The Mascot Debacle

Marcus's best friend Devon had the worst ideas. Seriously. The man had literally zero chill.

"You're doing it," Devon said, shoving the bulldog costume into Marcus's locker. "Freshman rep is on the line, bro."

Marcus stared at the polyester head with its googly eyes and droopy tongue. The school mascot—Barnaby the Bull. A bulldog. The irony wasn't lost on him.

"Nah, I'm good," Marcus said, already backing away. "I'm not trying to embarrass myself in front of Jasmine AGAIN."

"Bro, she literally doesn't know you exist," Devon pointed out. "This is your chance. Mascots are iconic. You do the pyramid formation with the cheerleaders? Jasmine's at the top? You're practically dating."

Marcus's brain short-circuited. Jasmine. Cheerleading. Pyramid. These things did not compute.

"A pyramid? Like, human pyramid?"

"Finally school spirit, fam! Pep rally's Friday. Don't wimp out on me."

By Friday afternoon, Marcus was sweating through his gym clothes. The bulldog head smelled like three years of teenage boys and regret. He could see Jasmine at the front of the gym, her hair perfect even in this humidity, organizing the cheerleaders into formation.

Then his brain broke. They were actually building a human pyramid. And Barnaby the Bull was supposed to be at the BOTTOM.

"You got this, Marcus!" Devon hollered from the bleachers. That traitor. This dude had signed him up from hell.

Marcus's phone buzzed in his pocket—Devon had posted something. Probably an embarrassing Barnaby pic for the clout. Whatever. He focused on not passing out. The cheerleaders were climbing onto each other's shoulders. Jasmine was literally ten feet in the air, smiling down like an angel.

The bull costume was hot. Like, actually hot. Marcus's glasses fogged up. Everything blurred into fuzzy shapes and echoing voices.

"Barnaby! Move LEFT!" the coach screamed.

Marcus stepped—

—and his paw got caught in the cape. He went down hard. The whole pyramid tilted. Jasmine screamed—

Then she was falling. Time slowed down. Marcus's body moved on its own, lunging forward with his bulky mascot arms—

He caught her.

Silence. Then everyone lost it. The gym ERUPTED. Barnaby had saved the head cheerleader. The legend.

Afterward, Jasmine pulled off the bulldog head for him. Her fingers brushed his cheek. Marcus's face burned hotter than the costume.

"You literally saved my life," she said, grinning. "You're, like, my hero now."

"No big," he managed, trying to play it cool. Devon was losing his mind in the background, live-streaming everything.

His phone buzzed again. Jasmine had posted a pic: her, sitting on Barnaby's shoulders, both giving peace signs. Caption: My savior.

Follow request: jasmine.reyes

Marcus accepted, still wearing the stupid bulldog head. His life was officially unreal.