We got our test results the next day, as promised. INTEL is punctual like that. I got a 98.5. I mentally kicked myself in the face. I always had to be right, didn't I?
No one ever saw the tests after they were taken; every kid in the country, maybe even the world, took them at the same time. They were different each year.
You aren't really supposed to share your score, but come on, did they really expect high school students to be able to keep their mouths shut? The room, of course, was filled with flutters of various conversations.
The test is by far nowhere near easy. Your average, straight A student will score about a fifty. This particular classroom was for advanced math students. The gray-haired woman who administered the test yesterday was the teacher. She insisted everyone call her Mrs. P. I don't think anyone knew her real last name.
A teacher with an INTEL qualified student is looked very highly upon. We've ever only had two in the entire fifty years at this school, not including myself.
I suppose it made sense for the old woman to be beaming when she gave out the slips that held our scores. I bet she would've made a graph of our scores just to show off one of her students was INTEL-qualified if it wasn't illegal. Mrs. P also had a thing for graphs. They were literally everywhere in her room.
One of my friends up to me.
"Hey, Mai." I said, particularly glumly. That's what she insisted everyone call her. It kind of annoyed me really- I don't like one syllable names. I'm weird like that.
Her real name was Maine. She absolutely despised, with a burning passion. I think maybe it was because she shared said name with a state, but she never really elaborated.
"Morning to you to, Mic." I frowned and glanced up at her from the algebra problems on the board. I hate one syllable names, especially when it's my own, and pronounced like 'meek'. She refused to call me anything else regardless.
"Mic sounds so stupid." My other friend- I had a grand total of two- added when she joined us. Zora smiled at main and flipped long blonde hair off her shoulders.
I recalled how she hated have her hair on her shoulders. I told her once maybe she should get it cut so it couldn't touch her shoulders, and she looked at me like I was insane. Maybe I was. I'm not girly, really, but Zora's hair was a thing of worship.
"It sounds cute, Zor." I involuntarily shuddered, and shook my head, and Mai cackled. A real, honest to God witch-style cackle. It was hilarious.
Mai was ridiculously tiny, she weighed eighty pounds at the most and clocked in at about 4'5. She had her dark brown hair chopped short, with a vivid blue streak running through it. I loved her hair, too. She had a delicate face, and innocent dark brown eyes that nearly matched her hair color. Her puppy dog eyes were irresistable.
Zora groaned and covered her face with her hands.
"Don't ever call me that again." She grumbled, narrowing her eyes. Mai stuck her tongue out at her.
Zora was the exact opposite of Mai, she was tall and slender, approaching 5'10, with long, dirty blonde hair and brown eyes several shades lighter than Maine's. The girl had a temper hotter than hell fire. You never want to be on her hit-list. She really has one, too. I've seen it.
"Ok, now that were done being childish," Mai began, Zora very nearly returned with a 'you started it' "What'd you get?"
"53.2" Zora smirked. She went up 2.9 points from last year.
"53.3" Mai followed, looking particularly smug.
"No way!" She shrieked, snatching the paper out of her hands and nearly sending the tiny girl to the floor.
I stood on my tiptoes, trying to look over her shoulder. It read 53.3.
"Seriously?" She groaned again before dismally handing the piece of paper back to Mai.
The two had a running competition going since seventh grade to see who could score highest. So far Mai was winning.
They both turned on me at the same time.
"So what did you get anyways, Micah?" They didn't look particularly interested and I didn't really blame them. I tried to keep my score no higher or lower than 51. I'd miscalculated once; I got a 50.8 that year.
"98.5" I murmured, hoping perhaps they wouldn't hear me and just forget about it. They didn't, of course.
"You're pulling our legs." Zora said, rolling her eyes and putting one hand firmly on her hip.
'I wish I was', I thought glumly to myself, and then, 'I hate that expression'.
"See for yourself." I passed them the half-sheet of paper, knowing now that they were interested, there was no getting away.
"No. Freaking. Way!" Zora half-shouted. I refrained from covering my ears.
"Let me see, let me see!" Mai half chanted, half whined. I sunk down in my chair at the attention they were drawing.
"You're actually going, Micah? How did you pull this off?"
"I know the world is unfair, but why is it never unfair in my favor? Bill Watterson." I quoted, but the two took no notice. Quoting people was something I just did, especially when I'm nervous.
"I can't believe you're actually going to The Base," Mai said when she'd finally wrenched the paper from Zora "You are so lucky!"
"Yeah…" Not many people shared my view of not particularly wanting anything to do with INTEL.
"You've gotta let us help you pack!" Zora chimed.
"Oh, and we'll throw you a going away party!" Mai added.
When I stayed silent, Zora slowly narrowed her eyes at me. I squirmed uncomfortably. I was in the danger zone.
"You are going to go, aren't you?"
"Of course." I mentally gave myself props for not squeaking. Don't judge; she could be extremely intimidating.
"Aw, don't sound so glum! This is amazing!" Mai said
"I know." Zora frowned at me
"You can video call us every day." She smiled a tiny smile.
"And…" Mai stretched out the word dramatically "We'll send you tons of chocolate!" She nearly squealed and started bouncing in her excitement.
I couldn't help it- I smiled. My friends knew how to draw out my happiness, I suppose.
"I'm sure there are lots of hot, smart guys up there, just your type." Mai added with a wink. Zora and I both groaned. She'd been forever trying to set me up.
The bell rang than and we started gathering up our stuff for the next class.
"Saying goodbye doesn't mean anything. It's the time we spent together that matters; not how we left it. Trey Parker." It was Mi and Bailey's turn to groan.
"'I'll see you at lunch' isn't that hard to say, is it, Micah?" Mai whined
"Mmm," Bailey tucked her books under one arm and put the other thoughtfully to her chin as we began to flood the hallway "For her, it probably is." I shook my head at them, but we all went our separate ways with smiles on our faces.
A/N:
Zora: Zore-uh
Micah: Meek-uh
ns 15.158.61.20da2
