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After a few tests of strength, endurance, and teamwork, Jamie felt like she was going to die. Chasing after chickens was the last thing she was expecting to do today and she didn't even catch one. Not to mention the strength test where they had to squat with a a small bolder in their hands. If Sensei Barnes didn't have a decision, Jamie was sure she was just going to give up her spot.

"Congratulations." Sensei Barnes says from the sparring deck, "You didn't die. Still, half of you wouldn't last one match at the Sekai Taikai. To the 14 who might, join me up here when I call your name. Hawk."

The teens clap as Hawk steps onto the deck with Barnes, "Robby. Miguel. Sam. Tory. Jamie."

Jamie smiles as she steps onto the deck and stands beside Tory. Barnes looks out to the teens, "Muscles."

"What?"

"Yeah, you." Sensei Barnes says pointing to Mitch

"I have a new nickname?"

"Get up here."

"I have a new nickname!" He says before walking up to stand beside Jamie. He turns to Jamie and Tory holding his hand out, "What's up, ladies? Name's Muscles. Nice to meet you."

Jamie and Tory stay facing front, but Jamie can't help the way her face scrunches up. Mitch pulls his hand away, "Okay."

"Kenny." Barnes says as the boy steps up onto the platform, "Kenny, good job. No one ever catches the chicken."

Kenny nods as Barnes continues, "Nate. Chris."

"Only four left." Devon whispers to Demetri

"I'm a goner."

"Demetri." Barnes calls out. Demetri's eyes widen before he steps up, "Priscilla."

The teens clap as Priscilla steps up. Her eyes catch Jamie's as she turns. Jamie's jaw clenches before she looks away. Barnes groans as he puts his book away, "Oh, right. Devon. And the last name. Anthony."

"Yes!" Daniel cheers

"Congratulations, top 14. Meet me back here tomorrow for round two. To the rest of you, you're out. Better luck next time." He says before turning to Sam, Tory, and Jamie, "You three. Fierce. Keep it up."

Sam turns to Tory and gives her a high five as everyone steps down. Jamie turns as Miguel walks up with a big smile, "You did it."

"So, did you." Jamie chuckles, "You're definitely making it in the top eight."

"And so are you." Miguel says as if it were obvious, "What are you doing tonight?"

"Dinner with my dad." She sighs, "But I can definitely skip out."

"You're not skipping out." Miguel smiles, "I don't need your mom to hate me."

Jamie groans, "I'm gonna die sitting there for hours acting like I want to be there."

"Just get it over with." Miguel says placing his hands on her shoulders, "Before you know it, it'll be over and we'll be in Barcelona."

Jamie lets out a small sigh as he kisses her forehead. He wraps his arm around her shoulder and leads her to the others that are celebrating making the cut.

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Jamie doesn't think she's ever been more uncomfortable in her life. She was sat across from her dad's wife whose name she learned was Brittany. Her mom on the right and her dad on the left. They had gotten there about 30 minutes ago and Jamie hadn't said much. More so listening as her mom tried to keep the conversation from turning sour.

"Uh, so, Jamie." Brittany says. Jamie slowly looks up from her food, "Your dad told me you've been applying to different colleges."

Jamie gives a tight lipped smile, "Yeah."

"Any one you really want to get in to?"

"Um, Stanford." Jamie says

"Oh, that's a great school."

Amber turns to Jamie, "Have you or Miguel gotten any emails yet?"

"No, not yet."

"Who's Miguel?" James asks

"Jamie's boyfriend." Amber nods, "You saw him the last time you came. They both applied to Stanford."

"So, you're applying there because of a boy?"

"James." Amber sighs

"I've been talking about going to Stanford since I was 13. You would know that if you were here." Jamie snaps

Amber's shoulders tense up as the table goes silent. James chuckles, "There are so many good schools out there. It's just a lucky coincidence that you want to apply to the same school as your boyfriend?"

"Yeah, it is." Jamie says, "Is it a bad thing that I actually want to be around people who care about me?"

"Jamie." Amber says, "Enough."

Jamie's face hardens as she stares back at her dad. She could tell the man was taken aback by Jamie's attitude towards him, but what did he expect? Jamie was still hurt by the information she learned and to have to be around the person who hurt you, wasn't helping. Jamie scoots her chair back and grabs her plate.

"I'm gonna go eat in my room." She says before turning to her dad's wife, "Nice to meet you, Brittany."

Amber watches her walk down the hall before her door shuts. She lets out a deep sigh as she turns back to the table.

Jamie sets her plate down on her desk before plopping down on her bed. She grabs her phone from her bedside table. She clicks on Miguel's contact and sits up against her headboard as it rings.

"Hey." Miguel says with a smile. His face drops noticing Jamie's solemn expression, "I'm guessing it didn't go well?"

"It actually went as bad as it could've gone."

"What happened?"

"My dad's an asshole." Jamie scoffs, "I tried as hard as I could to be polite. His wife asks me about college and I told her I was applying to Stanford."

"Okay."

"And then my mom asks if either of us had gotten an email or anything yet and I told her no, but my dad wants to jump in and say I'm only applying to Stanford because of you."

"What? Seriously?"

"Yes. Stanford was a college I had been talking about for years. He hasn't been here to hear that and he has the nerve to undermine me and say I'm going because of some guy?" Jamie complains, "Not that you're just some guy-"

"I know." Miguel chuckles

"I was going to apply to Stanford whether you applied or not. I've never depended on someone else much less a boy to dictate my future." She says pointing to herself, "How dare he?"

The room goes silent as Jamie finished her rant. She looked down at her phone to find Miguel smiling back at her, "What?"

"Nothing." He chuckles, "I can just tell you needed that."

"Sorry." She sighs

"Don't be. I mean, you're not wrong at all." He shrugs, "He shouldn't have said that to you. Especially if he's trying to get on your good side."

"Yeah, well, if he had any shot at it before, it's definitely gone now." She scoffs

"And that's understandable." He nods

Jamie lets out a deep sigh, "I'm pretty sure my mom is gonna be pissed at me."

"Maybe, but you didn't do anything wrong."

"You sure?"

"Positive." He says, "You should come over and we can finish watching Harry Potter."

"I'm not that upset." She says making Miguel let out a laugh

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