair. Ryland continues to sob and slide down the lockers so that his butt touches the floor.
“You can. In for three, out for four.” Colt crouches in front of Ryland. Ryland hasn't even registered how empty the hallway is.
Ryland shakes his head rapidly. He can't breathe. His chest feels like someone dropped an anvil on him. He tugs harder on his hair.
“Ryland. Grace.” Colt says sternly, causing Ryland to look up at him.
“Stop pulling your hair please. In. Two. Three. Four. Hold. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Out. Two. Three. Four.”
Ryland struggles to follow along, but Colt's voice is soothing and eventually his hands slip out of their death grip on his hair.
“There we go. Now. Why are you so worried?”
“...Cause if I fail this test I won't get into Harvard or Yale… This isn't just a normal test, this is my whole future on the line.”
“...Is it really the end of the world if you get a B? Cause there's no way you're getting lower than a B.”
“It is! Im a straight A student and that's what I wrote my college essay on! …okay not that entirely, but still.”
“You're going to do great, Ry. I promise. Now take a few more deep breaths, get in there, and kick that test's ass!”
Ryland chuckles wetly and rubs his face. He's got this. He can do this. “O-okay. I can- I can do this.”
“Thats the spirit! Now get in there!”
Colt helps Ryland stand up and dust himself off. Ryland takes a final deep breath and walks inside the classroom. He can do this.
☆°•°○————————————————————○°•°☆
Two weeks later, Ryland gets the results. He's too scared to open the little envelope.
“Oh come on. If you're not going to do it, I will!” Colt groans and snatches the envelope from Ryland's hands.
“Colt!”
Colt rips the envelope open and starts reading. His face falls. Ryland's heart drops.
“W-what? What-what does it say?” Ryland's voice cracks.
Colt looks devastated as he hands Ryland the letter. Ryland's hands start shaking, tears filling his eyes as he carefully takes the letter.
He starts reading, skipping over his name and address.
SAT SCORE: 1590
Ryland chokes on a sob. “I PASSED! COLT I PASSED!” Ryland launches himself into Colts arms and then slaps his shoulder. “You jerk! You scared me!” Ryland laughs through his tears.
“Passed!? Ryland you got a 1590! That's literally one of the highest scores ever! You're a genius!”
Ryland grins so wide his cheeks burn. “I-I guess I kinda am.”
Colt pulls away and ruffles Ryland's hair. “I have a genius for a twin.”
“And I have a dumbass for a twin. Ha! Payback… I'm sorry.” Ryland giggles.
Colt snorts. “I'm proud of you. You did amazing.”
“Thank you.” Ryland hugs Colt again.