How Many Heroes

6- Debate

"Did we really have to come this early?" Maria asked, rolling down the window of Hathaway's car.

"Yes we do," Hathaway said, his knuckles tightly gripping the steering wheel. I didn't mind arriving to school thirty minutes before his debate started. What did bother me was that Hathaway's nervousness might disrupt his already frightening driving.

"It's fine, Maria," Jesse said from the shotgun seat. "Hathaway just needs time to practice his speech. Even though he already has a thousand times."

Hathaway turned to glared at him. I wished that he would keep his eyes on the road.

"What?" Jesse said. "It's true! Besides, you win every debate, so I don't know why you still get all uptight about it."

"That doesn't guarantee anything," Hathaway said, but I noticed his shoulders relax.

"Is Luke coming?" Maria asked as Hathaway pulled into the parking lot.

"He said he would be," I said, smoothening out my skirt before I stepped out of the car. I was both desperate and wary to see him. Ever since I invited him to my house for dinner, he seemed to be distant. My curiosity about his involvement with Amy and the mysterious gang increased by the moment, but I feared it was that same curiosity that was driving Luke away from me.

"There's a lot of cars here," Hathaway noted suspiciously. He was right. Normally only about twenty people came to debates, including teachers, but the amount of cars in the parking lot indicated about twice that as many people.

"Well, it must be because debates are such riveting events," Maria muttered, ignoring Hathaway's murderous look.

Hathaway led the way to the debate room, a seldom visited wing of Ambrose High that was donated by his mother to promote 'stimulating conversation' and interest in politics. There were only five members of the debate team, and they competed against each other because they were the only team in Greendale.

The debate room had been hastily decorated with red, white, and blue ribbons and balloons. Aside from a few teachers and judges, the room was empty. The four of us took a seat on the front row benches, a few feet away from the stage.

"Ask me the topic question," Hathaway said as soon as we were seated. It baffled me how someone like Hathaway could take a small competition so seriously.

"Okay," Jesse said. He didn't roll his eyes, but he clearly thought it was unnecessary. "Should African American History be offered as an elective?"

Hathaway went off on his rehearsed speech. To be honest, I didn't have a strong opinion on the topic, but I had to admit his argument sounded strong. No doubt he would win, again.

"I hope I'm not late," a familiar voice said. Luke slid into the seat next to me. He glanced at me with soft, amber eyes. My fears of him avoiding me vanished as I looked away, blushing. All of us were dressed formally for the debate, but Luke outdid even Hathaway in a simple button down shirt and jeans.

"About damn time you came," Maria said, pushing stands of her dark hair away from her face.

"Technically he's still early," Hathaway said, cutting his speech short. He tugged at his tie, his nervousness returning. "We have five minutes until it officially starts."

"Hath, re-lax. You got this," Jesse said.

"If you say so."

"You're impossible," Jesse said. This time he allowed himself to roll his eyes. "Get up there and argue. It's what you do best."