The Geek Revolution ✓

18 | mission

ONCE THE VIDEO IS EDITED, ready and waiting to be played, we confer at the library again.

None of the Monarchy nor the people that sidle close to them appreciate the merits of reading or studying. In the far corners of this building would probably be one of the safest places in the school from their eyes and ears. I really do think it'll make a nice headquarters.

The current predicament is how we'll release the video. "We could just post it on social media, or something," I suggest. "Except, not many people would see it since I don't have many friends."

"Neither," Leah sighs.

"Same," Benjamin adds.

Delaney interrupts pointedly. "I think it's safe to assume that all of our friend counts are well below the numbers we need."

A contemplative silent steals us away. I press my knuckles to my mouth, deep in contemplation. "We could play it to the school, in an assembly. Is there a way to do it without teachers finding out?"

"I've got this, don't worry," Drew says, with a wicked smile. "This might be the only time the school assemblies don't suck ass."

They are more than willing to go along with my plan, albeit with some hesitation. Assemblies are rife with teachers and authority figures. Detentions are surefire if we decide to proceed.

Delaney snickers. "This will go down as one of the more eventful assemblies. Now we don't have to hear about the latest goody-goody and how they've done the school proud."

Leah, Drew and Delaney's eyes flicker to Benjamin, who scowls defensively, the expression contorting the features I much rather like to see calm. "What? Annoyed that I'm a better student than you?"

"Please, BJ," Delaney's pen stops carving lines into the table, now pointed directly at Benjamin. "Being called up on stage, having to stand awkwardly while the teachers rant about how good you are is the quickest way to destroy your street cred. And you wonder why you sat alone before we came along."

"Since when did you start sounding like Brittany?" Benjamin crosses his arms.

"I'm not like her. Yeah, we're both bitches, but she's the wicked bitch of the west. I'm just saying—"

"—it's not like I can change my test scores, anyway."

"Yeah, you can. It's called flunking," Delaney counters, once again concentrated on vandalising the school property.

Benjamin freezes, looking baffled. "What idiot would do that?"

Delaney shrugs his frown off with a flip of her wine-coloured hair. I completely agree with Benjamin, but refrain from saying anything. The way the students think here is different. Not too strange for me to understand, but it's as if they live in another society where emphasis is placed on street cred and reputation instead of studying.

I think school shouldn't be a place where the power of the mind should be thrown aside for status. No doubt the Monarchy uses this to their advantage — hence the weird obsession with making 'geek' their prime marker for social outcasts. They've made being smart a bad thing.

The whole situation is frustrating, especially hearing Delaney talk about it that way she has. She is one of the smartest people I know.

"Okay, back to how we're going to show the video," Leah interrupts, pushing her arms between Delaney and Benjamin.

Delaney and Benjamin move away with acidic grumbles, barely sending a glare to each other. Only Delaney can pick an argument with the cleverest person over the stupidest thing, and come out feeling like she's won something.