Chapter 3

I decided to play along.

For now.

In AP Comp Sci, I started submitting minor projects with deliberate bugs.

Simple errors, things a novice would overlook, but glaring for someone like me.

"Maya, this loop is infinite," Ms. Albright said, her brow furrowed during one code review.

"Oh, silly me," I' d reply, feigning embarrassment.

Ethan started getting agitated.

His internal grumbling was a constant soundtrack.

What is she doing? These small assignments still have points. She needs to focus! The big project is what matters, but this is sloppy!

Brittany, who often "studied" with Ethan, also started to pressure me.

"Maya, sweetie, are you feeling okay? Ethan says your classwork is slipping. You need to be sharp for the Innovate scholarship, you know? For us."

Her voice was syrupy sweet, but her eyes were hard.

Ms. Albright pulled me aside one afternoon.

"Maya, I'm concerned. Your work has been... inconsistent. Is everything alright? Is your relationship with Ethan... distracting you?"

I looked down, feigning shame. "Maybe a little, Ms. Albright. It's just... a lot."

She nodded sympathetically. "Well, perhaps a change of scenery will help in class."

The next day, she rearranged the seating chart.

Ethan was moved to the back of the room, fuming silently.

His thoughts were a torrent of frustration. How am I supposed to make sure she' s working properly from back here? This old hag!

And my new lab partner?

Javier Ramirez.

Quiet, diligent, and genuinely talented. He' d always looked at my code with a kind of awe.

"Hi Maya," he said softly, a small, shy smile on his face. "It's an honor to be your partner."

Ethan shot daggers at Javier's back.

Good. Let him stew.

I gave Javier a small, genuine smile. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

At least Javier's thoughts were refreshingly normal, mostly about algorithms and his cat.