The whole group listens to Hayze’s explanation.
Aaron: Well, good thinking, Hayze. Let’s go kill a dinosaur.
Alexis: Yeah.
Ash: Mhm.
Hayze: Th- that’s it? No objections or questions from anyone?
Verity: It all makes sense, and we’ve already done this before.
Hayze: Oh, right… Vanguard. Wrath thoughts?
Wrath is still on the ground in pain.
Wrath: *groans*
Hayze: Wes?
Wes: *groans*
Sydney: Maybe some of what you’re saying is true. But there’s a problem. They said only 12 teams can progress. So how can we be sure that’s not a lie?
Hayze: Who said it was?
Sydney: Huh?
Hayze: I’m not sure how we will work around that problem… yet.
Sydney: Well, then, I’m not helping.
Alec: Yeah, same here.
Hayze: Hm…
Silver: Aaron, out of curiosity, how did Wes end up like this?
Aaron: I shot him out of the sky.
Silver: H- How?
Aaron: With a rocket, duh…
Justus: I think he means, how was Wes in the sky in the first place?
Wes: I was flying on one of those mechanical birds…
Blair: How?
Wes: There’s a control panel on the back of their necks. I was getting the hang of it when SOMEONE SHOT ME DOWN!
Aaron: You’re still on about that?
Alexis: Jesus, Wes, get over it.
Wes: WHAT?!
Hayze and Silver look at each other.
Adrian: So, now they’re going to take down the Mecha-Rex together.
Walker: It looks like it.
Adrian: This seems more anti-climactic than the last Final Exams.
Walker: That’s by design. Last year, we needed a more “defined” exam. So we gave them everything they needed to pass. It was a direct evaluation. This time, we’re doing something different. We want to see if they’ll pass “the eye test.” Students like Fabio and Talon haven’t, so they’ll be placed in remedial classes this summer.
Adrian: And who is teaching those?
Walker and Houston whistle.
Sydney: So, that’s your big idea?
Silver: Mhm.
Alec: And why should we believe that will work?
Hayze and Silver shrug.
Alec: HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO CONVINCE US?!
Killian: *from afar* It’s good enough for me.
Killian and Gavin have arrived. Killian chucks Demetri and Isaiah down the junk pile they’re standing on.
Isaiah and Demetri: THOSE DICKS DIDN’T UNTIE US!
Alec: Killian? You got out of the first room?
Killian: Yeah! No thanks to Gavin!
Gavin: I was sniffing some ass gas!
Killian slides down the junk pile.
Killian: I didn’t hear most of the plan, but I’m in!
Everyone stares at Killian blankly.
Killian: STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!
Bruno: We’re just surprised that you want to cooperate.
Killian: I did it with Vanguard!
Alec: Yeah, but that was life or death.
Killian: So! I- Fuck this! I’m here to help, so just tell me how I can!
Verity: I see… you’re tired of being viewed as a joke, so you’re willing to set aside your ego to prove your worth.
Killian: Stop reading my mind, Verity!
Verity: I didn’t.
Killian stares at Verity.
Killian: Just tell me what to do!
Hayze: Alright, Demetri and Isaiah, are you in too?
Demetri: Will you untie us?
Nobody answers.
Isaiah and Demetri: COME ON!
Hayze: Look, the plan will probably require you to get tied up at some point, so… we might as well keep you like this until then.
Isaiah and Demetri: WHAT KIND OF LOGIC IS THAT?!
Hayze: Glad to hear you’re on board!
Isaiah and Demetri: WE’RE NOT!
Hayze: Alright? Is everyone ready?
Everyone nods.
Hayze: Then let’s go become third years.
The Mecha-Rex roams around the junkyard aimlessly until it picks up a random signal.
Mecha-Rex: *roars*
The rex starts charging in the direction of the signal.
Adrian: What are they up to?
Walker: I don’t know.
Adrian: Well, maybe we shouldn’t have muted the screen while they made their plan!
Walker: Why? This is more fun.
Adrian: *sighs* Well, they should have realized by now that the Mecha-Rex is designed to be like Fearmonger was. It’s too powerful for them to defeat even as a team.
Walker: Mhm.
Adrian: So… what could they possibly do? My gut instinct would be to tie it down like Justus did.
