Chapter 4

Half an hour later, the organizers replied.

"No substitutions. No absences. No delay to the start time."

"All four competitors must arrive early."

The notice came with a message from the foundation.

"Submit the roster within half an hour, or prepare to declare bankruptcy."

With the school under that much pressure, one of the students finally snapped, "She's so high-maintenance! It's infuriating!

"She's insufferable on a normal day, and she's still this selfish at a time like this!"

With Minerva egging them on, Tom and William rushed over and pinned me between them.

Minerva came over and pushed a pen into my hand.

"If you won't cooperate, don't blame us for getting your signature this way.

"Hold on to her. Don't let her get away!"

I struggled to get free, but Minerva had other students block Wesley when he tried to rescue me.

She gripped my hand and forced me to sign the roster.

The two boys were too strong. I couldn't break free.

Once it was signed, she had them let go of me. "If you'd cooperated earlier, you wouldn't have had to go through that!" she sneered.

The students around us saw that it had worked and burst into cheers.

They said exactly what they thought of me, right to my face.

"What a cold, nasty girl. She doesn't think about anyone but herself."

"Minerva's the smart one. She always knows how to handle her!"

Minerva enjoyed the spectacle as they pointed and talked about me. She got in one more dig. "Don't talk about her like that. If our precious little dumb blonde starts crying, good luck calming her down.

"She embarrassed herself at the dance and then cried about it for ages!"

I gave a cold laugh. "I didn't cry. If you're going to spread a rumor, you need proof. Where is it?"

David came over.

Minerva handed him the signed roster.

He praised her for it. "That's our top student for you. What about the day of the competition?"

Minerva laughed and gave William and Tom their instructions. "On competition day, go straight to her house, tie her up, and bring her here.

"Oh, and put white lights around the mirror in the competitors' lounge so she can do her makeup more easily."

William didn't understand the last part, but he wrote all of it down.

Tom couldn't help asking, "Why are we letting her do her makeup at all?"

Minerva laughed again. "Looking good is all she has going for her. If she shows up looking like a mess, Rockford will laugh at us."

Tom was quick to agree. "You've thought of everything, Minerva! We'll do whatever you say!"

Minerva smiled, pleased with herself.

I listened, then raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.

"All that just to make sure I show up? You've really planned this out."

Minerva glanced at me.

"What choice do I have? You're so fussy and high-maintenance."

I let the jab go and turned to Ryan.

"The last ten questions. Do they all appear at once?"

"It's a speed round. Of course not."

"Read me the rules."

William didn't understand.

"Why do you care? You're not answering anything."

"I'm not allowed to learn the rules unless I'm answering?"

I took the entry form from David and crossed out the crooked signature in front of everyone.

Then I signed it again myself: Merida Hale.

"That was too ugly to look at.

"It looks much better when I write it myself."

Ryan gave me a suspicious look.

At my urging, he read the rules aloud. "Actually, all ten questions appear at once when the final round starts.

"Competitors get one minute to read them before they can start answering.

"Once the speed round starts, whichever side answers the most questions correctly within five minutes wins."

I looked at them.

"So I only get to answer if all of you are stumped?"

Tom scoffed, "Just sit there and look pretty! Don't start guessing with your eyes closed!"

I gave him a cold smile.

"Tom, we'll see which one of us ends up sitting there looking useless."

He bristled.

"Merida, what's that supposed to mean?! How dare you question my ability!"

I said calmly, "I mean, don't hold me back at the competition."

All ten questions at once suited me just fine. It would save time.