RIVALRY,, matt sturniolo

. ⁀➷ ¹⁶

. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
🖤🖤🖤

the moment elaine saw the lights flickering around the stage to position themselves above every team, she knew that it was about to start. she was very close to running off of the stage, if it wasn't for the fact that her school was counting on her and when she saw her team cheering the two on from backstage, she knew there was no way out of this.

"first of all, the rules! every question has four answers available, answer a, b, c or d. there will be twenty questions and one bonus question, where you can earn two points. you only ever get to pick one answer! if you get the answer right, one point will be given to your team. if you get the answer wrong, you won't get a point and the other teams get the chance to gain that point. there is a red buzzer in front of you, which you will press if you know the answer. you each will get 15 seconds to discuss it with your partner before deciding. if you don't know the answer and still press, a point will be taken from your team! the first team that presses the buzzer, gets to answer first. if you try to cheat, harm other teams, use inappropriate words or insult the judge, you will be eliminated immediately! the judge is here to write down your knowledge, your behavior and especially your team work. did everybody understand that? if yes, please press the button."

elaine send a quick look at matt, who gave her a firm nod back before she reached forward to hit her hand palm against the big red button in the middle of the podium. the other teams soon joined that.

"great!" the presenter says with a wide smile as he twirls around in a circle before pointing his finger at the audience, "let's begin!"

the crowd cheered and clapped as elaine tried to keep her nerves together while her hands began gripping tighter onto the edges of her dark blue skirt.

"question number one! in 1768, captain james cook set out to explore which ocean? a, the pacific ocean. b, the atlantic ocean. c, the indian ocean or d, the arctic ocean?"

"it's a." elaine whispers to matt as she leans towards his side, not even realizing that the two where almost touching each others hips of how close they stood.

"i agree." was all matt said before they both nodded and looked up at the timer which showed that exactly 10 seconds where left.

her eyes trailed along the other teams who where still talking which made a spark of hope stir inside her chest.

as soon as the timer buzzed to a stop, elaine smashed her hand palm on top of the red button. the red light above their podium went up to signal that the two where the first ones to press it.

"yes, mrs. levine?" the presenter said after reading the names on the front of the podium.

"it's a, the pacific ocean."

"correct! one point to mrs. levine and mr. sturniolo!"

elaine & matt 1:0 the other schools

matt and elaine fist bumped under the podium while they smiled at the sound of their team members cheering them on.

the smile on her face was bright as her eyes glided across the clapping audience and the satisfied looks of the judge. but it faded when she made eye contact with one team on her right side. they both where whispering into each others ears as they almost seemed to grin like the devil. her heart sunk as she desperately tried to put her focus back onto the competition but suddenly she felt like the whole room was looking at her. she felt the way her heart suddenly seemed heavier than usual.