Unexpected

Chapter 5.

In the next few practices, Mr. Brenner divided the teams so that Brett never competed against me again. It was both a relief and a disappointment--I wanted to see if my newfound skills would help me defeat Brett, but I also didn't want to risk my spot on the team if they didn't. With Brett's tips and tricks in mind, I found that no one stood a chance against me. That satisfaction was enough to make me a little nicer whenever the subject of Brett came up with Ariel--which was much more often than I cared for.

"You seem to be warming up to him," Ariel singsonged with mischievously raised eyebrows.

"No, I'm just thankful he's helping me kick Juliet's ass at practice." She'd been pitted against me during the third practice and lost all her questions. That had made her so mad she'd made an incoherent snake-hiss sound at me when we were leaving, something I didn't respond to because I simply didn't understand what she was trying to say.

"Good job today, Blondie," Brett had said, looking pointedly after her angry, retreating form.

"Do you have a problem with her?"

"No, I just think she tries too damn hard."

"The same could be said about me," I'd pointed out.

"Yep," jerk didn't even bother denying it. "But at least you have the skill to back it up. Thanks to me." And he'd smiled one of his rare smiles--still sardonic and ungenuine--and left.

"Helloooo, earth to Charity!" Ariel smacked me in the head with one of her colorful throw pillows. "Daydreaming about loverboy?"

"Ewww what no," I made a face. "Seriously, Ariel, I thought you'd know me better than that." At the same time, I thanked my rarely lucky stars that astute as she was, Ariel didn't know me better than that. Much better that she thought I had a puppy-love crush on Brett than if she knew who I actually liked.

"Whatever you say, chica."

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The third Monday after school started, the Mu Alpha Theta team list got posted outside Mr. Brenner's room right at the last bell. Even my usual paranoia couldn't suffocate me this time--I'd been acing the practices so easily that I knew I'd have to bomb my test to not make the team. Not to mention, I'd felt pretty good about the exam after I'd finished last Friday. I'd even compared answers afterwards with Brett and found we got mostly the same ones.

Mu Alpha Theta Team: 2018-2019

Liam Huang-Returning senior

Elizabeth Sage-Returning senior

Sairam Vasireddy-Returning senior

Charity Paxton-score: 73/75

Brett Ashmore-score: 73/75

Alternates:

Juliet Santini-score: 70/75

Nicholas Muraira-score: 69/75

"Congrats, cheater," Juliet whisper-hissed in my ear before the full elation at what I was seeing could even register.

"Juliet, what are you talking about?"

"You and Brett got the exact same damn score," her voice was loud enough to attract the attention of everyone checking the list as well as random passerby in the hallway. "And Lilah told Jordan who told Amabela who told me that you and Brett were seen walking out of the library together."

"Wow, alert the press," a new voice interrupted. I glanced up to see Brett behind me, but rather than looking embarrassed at the attention, his face was a mask of cool amusement. "And this is such a crime because...?"