Houston: Yes, but that wouldn’t work for long.
Adrian: Plus, if they want to retrieve the students trapped inside, they’ll have to find a way to break inside of the beast. There’s no way for them to access that room otherwise.
Walker: It’s a difficult question to answer… that’s for sure.
The Mecha-Rex turns a corner and spots Demetri and Isaiah yelling and biting at each other.
Demetri: FUCK YOU FOR AGREEING TO THIS!
Isaiah: FUCK YOU FOR NOT FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET US OUT OF THIS YET!
Demetri: ME?
Isaiah: YES, YOU!
Mecha-Rex: *roars*
Demetri: Oh great, it’s here…
Isaiah: Don’t shit yourself…
Demetri: What am I? Alden?
Isaiah: Ha!
The Mecha-Rex charges at them.
Isaiah and Demetri: AHHHHHH!
Suddenly, Hayze drives out on his motorcycle with Wes on the back and a rope attaching the vehicle to Isaiah and Demetri.
Hayze: Let’s go!
Hayze and Wes drive past the Mecha-Rex, dragging the two perverted idiots behind them.
Isaiah and Demetri: AHHHHHHHHH!
Hayze: Aren’t you happy you didn’t get that job, Wes?
Wes: Mine isn’t much better!
Hayze: Quit complaining!
Wes: *sighs* Fine…
The Mecha-Rex chases after them.
Aaron: Alright, boys, we’re up!
Killian, Silver, Saige, Alec, and Aaron run out and chase behind the Mecha-Rex. Killian is running on all fours, Silver is riding on a dust mound. Saige created a dune buggy for herself, Aaron, and Alec to drive in.
Alec: Why did I get stuck with you two?
Saige: Because you suck.
Alec: Fuck you…
Aaron: Everyone, get in position!
Silver flies between the Mecha-Rex’s legs as Killian runs ahead of it. Alec stands up in the passenger seat with his scythe ready.
Saige: Don’t miss!
Alec: Shut up! Of course, I’m not going to miss!
Alec chucks his scythe at the Mecha-Rex’s tail, lassoing it.
Alec: Got it!
Aaron transforms his other arm into a flare gun and launches a flare past Hayze.
Hayze: That’s the signal. Are you ready?
Wes: *sighs* No…
Hayze: Good to hear!
Hayze activates the autopilot and stands up on the motorcycle.
Hayze: Silver! Killian!
Killian runs up to the rope connecting Demetri and Isaiah to the motorcycle and severs it. He then starts dragging them by his teeth.
Isaiah and Demetri: AHHHHHHHHH! HELP US!
Killian: *muffled* NO!
Silver floats up to the vehicle. Hayze leaps onto the mound.
Hayze: You got this, Wes.
Wes takes control of the motorcycle and deactivates the autopilot.
Wes: Whatever you say…
Adrian leans forward in his chair.
Adrian: What the hell are they doing?
Houston: I’m not sure… they seem to be making a bunch of random moves with no correlation to one another.
Adrian: Walker? Do you see what they’re up to?
Walker is watching the screens intently.
Walker: Clever.
Adrian: I’ll take that as a yes.
Houston: Care to give us some insight? As per usual, these exams are your brainchild. So you’re a little faster on the uptick than us.
Walker: The students' most significant issue isn’t how they’ll defeat the Mecha-Rex. It’s how they can all progress through the exam together. If six teams have to stay behind, friction will develop, and they’ll never be able to work together.
Adrian: Mhm, but there isn’t a way around that. We explicitly told them only 12 teams could progress.
Walker: Yes, we did, but there is a unique circumstance they could utilize.
Houston: Like what?
Walker: If all 18 teams cross through the portal simultaneously, we’d have no choice but to let all of them progress.
Adrian: Okay… but that’s not possible. An 18-way tie? There’s no way they could time their entries into the portal so perfectly. And if even one person gets greedy, the whole thing falls apart. So they could only do it if they crossed through the portal in something… big…
Walker smiles.
Walker: Now, do you see what they’re up to?
Wes takes a deep breath.
Wes: (How did I let them talk me into this?)
Wes lets off the gas. Slowly falling behind Silver, Hayze, and Killian.
