Chapter 5: The Swap

On the day of the state physics competition, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The gym reeked of sweat and old Gatorade, the bleachers creaking as we waited for the test to start. The test was brutal—three hours in a windowless gym, the sound of pencils scratching and proctors pacing in squeaky sneakers. When we were dismissed, sunlight felt unreal on my face.

As soon as we left the exam room, Maddie asked, “Rachel, how did you do? Let’s go find the teacher and check the answers.”

*[Maddie is really cautious.]*

*[Of course! With only three swaps, Maddie wants to use each one at a turning point in her fate. That’s what makes her a strong main character!]*

I looked at the live chat, almost choking back laughter.

So the so-called turning point in fate is just stealing someone else’s hard work.

I went to the physics teacher’s office and recited all the questions, then analyzed them.

Except for the last big problem, my answers and steps were nearly perfect.

The physics teacher praised me. “Rachel, you’ve definitely got it.”

He clapped me on the shoulder, grinning like a proud dad at graduation. I wanted to let myself believe, for just a moment, that hard work actually paid off.

Jealousy flashed in Maddie’s eyes, but she quickly hid it. “Rachel, as expected of you…”

*[Maddie, stay strong. How many resources does Rachel have behind her? She only won because of her family.]*

*[Not only did the school’s top teacher help her review, but she also had national-level tutors on weekends.]*

*[If Maddie had that kind of team, she’d get the same results.]*

*[Go Maddie! As long as you swap, it’s all yours.]*

“Thanks, Maddie. You’ve been practicing with me these days. If I get a guaranteed spot, I’ll treat you to pizza.”

She grinned, flashing a coupon for the local pizza place—pepperoni and pride on the line.

I smiled at Maddie.

But her smile grew more and more forced.

The live chat scrolled even faster. *[Does Maddie need your pizza? Is being rich so great?]*

*[So funny, still thinking about guaranteed admission? Maddie’s never letting you have this chance.]*

*[‘I’ll treat you to pizza’ hahaha.]*

“Okay.” Maddie clenched her fists, forcing a smile.

Her knuckles turned white as she squeezed her binder shut, the pizza offer clearly stinging more than any insult ever could. The lunchroom was a battlefield in its own right, and she wasn’t about to surrender.

“By the way, Maddie, how did you do?” I put away my papers.

“Not so well. I’ll have to work hard for the SAT.”

After Maddie went back to class, she didn’t smile again.

She huddled in her seat by the window, staring out as if the answers she needed might be written in the clouds over the football field. You could feel the tension vibrating in the air.

I figured she was weighing her options—whether to swap with me or not.

But it didn’t matter. Before the results came out, she still had time to think.