Chapter 6: Zero and One

On the day the physics competition results were announced, the teacher set aside a class just to display the results.

The atmosphere was electric—kids whispering, some making TikToks of the moment, everyone craning to see whose future would change on the big screen. It was the kind of drama only an American high school could deliver.

Maddie seemed in much better spirits. She came over to me. “Rachel, congratulations in advance.”

“The results aren’t out yet. It’s too early for that.”

I glanced at her. “But you seem pretty confident.”

Maddie smiled, not answering directly. “Rachel, after this class, let me treat you to lunch.”

*[Maddie is standing up!]*

*[I’m so hyped. The face-slapping scene is coming!]*

I held back a laugh. “Alright, you treat me.”

The energy in the classroom was electric. The nerdy kids in the front row bounced their knees, the athletes in the back cracked jokes under their breath, and the teachers looked like they’d seen all this drama a hundred times before.

As soon as I finished speaking, the physics teacher entered my admission ticket number and checked my score first.

Everyone was waiting for my result.

The result popped up.

*[0 points.]*

A stunned silence crashed over the classroom, as if the entire room had been unplugged from reality.

“How could this be?”

The physics teacher looked at me, confused. “Rachel, what happened? You clearly answered everything…”

I looked at Maddie and saw the corners of her mouth twitch upward before she quickly suppressed her smile.

*[Hahaha, what happened? Obviously our Maddie swapped it with one click!]*

*[Maddie is getting that guaranteed spot! So happy. Too bad Rachel didn’t get a low score on the SAT and end up at a third-rate college.]*

*[It’s fine, this is just the first step. Maddie still has endless possibilities.]*

“I don’t know how this happened.”

I stood up and sighed. “Did I mess up the answer sheet? Did I write the big question in the wrong spot? But it doesn’t matter, Mr. Carter. There’s still the SAT. I still have a chance.”

“I’ll check the details later. Let’s start class first.”

The physics teacher cleared his throat and was about to begin, but Maddie interrupted, “Mr. Carter, my score hasn’t been checked yet. Isn’t my result important?”

*[What’s with this teacher? Pretending our Maddie doesn’t exist?]*

*[He’s about to get knocked down a peg.]*

*[Maddie lied about not doing well to fool him, and he really believed it? Just wait till he begs her.]*

*[How dare he treat our guaranteed admission Maddie like this!]*

Tyler laughed, slapping his desk. “No way, Maddie. Your physics has always been worse than Rachel’s. If she didn’t do well, how could you possibly get the guaranteed spot? Who do you think you are?”

His voice echoed in the tense classroom, drawing nervous giggles and sharp glances.

“Why not?”

Maddie clenched her fists. “I’ve been working hard too. Is a perpetual second place not human? Can’t I get guaranteed admission?”

Her voice cracked, eyes shining with defiance and desperation. You could tell, just for a second, that beneath the bravado was someone terrified of always being overlooked.

“Rachel, is that what you think of me too? That I’m not as good as you, that I’m worthless?”

Her sudden questioning made the classroom fall silent.

“Maddie, people should know themselves.”

I tilted my head at her, dropping my usual politeness. “Better not check. Isn’t it better to take the SAT with me?”

*[Wow, the supporting girl’s true colors are out. What a vicious supporting character.]*

*[Just because you’re rich, you look down on others. I want to see her get knocked down a peg!]*

*[This time, the supporting girl is going to eat dirt.]*

“Oh, right, we forgot to check Maddie’s score. Let’s follow procedure.”

The physics teacher calmed everyone down and quickly typed in her admission ticket number.

Maddie’s eyes were glued to the screen, full of longing.

She bit her lower lip, looking pitiful. “Rachel, I know you look down on me. My grades aren’t as good as yours, but you can’t just insult someone who works hard. I’m not worthless at all…”

The page loaded.

Her guaranteed admission spot was right in front of her.

You could almost hear her breath catch, the hopes and calculations of weeks all coiling into this single moment. Outside, the bell for lunch rang, but nobody moved. We all waited, breath held, for the moment fate would refresh—just one click away.