Wes: *gulps*
Wes continues to slow down; he looks over his shoulder and sees the mouth of the beast approaching him.
Wes: AHHHHHHHHHHH!
The Mecha-Rex gulps Wes, destroying the motorcycle in the process.
Saige: It got Wes! Aaron, get going!
Aaron returns his arms to normal and grabs Alec’s scythe rope. Then, he starts climbing toward the Mecha-Rex’s tail.
Aaron: Don’t piss yourself, Wes. I’m coming to help!
Wes tumbles down the metal chute.
Wes: *groans* OW! FUCK! AH!
Wes’ costume starts to dematerialize.
Wes: SHIT! NOW OR NEVER!
Wes pulls out Tobias' cane and uses it to stop his descent down the chute.
Wes: Phew… Alright… this was fun…
Wes reaches into his pockets and pulls out a set of Wrath’s heat grenades.
Wes: This is gonna suck…
The group outside passes by Bruno and Wrath, standing on top of a junk pile. Killian tosses Isaiah and Demetri to Bruno.
Isaiah and Demetri: *groans*
Bruno: Wes is gone; activate the explosives!
Wrath: Don’t tell me what to do!
Inside, the heat grenades detonate.
Wes: AHHHHHHHH!
As Wes’ body is burnt, a hole is blasted in the chute.
Wes: *groans*
Wes climbs out of the chute.
Bruno: Did it work?
Wrath: Who knows, let’s just move to the rendezvous.
Ash uses a ghost minefield, and Alexis uses a swarm of origami birds to blast a massive crater in the ground.
Alexis: Alright, Blair, we’re ready.
Blair starts filling the crater with lava.
Sydney: Why are we doing this again? Aren’t we trying to control that thing, not destroy it?
Tobias approaches the girls using Ester’s scythe form as a walking stick.
Tobias: This lava will not destroy that monster. That would be far too easy.
Sydney: Okay… Why are we doing this again?
Alexis: To slow it down when it inevitably gets here. It could take some time for Wes to find out how to control that thing. So, we need to be ready to fight for a while.
Sydney: Remind me why we trust that idiot with the most important job?
Eve: We don’t. Why do you think Hayze wanted Aaron to get inside, too?
Aaron runs across the Mecha-Rex’s tail and starts climbing up its back.
Aaron: Don’t fuck anything up in there, Wes!
Wes climbs through the shafts of the Mecha-Rex’s body.
Wes: Where the fuck is this?
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Wes notices a vent and crawls to it. He busts it open and falls into the room housing Zach, Gus, and the others.
Wes: Huh, Zach and Gus are here too? Oh, and Romeo… Wonder where shit lord is then.
Grace ties Alden’s bloody and unconscious body to a pole and waves it around.
Grace: It’s time to wave the brown flag!
Wes attempts to open Zach’s pod, but it won’t budge.
Wes: *sighs* I should have expected that.
Wes notices a ladder.
Wes: Do I have to… *imitates Aaron* YES! *groans*
Impulse zooms on top of a junk pile.
Impulse: Grace! Grace! *sighs* I can’t find her anywhere… huh?
Impulse spots Killian, Hayze, and Silver being chased by the Mecha-Rex.
Impulse: Woah! Now, that’s not something you see every day!
Hayze looks back at the massive machine.
Hayze: Well, Wes might have fucked up…
Silver: How long until we can be sure?
Hayze: Aaron probably would be really loud if he did.
Killian: Hey! How much longer should we keep this thing on our tail?
Hayze: Let’s start moving towards the pit!
Killian: Right!
Aaron reaches the top of the Mecha-Rex’s head.
Aaron: Alright, you T-Rex, I’ll only say this once. LET ME IN!
Mecha-Rex: *roars*
Aaron instantly leaps in between the Rex’s upper and lower jaws.
Aaron: Thanks, dumbass! I’m coming, Wes, so you’d better not be fucking up!
Wes reaches the top of the ladder and finds himself inside a control room in the Mecha-Rex’s head.
Wes: Okay… this looks fine so far.
Wes takes one step into the control room, and an alarm goes off. The Mecha-Rex’s eyes begin flashing red.
Silver: Is that a good or bad thing?
