Troy. Of-fucking-course, my new partner has a sunshine-coded little sister roaming around Mountain Springs.
Tara leans in slightly, eyes sparkling. “Why? Are you a friend of his? Oh god, did he hurt you? I’m so sorry he sometimes isn’t the best with women, you know. I think it all stems down to?—”
I cut her off, stopping her from further discussion of Troy’s psychophysical history with women.
“No. Absolutely not. I am not…god no,”
She raises a brow, clearly amused. “Okaaay… Then how do you know my brother?”
“I’m his partner for the Future Innovators competition. We sort of had no other choice,”
Tara gawks. Like full-on, mouth slightly open, what-the-fuck gawk.
“You? And Troy? Working together?”
“Unfortunately.”
She grins. “Oh, my God. This is amazing.”
“It is objectively not.”
“No, no, you don’t understand,” she says, practically bouncing on her heels. “My brother is so good at everything, but he’s never had to work with someone who actually challenges him. He’s gonna hate it, and I love that for you.”
“You’re… surprisingly supportive of your brother’s suffering.”
“Obviously,” Tara says, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Siblings exist to humble each other.”
Okay. I might actually like her. I scan her book, apply the discount, and hand her the receipt.
“Well, good luck with him,” she chirps, tucking her book into her bag. “I mean that sincerely. But also, pleasedocument everything. And if he starts being a dick, you can message me. Type in your insta.”
She hands me her phone with the app open, I search for myself and press follow. She grins again.
“Dm me if you need help with him,”
I snort, despite myself.
“Noted.”
As she heads for the door, she spins back around, walking backward as she calls out?—
“And if he’s being annoying, just tell him to go and work out! Works 90% of the time!”
10
TROY
Alex, Freddie, and I walk toward CC’s Coffee House, the best spot on campus for overpriced caffeine.
“I just don’t see how pushing electric cars fixes the bigger issue,” Freddie is saying, shaking his head. “Most of the world’s electricity still comes from fossil fuels. Making batteries isn’t exactly great for the environment either.”
Alex lets out an exasperated sigh, clutching her reusable coffee cup.
“Okay, but it’s still better than gas-powered cars. You can’t tell me a Tesla is as bad as some gas-guzzling truck that gets twelve miles to the gallon.”
“I’m just saying”—Freddie shrugs—“people act like electric cars are this magical solution when really, we need way bigger structural changes?—”
“Tell that to Alfie,” I cut in, smirking. “Good luck prying his precious BMW M4 out of his hands.”
