I might be addicted already.
From the sound alone, I knew she didn’t laugh often. Her heart-shaped face was made for it, but from her first defensive glance at the vending machine, I knew she was more accustomed to frowns and tension. Her large eyes were soft around the edges but hard within. She was on her guard. Defenses up.
I could relate. While I had a different set of defenses, I recognized a fellow soldier when I saw one.
Maybe if we shared war stories…
“So sorry, so sorry,” Dr. Langford said, breezing in at last. “It’s rude of me to be this late on our first day but…” He heaved both a sigh and a briefcase onto his own big lab desk. “Hello, class.”
The students offered enthusiastic hellos. Dr. Ian Langford was themost popular professor in the STEM department, if not the entire school. In his mid-thirties, he was handsome, friendly, andalmostas witty as me. Everybody loved him.
He scanned the group. “Wow. You may have heard I say this to every class, but don’t believe it.Youare the most attractive, and obviously the most brilliant, group of students I have this year. I can tell already.”
Appreciative laughs. I glanced at Harper, whose brows were furrowed.
I leaned toward her. “Not charmed?”
She shrugged. “Chemistry is what I want to do for a living. I want a serious education from a serious teacher.”
“He’s the best, don’t worry.”
“If you say so.”
“Before we begin,” Dr. Langford said, “I have a major announcement. This year, Castle Hill Academy has partnered with major universities, both at home and abroad, for a very special contest that has been years in the making.”
Harper sat up straighter.
“It’s called the Novus Prize for Scientific Innovation, or NoSci. The winning student must come up with a science project of epic proportions. Something original, innovative, and groundbreaking. First prize is twenty-five thousand dollars cash and priority status in the admissions pool for universities such as MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, NYU, Oxford, Cambridge, the Imperial College of London… Shall I go on?”
I noticed Harper gripping the edge of the table, her fingers white.
Shit, bollocks, fuck.
She really wanted this. She mightneedthis, and I…did not. But as one of three heirs to the Mercer Chem dynasty, my parents would expect me not only to enter this contest but win.
Given their pull with the Academy, a win might be all but guaranteed.
They don’t have to know about it. I’ll hope the deadline passes beforethey get wind of it across the pond.
Doubtful given the close tabs Father kept on me, but worth a shot.
“I’m on the panel of judges for the NoSci prize,” Dr. Langford was saying, “so if you want to start sending me your bribes now, I’ll post my office hours after class.”
The class laughed. Harper did not.
“The contest will consist of three steps, the first being the most perilous,” Dr. Langford continued, holding for dramatic effect. “You must sign up.”
More laughter.
“Step two: Submit your entry. Step three: If your entry is chosen to continue, you will present your project before the judges in April. I’ll put email links for more information, full contest rules, requirements, and deadlines in our class notes on your iPads.” Dr. Langford gave us all a sly smile. “Now, down to business. I hope you chose your seats wisely because the person sitting next to you is going to be your lab partner for the entire rest of the year.”
I solemnly offered my hand to Harper. “Congratulations.”
She smacked me away without looking.
“Careful, Bennett,” I whispered. “You keep flirting with me like that and I’ll think you’re in love with me already.”
“You wish.”