Hayze: I guess we’ll find out…
Inside the control room, a set of sentry turrets lower from the ceiling and take aim at Wes.
Wes: Meep…
Adrian slowly turns to Walker.
Adrian: Does he not remember his quirk-
Walker: Nope.
Adrian: Just making sure…
Wes cowers in fear.
Wes: Look… we can talk this out… right?
The turrets fire a warning shot at Wes.
Wes: I’m going to take that as a maybe…
Killian looks up and notices a swarm of Mecha-Dactyls approaching them.
Killian: Uh… should we be worried about that?
Hayze: Yeah… probably.
Silver: They must be here to protect the T-Rex.
Hayze creates his executioner’s blade as the mechanical birds descend.
Hayze: I’ll cut them down, you-
Impulse: Dibs!
Hayze: Huh?
Impulse speeds past the group.
Silver: Is that…
Hayze: Impulse?
Impulse jolts up a junk pile and leaps through the air. Landing on top of one of the Mecha-Dactyls.
Impulse: These birds may control the air, but that won’t matter if I ground them!
Impulse pulls out his power drill and starts disassembling the bird.
Impulse: High-Speed Disassembly!
Impulse begins jumping from bird to bird, taking them apart. The group below is showered with debris, nuts, and bolts.
Hayze: I was wondering where he was.
Killian: I could do that!
Hayze and Silver stare at Killian.
Killian: Fine, I can’t, but I really want to!
The group turns down a corner towards a large clearing with the lava pit at the center.
Hayze: Killian, leap up!
Killian jumps to Hayze; he pulls him onto the dust mound as they pass over the lava pit. The Mecha-Rex runs through it and is unaffected.
Justus: Sydney, Calm, go!
Sydney: Don’t tell me what to do!
Sydney blasts a tsunami cannon, and Calm redirects it to the lava, hardening the pit into volcanic rock and trapping the Mecha-Rex.
Mecha-Rex: *roars*
Impulse finishes disassembling the Mecha-Dactyl swarm and leaps onto the ground safely. Everyone else runs out and surrounds the massive machine.
Justus: Does Wes have control of it yet?
Hayze: I don’t think so… something must be wrong.
Calm: If that’s the case, we must-
The volcanic rock starts to crack.
Justus: We can’t hold it for long! Eve, Bruno! Help me!
Bruno: Right away!
Bruno tosses Demetri and Isaiah aside.
Demetri and Isaiah: *pained grunts*
Justus, Eve, and Bruno leap into the pit and use their strength to hold the Mecha-Rex’s legs in place.
Calm: This will not hold it for long. We must send someone else inside to assist Wes.
Hayze: Aaron is enough. We just have to have faith in him.
Calm: That is not logical.
Hayze: Yeah, well, we’re a little pressed for time.
The Mecha-Rex starts to overpower Justus, Eve, and Bruno.
Grace: *from afar* Don’t worry, I’ll help!
Grace appears on top of a junk pile.
Ash: Is she using Alden as a flag?
Alexis: Yeah, it looks like it.
Grace uses Alden as a board to surf down the junk pile.
Alden: AHHHHHHHHHH!
Grace charges in and assists the trio in holding the Mecha-Rex down.
Hayze: (Come on, guys!)
Aaron finds the ladder and starts climbing it.
Aaron: Don’t worry, Wes, you might suck, but I don’t!
One of the turrets shoots Wes in the leg.
Wes: AH! WHAT THE FUCK! WHY NOT JUST KILL ME?!
The Mecha-Rex begins to break free of the volcanic rock.
Isaiah: If only Lilith was here…
Demetri: Huh? Why?
Isaiah: Well, she could become a giant and fight the Mecha-Rex long enough for Wes to take control of it.
Demetri: Pfft, are you kidding me? Think of how many opportunities Lilith has had for a big Kaiju battle. For Christ's sake, Iota had a Giant guy in his arsenal, and that didn’t happen. Why would it happen now-
Suddenly, a giant Lilith appears and charges at the Mecha-Rex.
Isaiah: Oh, would you look at that… Demetri’s wrong again.
Demetri: Fuck you!
Wes has a look of realization.
Wes: That’s right! My Quirk!
Wes transforms his skin into a mirror.
