Picture Perfect

Chapter 7

"All participants for the Regional Quiz Bowl please proceed to the waiting hall," Ben fixed his tie and smoothed his hair back, taking a secret shaky breath before twisting his neck left and right to ease his tense muscles. He's been training and studying for this quite a while now and although he would never admit it to anyone, he was a little nervous.

"Nervous?" Alice read his mind, slight playful smile on her lips.

Ben tugged on his tie and held his head high, "Not in a million years,"

Alice's smile grew, somehow knowing that the boy was bluffing. He'd been smoothing his hair for the nth time now, if that wasn't a sign of nervousness then it was probably a sign for him to get another hair gel.

"Good luck, not that you need it," Alice offered, to which Ben actually turned to her with a slightly forced smile and sighed out, "Thanks," before going off with his team to the waiting hall.

Alice was left by herself in the audience. Moments later, the Quiz Bowl was underway. For the most part, she really wasn't listening in. The questions were way too hard—impossible, even—but she was very impressed that not one question was left unanswered. At least one person knew the answer to the question and it was quite a remarkable feat.

"We will now proceed to Round 2 of the event. Each correct answer is 10 points," Alice shifted in her seat slightly, snapping photos here and there.

Ben Gross high fived his teammates, he'd like to think that he was carrying the whole team, but the Quiz Bowl really wasn't something one man could do. It was a team effort. During the short break between rounds he found himself looking at the audience and trying to spot Alice Lee.

Alice Lee who was looking down at her camera, glanced up, caught his eye and waved at him then gave him a thumbs up with a ridiculously bright smile. He waved at her awkwardly. In some senses it was nice to have someone watching him. His parents, as usual, couldn't come. His girlfriend, as usual... also couldn't come.

But well, it's not like Alice wanted to come either. She was paid to come. So was Mr. Grant, who was off for another bathroom break.

Round 2 was a lot more strenuous and it would get a lot more strenuous in Round 3. His team fought through and through for a space in the Nationals. By the end of Round 3, the competitors were asked to exit the stage and wait with the audience.

"We will now tally the score of all three rounds. Please be patient,"

Patience was easy when you weren't expecting anything. But to Ben who was expecting everything, it was a true test of composure. Alice glanced at him, pretending to be looking through the photos she took.

Some of it were solo shots of Ben. Some of his teammates. Looking at the photos now, she really did admire the way his face looked so determined and focused, and yet, there was a certain softness to it. She thought it was sort of like the moon.

Not as vibrant as the sun, not as flashy, but still graceful with a gentle light and the clouds slightly hiding it away from view. Alice pried her eyes away from the photo and once again glanced at him.

"Soooo, if we win are you gunna have a pizza party?" Alice asked out of the blue, her silly attempt to make the atmosphere lighter. Time seemed to be ticking by pretty slow.

"You know what, yea. I'll throw one. I'll throw one for the whole school, how 'bout that?" Ben bragged, his tie would start getting longer if he didn't stop pulling at it. Alice raised both her eyebrows and muttered an elongated "Ooookaaayy..." under her breath, not expecting him to bite her bait.