Surrounded But Alone

Chapter 19- No Honor Among Cheaters

Presley's Point of View;

As he turned to leave I knew that this was probably my only chance to talk to him. I'm not good at conversations with people I barely know but in this case, I had to try despite the awkwardness. The most he could do is continue walking away and pretend he didn't hear me.

"Well, he's not my dog. I'm watching him for one of the contestants. I saw you backstage didn't I, are you alright?"

He faced me again then passes his head through his hair and nodded. Did I just make the situation even more uncomfortable with that question?

"Yeah, that was me. I guess he was just having a bad day," he answered finally. I still nodded at his response but I knew I had to continue. I had to push my social skills to the limit if I was going to make any progress.

"How often do these bad days happen around here?" He huffed in a way that showed he may have been a little surprised by my question. The crowd was closing in on us and I thought we would get separated. Maybe I should just leave the conversation here, I thought as I tried to lead Octo away. But the guy did the unexpected and signaled for me to follow him to the back where it had a small booth. He went in and explained as he directed my attention to the stage.

"I do the lighting for the stage so we never really talk much. Sandra, that's the girl who's always with him helped me get everything ready today as she usually does before he comes. I asked her if after this competition if she would want to come to hang out with the rest of the lighting crew. And by the rest of the crew, I mean three of my other friends that includes my sister who recently joined. I hope to talk her into joining but I think Bertie misunderstood me. He got so mad and wouldn't even listen to what I had to say. Bad timing I guess."

Before I could say anything else what looked like a little girl came near him and tapped him on his elbow. He turned to face her and she pulled on his hand for him to bend down to listen. Whatever she whispered in his ear I heard him answer over the noisy audience.

"Alright, tell him he can leave and I'll handle his station. You team up with Olive for this one." Then he turn back to me as he was leaving with the girl.

"The competitions starting now. I have to get with the others as we're shorthanded. See you around." I didn't have to respond as he was no longer focused on me.

That was interesting, I thought there was an age limit to be a student here. But that wasn't very much of concern here. What he said about Bertie's behavior sounds very familiar. Growing up I've seen it before my eyes more times than I can count but I never got use to it. The silence became loud within the room as the contestants on stage were being introduced, so I quietly took Octo back to the front row.

During the tournament, it went exactly like what you would expected. Amelia gave Bertie a run for his money. Mitchum got into the competition like the rest of the crowd while I as usual, was just a mere observer among all these passionate people. I didn't know very much about Chemistry so what they were talking about went over my head. I think even if I did understand I still wouldn't feel the jolliness that surrounded me.

I saw Octo's tail begin to wag as he saw Amelia take a bow after she got her question right. Octo remained chilled while I was still holding his leash but I held on it tightly just in case he decided to make a run for it. I wasn't going to go through that again with him.

I turned around and face the crowd to check how clear the path was to the exit, the girl called Sandra was in my line of vision at this point. She made certain gestures with her hand and either fiddled with her fingers or sleeves. She seemed as nervous as I felt. Then with an appluase from the audience, the multiple-choice round of the Chemistry competition was completed.

By now Sandra noticed me looking at her and tightened the grip on her hoodie then moved from my line of vision. That was weird, the way she moved through to the back of the crowd looked like I made her uncomfortable. But at least I could see the exit now.

I refocused my attention on Bertie who seemed more anxious in this round that required structured answers. He gazed into the crowd more often and shifted ever so often as if he was trying to get a better view of something. He could be trying to make himself more comfortable on stage but I wouldn't give him the benefit of the doubt right now.

On the other hand, Amelia was certainly quick to answer her questions but he would sometimes answer questions that were not even finished being asked yet. Amelia was right, he may have had some scientific knowledge but all of that couldn't be just him. He was cheating but how and why?

It ended with them both at a tie, so it was decided by the senior students that they would return next week. My panic state from earlier has now also passed but I was really tired now. So that was good news for me because I didn't want to stay here any longer.

I saw Amelia then head toward the stage stairs to come off. Mitchum and I walked over to meet her by the end of the stairs to give her back Octo. As she started down the stairs Bertie passed rushing ahead and pushing her.

She would have tumbled down the staircase but since I was ahead of Mitchum I managed to catch her in time and Bertie didn't even bother to look back. I knew Mitchum's blood boils easily and he wasn't going to keep quiet about this. It would seem like Octo also was similar in his reaction since I also had to hold him back on his leash as he barked furiously at Bertie.

"Dude, what's wrong with you? Your eyes must be in the same place your brain is! You have to be more careful," Mitchum shouted after him.

"Well if that invalid wants to be safe then she shouldn't have come to HIDCA college," Bertie said, continuing at his same rushed pace.

He really didn't care who he hurt with what he said and he was bold about it. His attitude reminded me of my- well no time to think back on that cause I knew I had to calm Mitchum down.

"Hey you conceited creep, don't walk away from me!" Mitchum continued but I called out to him because I had too much to deal with already.

"Mitchum! We're not here to fight and he's a football player so if he decides to start pounding you, I won't be able to help you."

I helped Amelia to her feet already but while trying to calm down Mitchum at the same time as holding Octo back was tough. The girl who I saw earlier called Sandra picked up Amelia's cane and give it to her as she apologize.

It wasn't that bright in here and I'm sure it was beginning to get dark outside but she still had on her shades indoors. Amelia's blind and she didn't even do that, so I guess I'm right about her familiar behavior.

As Amelia took it from her Octo ran over to her as if he was seeing if she was ok. "Thank you but it's not you that should be apologizing. I know he's just intimidated by me because he almost lost." she responded cutly to Sandra's apology.

"Intimidated? More like furious. Is he always like that?" Mitchum said and he also seemed to calm down as he came over to us.

When Mitchum spoke to Sandra it was like she was afraid to talk to him and she never lifted her head to meet either Mitchum or me. Her delay to answer was cut short when Bertie came back and shouted but then dropped his voice at the rest of the sentence. "SANDRA! We're leaving now."

She just turned and followed him on the way out.

I think I understand what's happening here now. I gave Amelia back her dog but one question I still had to answer. Where was Sandra during the rest of the tournament?