Wes: Shoot at me now, bitch!
Lilith punches the Mecha-Rex, sending it flying through the air.
Aaron: What the fuck is going on out there?
Wes slams into the wall of the control room, shattering his skin.
Wes: AHHHHHHHH!
The Mecha-Rex attempts to bite Lilith, but she punches it away.
Alexis: Anyone got popcorn?
Saige: Depends if you want it real or not.
Gale glides in and lands next to Hayze.
Hayze: Gale, where have you been?
Gale: Coming up with this genius plan! You’re welcome, by the way.
Silver: Your plan was a kaiju battle that Lilith probably won’t win?
Gale stares at Silver.
Gale: Yes.
Lilith extends her wings and repels the Mecha-Rex using a whirlwind.
Gale: Man, her ass looks hot.
Eve punches Gale in the back of the head.
Eve: Lilith won’t last long! Why the fuck did we depend on Wes?!
Silver: Because we also depended on Aaron.
Wes writhes in pain on the floor. The turrets look at each other and shrug.
Wes: *groans* I fucking hate my life…
Aaron: Me too, buddy!
Aaron emerges from the ladder and blasts both turrets with a shotgun.
Aaron: Jesus, you suck…
Wes: I tried my best…
Aaron: *sighs* Yeah, you did…
Wes gingerly sits down at the controls.
Wes: Alright… let’s figure this out. Wait… why aren’t you the one doing this?
Aaron: Eh, I think it’ll be funny.
Wes: *sighs* Yeah, probably.
Lilith punches the Mecha-Rex.
Wes: AH! FUCK! LILITH, STOP!
Aaron: Keep going, Lilith! Kick his ass!
Wes: Aaron!
Aaron: What?
Wes: Fuck you!
Wes lowers the T-Rex’s head to the ground.
Lilith: Huh?
Everyone looks confused.
Wes: We need to signal them that we’re in control.
Aaron: I have an idea.
Everyone can hear Wes’ muffled screams.
Alexis: Alright, they’re in control.
Aaron opens the Mecha-Rex’s mouth, and each student climbs inside one by one and enters the central room. Aaron uses the controls to open the pods and release the captured students.
Zach: *groans* What happened?
Lilith: A lot…
Hayze and Silver climb up to the control room.
Hayze: Alright, Wes, get us out of here.
Wes: Right!
Wes starts moving the Mecha-Rex toward the pillar of light.
Alden: WAIT! YOU FORGOT ABOUT ME!
Alden runs in front of the Mecha-Rex.
Aaron: Look, one of those machines is trying to stop us.
Wes: I’ll get it.
Alden tries waving down the Mecha-Rex.
Alden: HEY!
The Mecha-Rex steps on Alden, crushing him.
Hayze: We’re off to finish this-
Suddenly, Hayze wakes up in his simulation pod.
Hayze: Huh?
Each student in the simulation wakes up and sits up in their pod.
Recovery Girl: Welcome back, everyone. Stay seated for a moment to give your bodies time to adjust.
Walker, Adrian, and Houston emerge from the control room, clapping.
Silver: Mr. Walker, what’s going on?
Walker: The exam is over.
Everyone is shocked.
Alexis: Wh- what, but we didn’t finish.
Houston: There was no need to go on. We saw everything we needed to see.
Eve: What do you mean by that?
Walker: The reason this exam came out of left field and was relatively unstructured was because it was more of a formality. We just wanted to see everyone in action in a simulated environment that symbolized a heroic scenario. For the most part, a lot of you impressed.
Justus: What does “formality” mean exactly?
Walker: Well, a lot of your final evaluation will be based on reports from the heroes you’ve been working with in your work studies. Remember, in year 1, we established the fundamentals, and this year, we wanted to take a look at how you’ll actually operate in the hero world. We have a solid picture of that. Some of you will need to take remedial classes in the summer to iron out any kinks, but otherwise, we’re very proud of almost all of you.
Ewing, Boom, Madame Mummy, Fatal, and Multi enter the arena with Kevin, Jace, Fabio, and Talon. Fatal looks slightly plump in the stomach area.
Zach: (Jace?)
Aaron: Kev!
Kevin: What’s up, guys! Excellent work in there!
