Page 115 of Want It All
Our final grades weren’t released until after the award night ceremony, leaving the academic achievement awards – along with the later-year awards and the all-important Banksia Prize – a mystery. Next to me, Sebastian was thrumming with anticipation; we’d spent the last semester in loving competition, challenging each other to work harder, aim higher, to get the best marks possible.
And tonight we’d know whether it had paid off.
Oh, Sebastian pretended very well that he didn’t mind which of us took first place in the year, butIknew just as well that it was bullshit. He wanted the academic award almost as much as he wanted the Banksia Prize. And after meeting his parents, I couldn’t really blame him.
‘No matter what happens, you’re both amazing,’ Byron murmured, leaning down to kiss me, then reaching to cup Sebastian’s cheek. ‘Plus, there’s always next year.’
‘Don’t encourage them,’ Tristan muttered. Our alphas looked so handsome, Byron in a black button-down and jeans, and Tristan wearing a pair of plaid pants and a linen shirt. He leaned down to nuzzle Sebastian’s scent gland. ‘The real prize comes tomorrow.’
‘Yes, yes, the bonding ceremony will be great, but Rose and I need the metaphorical gold stars, Tris.’ Sebastian’s knee bounced. ‘Inherent worth is good and all, but we need validation.’ Byron’s mother stepped onto the stage. ‘Fuck me, it’s starting.’
‘Good evening and welcome to Banksia House,’ the Dean said into the microphone, smiling out at the crowd. Sebastian said I looked like my mother, but Tina Griffiths had been a mirror image of hers; the proof was in the photos Byron had put up all over our apartment, alongside shots of our pack and all our families. I’d taken several of them, developing them in Banksia’s new dark room, which hadn’t existed until Tristan had politely asked for it on my behalf. ‘I’ll get my welcome done quickly, never fear.’
There was a smatter of laughter from the audience, and Carla Griffiths continued.
‘This year has been one of change for Banksia House. A new dean, new members of faculty, and some updates in pastoral care practices and support procedures, especially in relation to our beta and omega students.’
I cleared my throat softly at the mention of new members of faculty; Professor Brandon Heathcote had left Banksia manor after the first semester’s final exam and had not returned. His later-year students all had new tutors, and although I’d searched online, I couldn’t find any notice of Heathcote finding another job – at a university, at least.
‘Academia is, and always has been, a meeting point of progress and tradition,’ our Dean said, her tone serious. ‘And it is our responsibility – as people with the incredible privilege of belonging to and participating in this environment – to know that traditions affect and are enacted upon individuals differently, and often, this is not to their benefit. It is our duty, as scholars, to know when to let traditions go, and when tobegin new ones.’ She paused. ‘It is with this in mind that I have the immense pleasure of announcing a change to Banksia’s admission procedures. From next year, the two scholarship positions in every Banksia first-year intake will be no more.’
There were some gasps from the audience; a few voices rose angrily. Beside me, Byron tensed.
‘Instead, there will be ten.’
There were some more gasps from behind us, and some relieved laughter.
‘Four positions will be retained for students of any designation who show above-exceptional academic ability. The remaining six positions will be reserved for students of beta and omega designation who meet or exceed our entrance tests. Banksia’s cohorts will remain small, so the hope is that these new positions will significantly increase our percentage of beta and omega students. Our environment and support services will evolve to meet this challenge, with more pack rooms and nests available, and student leave procedures updated to include heats. In this way, we hope that Banksia, over time, will become an institution whereanydesignation can succeed – and not just succeed, but excel.’
Sebastian began to clap loudly and, a heartbeat later, the rest of the audience joined in.
Carla gave a pleased smile. ‘A full breakdown of our new policies and procedures will be available from tomorrow on the Banksia website. But for now: the fun part.’ She shuffled some papers on the lectern and, for a moment, I could see her as a younger lecturer – charismatic, capable, and slightly harried. ‘Without further ado, the academic awards.’
Sebastian took my hand, his body tense.
‘The first year academic award goes to Alessia Lupo.’
Sebastian’s fingers tightened, then released; we both clapped and cheered as a stunned-looking Alessia stood up and made her way on stage.
‘Alessia beatboth of you? But your marks wereinsane,’ Tristan said. ‘How –’
‘She clearly did better.’ Sebastian turned to grin at me. ‘Serves us right for thinking one of us had it in the bag.’
‘It’s not the ego check we wanted, but the ego check we needed,’ I agreed, grinning back at him. ‘But we’ll do better next year.’
‘Now we know who to beat.’ Sebastian turned back to the front and whooped loudly. ‘Way to go, Alessia!’
Byron’s hand settled on my thigh and squeezed gently. ‘You’re not upset?’
I shrugged. ‘A little disappointed, I guess. But if Alessia beatus, then she clearly deserved it.’ I glanced at him from beneath my lashes. ‘Maybe I’ll ask her to be my study partner.’
‘You’ll do no such thing,’ Byron growled, as Sebastian said simultaneously: ‘Absolutely fucking not.’
I laughed and settled back into my chair as the applause died down, snuggling into Byron as his mother read out the other academic prizes. Marco won the third year prize, while Marina snagged the award for best three-minute thesis.
‘And now we come to, perhaps, the most controversial and best-known of all our awards: the Banksia Prize,’ Carla said, once the audience had settled. ‘Awarded by the historic Banksia Revels, the Banksia Prize is given to one first-year student annually. The student may or may not be top-performing in their cohort. They may or may not be active in Banksia’s clubs. They may or may not spend their time volunteering. They may or may not be highly valued by their peer group.’ She paused. ‘I did ask what the criteria of the award was, as no doubt many deans before me have done, and I suspect I received the sameanswer they did. The panel takes into account many different considerations when awarding the prize, and it simply goes to the student the panel believes deserves it – no more, and no less.’ She paused. ‘This year, the Banksia Prize will be even more controversial than usual. For the first time in Banksia’s history, the prize will be awarded to two of our first-year students.’
I felt Byron’s eyes on me and turned to see his face split into a beautiful, proud smile.
