Even if someone has never heard the name Marlon Dean Reynolds, chances are, they’ve heard it at least once in the past couple of months.
At just 17 years old, Marlon was a Youtuber with close to 26 million subscribers, but that’s not why his name was mentioned so much in the news in recent months.
He’s the son of an A-List actor Joshua Reynolds and ex-supermodel Belinda Mayhew. Marlon started his own acting career since he was 11 years old following his father’s footsteps, he started modelling when he was 15 following his mother’s footsteps hence the 26 million subscribers on his Youtube channel with various contents starting from his daily activities to his celebrity lifestyle to pranks and dangerous stunts he does with his older brother Eli and a group of his entourage.
For those who still have no idea who he was, they finally recognize him when his brother’s death made National news.
Eli was 19 years old when he fell to his death from their 18th floor Goldstone penthouse. It was reported that he was trying to do a stunt for their channel when he slipped and fell. Marlon was there.
People started to search for their names on Google just to find out how they looked like and who they were. They swarmed up their social media accounts and feed on the tragedy. Marlon’s face surfaced across the web and news media as the guy who witnessed his brother’s tragic death. Though he was considered underage, no one could prevent the massive exposure because of his celebrity parents and his channel.
After the ordeal, Marlon was pretty much hiding under the radar. His channel was idle and he was not active in any of his social media. No one knew where he went and what he was doing, until his name was mentioned by Mr. Edgerton that morning.
It felt surreal for Hazel. She knew who Marlon Dean Reynolds was. What was even more surreal, everyone in the world knew who Joshua Reynolds was, and she was more star struck by that fact. Her mom was a huge fan of the actor because she grew up in an era where Joshua Reynolds was the heartthrob of every teenage girl in at least one half of the world.
“Wow,” she murmured, not knowing how else to respond to the news.
“I’m sure you can handle the matter accordingly … you must know that Marlon is not familiar with regular school routines and its rules, it will need some effort to help him adapt with us here, especially under his circumstances …” Mr. Edgerton winced as if Hazel understood that he was referring to Marlon’s social status and his recent tragedy.
“He’s probably not the easiest kid to work with …” he paused, “But he is part of our school now nonetheless and we need to welcome him just as we would to anyone else,” he smiled. “Let me know if you need anything … consider this as your first duty as student council, though the inauguration is not until next semester but I’m sure you can fulfill your duties with excellence … this will help with your recommendation letter for college and help a fellow student at the same time.”
“So … I just have to explain to him the rules? Be a tour guide? How much help does he really need? I mean … what’s the goal?”
Mr. Edgerton put both his hands behind his head, he stretched back to his chair, “The goal is to help him graduate from high school so he can attend college … he will have to do his eligibility tests and everything … which you will also be doing.”
“Like a tutor?” her voice raised unintentionally, “I mean? I don’t know how to do that … I don’t think I can help him with studying … I have my own studying to do.”
“I know, I know … don’t worry, look at it as having a study partner … just give him guidance on the how-to’s … whatever he needs to know, whatever he needs … you can consult with me anytime if there’s any problem.”
She wasn’t sure about it, but it wasn’t like she had any choice. It sounded like Mr. Edgerton was handing her over a responsibility that Marlon’s parents had asked of him, and it didn’t seem like it was going to be an easy task. But if it was going to earn her a recommendation letter, she would gladly try. She curved her lips and nodded.
The Principal clapped his hands, “Excellent! Everything is set then … I’m sure he will be here soon,” he checked his watch, it was five minutes to the first bell ring when someone knocked on the door.
“Come in!” Mr. Edgerton said.
**********
Every time Hazel’s mom described Joshua Reynolds, she never failed to mention his signature pouty lips, there was a slight line in the middle of his lower lip that made it looked like it was parted intentionally by the grace of God that had created the most seductive lips on a human face.
God has made the same lips on Joshua’s son’s face and it was the first thing Hazel noticed when he opened the door to the Principal’s office. He was hiding his face under the white hoodie and his blonde bang, but his lips was pouty.
The air was suddenly filled with a strong scent of male perfume, potently expensive and it was noticeable that he was covered with designer’s item from head to toe. It was a celebrity entrance without him even trying.
“Mr. Reynolds … good morning, you’re right on time,” Principal Edgerton said.
Marlon cleared his throat and pulled down his hoodie, “Good morning, Sir,” he said without making eye contact. He kept his head down and his hands in his pockets. He stood by the door and didn’t seem to know what to do next.
Hazel had seen him many times on the web, he seemed taller in person. He may have his dad’s signature lips but when he looked up for a brief moment to gaze at her, he was blessed with his mother’s beautiful face. A perfect blend of two incredibly attractive parents, life is not fair.
He lowered his head again after he acknowledged there was another person in the room.
“This is Miss Williams, she’s our next student council and she had agreed to be your student guide through your first months here.”
He looked up at her again, not particularly friendly, just a faint nod, not even a smile.
“I’m giving the two of you the permission to go through the basics, have a little tour around the school … Hazel, you can walk him through what we’ve talked about and set up a daily schedule to meet up and work together.”
Hazel nodded while Marlon stayed quiet by the door.
“I’ll leave you to it then … I want the two of you to report to me at the end of every week, I’ll check on the overall progress … you may leave now and attend your second class after you get acquainted,” Mr. Edgerton said with a smile.