All the teachers gather in a horizontal line, with Kevin and Jace behind them.
Walker: I’m happy to officially say that you are now known as Class 3-A and 3-B.
Everyone celebrates and rejoices.
Walker: You’re all in line to graduate one year from now. Don’t screw this up.
Everyone nods their heads.
Walker: Now… I think it’s time to announce something you’ve all been waiting for since your first day on campus.
Everyone tenses up.
Walker: The Top Students of this school are about to be announced.
Justus: (After all this time…)
Silver: (The moment has finally arrived.)
Houston pulls out a set of six medals.
Houston: As you know, it’s up to the teachers of Classes 3-A and 3-B each year to choose students to recognize and grant them the title of Top Students.
Walker: I’ll admit that these were hard decisions, but we granted this designation to six students. We’ll announce them now, starting with the sixth-ranked student at the school.
Everyone is on edge.
Walker: Congratulations, Blair.
Blair: M- me?
Walker: If I had to name the student that’s grown the most over the last two years. I’d choose you. This is recognition of the progress you’ve made.
Everyone claps for Blair as she collects her medal from Houston.
Blair: (I can’t believe it…)
Blair and Hayze lock eyes and smile at each other.
Walker: Next, our fifth-ranked student… Aaron.
Aaron: *sighs* I had a feeling this was coming, but I’ll just accept the honor and ignore my placement.
Alec: Douche…
Aaron collects his medal.
Alexis: (The two wildcards are out of the way… now we move on to the actual questions.)
Hayze, Silver, and Justus look tense.
Walker: The fourth-ranked student… Justus.
Some of the students are shocked. Justus nods his head and collects his medal.
Justus: (If there’s anything I’ve learned this past year. It’s that my ranking isn’t the only thing that matters. Father… Sister… I hope I’m making you proud up there. I know I’m an outstanding hero, and I will only continue to improve.)
Justus holds his medal with pride.
Walker: Now for our third-ranked student… Saige.
Saige: Hooray!
Saige skips forward and collects her medal.
Saige: Thank you!
Hayze and Silver glance at each other.
Hayze: (Funny, the moment I established myself as a genuine threat for this position… was when I fought you.)
Silver: (We’ve fought twice, and you’ve won both times, but we’ve grown so much. I don’t know which of us would win if we fought again, but that’s not what this position is about.)
Walker smiles.
Walker: It’s probably more climactic if I first reveal the Top Student… This was a tough decision, but we wanted to choose the person that best represented what your class was about. And there was only one person that could do that.
Silver hangs his head.
Walker: The new Top Student of U.A. is… Hayze.
Alden: *from afar* WHAT?!
Hayze has no reaction as his classmates applaud him. He receives his medal directly from Walker.
Walker: Do you have anything to say?
Hayze: Thanks, everyone. I couldn’t have done this without the support of my friends.
Walker: Alright, then, congratulations, Silver, you’re number 2.
Silver collects his medal and glances at Hayze.
Walker: And that should tie everything up.
Kevin: Well, if that’s the case. There’s only one thing for us to do.
Everyone lights up.
Everyone: PARTY AT ALDEN’S HOUSE!
Alden: NOOOOOOOOO!
That night, all the students gather at Alden’s house and party. Isaiah knocks on the bathroom door.
Isaiah: Gus? Are you okay in there?
Gus: *muffled* NO!
Kevin is benching Wes.
Aaron: Damn, that suit is cool!
Kevin: I know, right!
Wes: That’s great… Can you put me down!
Kevin: Sure, one sec- Oh, SHIT!
Kevin folds Wes like a lawn chair.
Wes: AHHHHHHHHH!
Kevin: Sorry…
Verity approaches Kevin with a first-aid kit.
Verity: Don’t worry, I can assist.
Wes: NO! NO! NO!
Verity hands Wes a coupon for “Wes cannot complain for 10 minutes.”
Aaron: See, Wes? I told you those would come in handy.
Wes: FOR HER!
Aaron: Mhm!
Aaron notices it’s raining outside.
Aaron: Hey, Alexis, wanna go make out in the rain?
Alexis: Eh, I’ve got nothing better to do.
Jace, Zach, Eve, and Lilith are gathered in a group.
