The Class Clown

04 - Enthalpy of Fusion

A girl's tiny voice grows bigger. The peal of her icy laughter dissipates the thick silence in the music room.  "Your self-confidence is outstanding," Pearl says.

Dylan has been keeping a straight face.  Occasionally, a sneer comes through.  He says, "That you can say as much for yourself."

"What if I don't want to work with you?"

Dylan shrugs.  He says, "I couldn't care less."

Gerome joins the pair by the grand piano sitting in the middle of the room.  His footsteps echo against the massive walls and windows.  He meets Dylan's eyes briefly without as much as a twitch or wink in acknowledgement.

"It would not have been so loud here if somebody just stayed in the rooftop," Gerome says.

Pearl shoves Gerome, almost knocking him to the floor, and yells, "You idiot!"

Dylan quickly peels her off of Gerome, then sets himself between them.  "Knock it off!"

Avoiding Dylan's touch like acid, she steps back.  She glues her eyes on Gerome.  Her tenacity makes up for her lack in height.

Rolling his eyes, he says, "Had you asked nicely, things would have been less unpleasant."

"Fine," she says, her tone mellowing.  "I'm sorry."

He blinks.  The idea of losing an argument by actually winning leaves Gerome's mind and mouth ajar.

"We better get started with practice," Dylan says.  "The others are probably in the other music room."

♠ | ♥

Ten students constitute the team: four juniors (one representative for each year); six seniors (three grade 11 students, three grade 12 students).  For the junior years, respective valedictorians automatically represent the level.  In the senior years, STEM grades automatically enroll the top two students, Gerome and Dylan.  The third slot is drawn by lot from the remaining fifteen best students as an incentive for the class to work harder.

Pearl has won the golden ticket.

Save for the occasional quibbles in Theater class, the three seniors maintain a truce for the next two weeks.  Sometimes Dylan and Gerome are seen at lunch together, but never Pearl with either or both of them.  She still hangs out with her old friends in Section D.

One morning, before a mock quiz bowl against teachers, Gerome pulls Pearl to a corner.

"I swear you look more funny by the day," he says.

Tired, Pearl only stares back.

"You haven't been sleeping enough."

She looks at a distance, then at her feet.

He plants his hands on her shoulders.  "Hey."

"Hey," Dylan joins them.  He runs a hand through his hair and inspects her face, almost wedging himself between them.  "What's going on?"

Pearl snaps to attention and gives a weak smile.  "I just spaced out, that's all."

With Gerome's recommendations, Coach Quimwe has agreed to shorten the post-mock quiz processing of answers to give students adequate time to rest the mind and body.  Mental stamina has improved since, and is reflected on performance.

Shortly before the last mock quiz bowl, Gerome finds Pearl taking a nap in the backstage.  Her earphones plug her out of reality.  She has no company.