Rogue

Chapter 2 - Competition

Chapter 2 – Competition

The bus was already buzzing with excited energy as Leto boarded. She could feel the almost tangible mixture of nerves and thrill. The competition was going to be at the university and there would be hundreds of other schools attending. The grade 7s, huddling over past Olympiads, in the front row barely looked up as she passed. She patted one on the head, but the boy just brushed her hand away and continued muttering about factorials. She knew exactly how they felt – stressing about the difficult questions and hoping to make an impression on the mathematics world. At the back, the Matrics were more focussed on cramming for their Life Sciences test – carefully reciting the different processes of evolution to each other. She noted an empty row near the grade 12s and took a seat before someone else could steal it.  The window was translucent with mist, and all that was visible through it was an illuminated haze. She pulled her schoolbag onto her lap and checked that she had all of her stationery. Once satisfied with her pencil, eraser, black pen and ruler, she slumped in the seat and mentally prepared. She ran a quick check through her memory of mathematics, ensuring that she as familiar with the basic formulas for area and knew her geometry. Although the Olympiad wasn’t a conventional maths test, it was important that she understood the concepts. Happy with her mental check, she glanced around at the other students. She only recognised a few faces, but none really friendly.

 The students who had been chosen were mainly from the Physics class – the “brainy” types. They excelled at ordinary schoolwork, but very few were able to take the creative leap necessary for the Olympiads. Leto sighed, wondering how she had ended up amongst the smart people. A teacher did a head count, then muttered and glanced at his watch as he realised that there were students missing. Looking out the door, he yelled into the distance. There was the sound of running; the bus shuddered as the latecomers tumbled in. A tall grade 9 blocked her view, so she couldn’t make out who was being scolded – until he dropped into the seat next to hers.

“Nai, m’bru! We can get a gatsby tomorrow. That’s more lekker than Nandos!” Warren cheerfully continued his conversation with a friend at a volume that caught everyone’s attention – including the teacher.

“Warren, be quiet before I kick you through the window!” threatened the irritated sir.

He gave an apology, then turned to talk to his friend across the aisle. Leto rolled her eyes as she caught sight of his dark blue underwear, clearly visible below his backpack. She couldn’t comprehend why most of the boys in her neighbourhood found it stylish to wear their trousers at knee-level. Shaking her head at the conversation about the inexhaustible topic of food, she leaned against the window.  Ten minutes into the drive, he realised that he was sharing a seat with someone he hadn’t even acknowledged and burned red with embarrassment.

“Jammer, Leto. I didn’t realise you were there. You were so quiet – said nothing. Are you ready for tonight?”

She answered with a small smile and a nod.

“Ja, you are mos clever. I forgot. I mean, I didn’t think you were dom or anything, I just...”

“It’s fine, Warren. I get what you’re saying,” was her kind answer. “And I’m not clever, really. I just get lucky with some of the questions in the paper.”

“But last year, you mos beat everyone.”

She shook her head.

“I didn’t beat everyone. I barely got 30%. I don’t know why they put me through to the next round.”

He grinned,

“They don’t put people through for nothing, Leto.”

She smiled back and shook her head. When one of his friends diverted his attention, she returned to her thoughts. Sera and Brian were safe with Ouma – pa hadn’t returned, thankfully. She could write the Olympiad without having to worry about them. She breathed a silent sigh of relief.