Lilith: So, you’re really not going to be in our class anymore?
Jace: No… but I’ll still be on campus. So, this isn’t goodbye forever.
Lilith: We’ll miss having you in our class, Jace.
Eve: Eh…
Jace: Thanks, Lilith… thanks, Eve…
Eve: What, you started a cult! I’ll miss you, but not that much.
Jace: Okay, that’s fair…
Zach: I can’t believe we’re not going to graduate together.
Jace: Well, we still will… just not in the same class.
Zach: I guess so…
Zach and Jace shake hands and hug.
Zach: I’m gonna miss you, buddy.
Jace: Same here, Zach.
Killian is off by himself.
Killian: *sighs*
Bruno slaps him on the back and sits down with him.
Bruno: You did well today, Killian.
Killian: Shut up…
Bruno: Why? I’m giving you a compliment.
Killian: That was degrading. Those guys are our rivals. Why should I be proud to work with them?
Bruno: Just because they’re rivals doesn’t mean they can’t be our friends.
Killian: Yeah, yeah, yeah… save it for someone who cares.
Bruno: You clearly do; I’m sure it wasn’t flattering to have been among the last people selected to join a team.
Killian: *frustrated grunt*
Bruno: If you want to be taken seriously again, you must take everything around you seriously.
Killian: Don’t lecture me.
Bruno: That’s okay. I’ll just enjoy being tied for the most selections in the popular vote by myself.
Bruno stands up to walk away.
Killian: *sighs* Fine… I’ll listen.
Sydney glares at Wrath from across a room.
Grace: Is he your new boyfriend?
Sydney: Shut up, or I’ll kill you.
Grace: So… is that a yes?!
Sydney: I hate him. I’d rather kill myself than associate with a loser like him-
Grace: Okay, I’ll go tell him that.
Sydney: NOOOO!
Grace stares at Sydney with a massive smile on her face.
Sydney: Say another word. I dare you.
Impulse watches Sydney and Grace.
Impulse: *sighs*
Wrath: What are you bitching about?
Impulse: I just wanted to impress Grace… but all I did was look like a loser.
Wrath: That’s because you are.
Impulse: Coming from the guy who has a crush on the biggest bitch on the planet…
Wrath: You can’t call her a bitch! ONLY I’M ALLOWED TO DO THAT!
Impulse: What the fuck…
Wrath clears his throat.
Wrath: My point is that you look like a pathetic loser trying to impress girls. Don’t try; it’s a waste of time.
Gale: Wrath’s right. If they’re into you, it won’t take a lot.
Impulse: I guess you’re right… I did have way more fun being myself. I think I’ll keep that in mind going forward.
Calm: Yes, and always attempt to-
Impulse: Uh… no offense, Calm, but I don’t think I want your advice on this subject.
Calm: What? Why?
Calm has a black eye and a ton of swelling where Eve hit him.
Impulse: No reason.
Hayze, Blair, Saige, Silver, Justus, and Ash are gathered on the back deck.
Saige: Ah, isn’t it great to be third years!
Blair: Get your hand off my ass.
Saige: No.
Blair: *sighs* Yeah, it’s hard to believe we’re one year away from graduating.
Ash: It feels like everything started yesterday…
Saige: I still can’t believe Hayze became the Top Student over Justus and Silver. That must be embarrassing, right, Justus and Silver?
Justus and Silver stare at Saige.
Hayze: Saige…
Saige: What?
Silver: He can have the title. I’ll just look forward to taking it from him.
Justus: I don’t need to be the Top Student to be proud of how far I’ve come.
Saige: That’s what people who aren’t the Top Student say!
Justus: If you’re trying to get a rise out of me, it’s not working.
Saige: What about you, Silvy?
Silver: A couple more cracks.
Saige: Dammit!
Hayze: Being the Top Student is nice… but it’s not the end goal, and I think we all know that.
Silver and Justus nod.
Hayze: We’re one step away from our dreams, so let’s not worry about who ranked where. We’ll be heroes, and it’s a short 12 months away.
Ash: And I’m sure they won’t be filled with mayhem and misadventures.
Hayze looks up at the stars.
Hayze: I’m sure they won’t, Ash. I’m sure they won’t.