It was so weird for Trevor to come back to school. He was tired since he didn't sleep at all, but as soon as he went out of the car, as his mother drove him to school, all his senses sharpened, and his heart started racing, making the blood move faster.

The day was nice and sunny. The crowd was already assembling in front of the building. Normally kids would just focus on getting inside, but his appearance made many of them turn around. The whispers started spreading and more and more students suddenly switched their attention to him.

He froze, but not for long, as his eyes caught up on a figure, on the right side of the entrance, leaning on the wall and waving to him. It was Liv.

Seeing her brought a smile to his face, and he immediately moved toward her.

- Long time no see mister Looser - she said with a grin on her face. - It's so hard to call me, and at least tell me that you are fine?

- S-sorry... It's just...

His eyes dropped as he couldn't find the words.

- It's fine. I'm just messing with you.

- No. No. It's not fine - he straightened up and looked her right in the eyes. - I owe you an apology. You were right, and I messed up big time. I should have listened to you, but my ego... I wanted to beat them down and humiliate them so badly that I lost myself. I couldn't see that I already won with them, and you kept telling me that, which only annoyed me because I wanted more. I'm really sorry for being an idiot.

She punched him in the shoulder.

- It's fine - she said.

Trevor noticed as her face changed, from so confident to a bit shyer, and then she just jumped forward and hugged him tightly. It lasted only a second or two, because she let go of him, and then quickly passed by, to move toward the entrance.

- I'm just glad you are ok - she added.

He was surprised, and needed a moment, to go after her, but was unable to catch up to her because of the crowd. She got in line for the daily evaluation before him. For Trevor, it took a little bit more time, so other kids managed to accumulate. Most of them were peaking at him from time to time.

Not only them, but so much more of the students clearly paid attention to his person and were whispering. Although, there was nobody who was making fun of him in the open. That also took Trevor by surprise, as he expected to become a laughing stock.

When his time to get evaluated finally came, Liv was already gone. He paid more attention to the corridor, trying to spot her than to the sphere filled with swirling blue particles. He quickly verified his number, and moved further, hoping to catch her by the lockers, but she wasn't there either.

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She probably already was in the classroom, expecting her first lesson. The boy sighed, and just went to open his locker to get the necessary books and then to the place where he was supposed to start his school day.

That's how another boring hour of history started, but it also ended much faster than he thought, as just five minutes in somebody knocked on the door.

- Yes? - asked the teacher, as he stopped his boring monologue.

The door opened, revealing the principal in his usual attire. The man scanned through the classroom without a word.

- Mister West, please come to my office - he said, and then also added to the teacher: - I apologize for the intrusion.

He then stepped back, leaving the door open. Trevor, unsure what it was about, grabbed his things, shoved them into the backpack, threw it over his shoulder, and quickly came out of the classroom, closing the door behind him.

- Please follow me, Mister West - said the man, and gave the boy a fake smile.

- What is it about? - asked Trevor.

- Not here, In my office - was the reply.

After that, both of them didn't talk. They just walked through the empty corridor, until they reached the door with the plate on it with a writing, spelling 'Principal's Office'. The man opened it and went inside. West followed, still silent

It was a small room with a window on the other side. Short cabinets were placed around both the left and right walls. Just before the window was the principal's desk, with a computer on it, and with a nice chair behind it, where the man went to sit, and a much less grandiose one in front. The principal moved some papers on the desktop, then using a hand gestured for Trevor to sit down, and he himself also sat down.

- Please, Mister West. Take a seat.

The boy, still uncertain what it all was about slowly went further inside the room and did what he was asked to, at the same time taking his backpack off and putting it on the ground just next to his leg.

- I wanted to say, that it's unfortunate what happened to you last week, and also wanted to say that if there is something the school can do to help find those at fault, we would be more than happy to do it - he said, but his facial expression didn't change at all.

Trevor saw through the empty words. There was no way that man didn't know who was at fault here, with all the stuff that happened before. During the first second, he wanted to call the bullshit, but he bit his tongue and just nodded, mustering up a fake smile.

- You are probably wondering why I wanted to speak with you, Mister West.

- Yes - Trevor said.

- I've been paying close attention to your daily evaluation throughout the past few weeks, and I have to say that I'm impressed. Your progress is - he paused for a second, searching his mind for the right word - astonishing. You got from zero to forty-six today. If your progress will continue like this, you are gonna reach seventy in no time. That means you could apply for schooling in the third district. You know that right?

The boy slowly nodded. Now everything became clear. It was all about the school's prestige. A possibility to brag about a student who got from the fourth to the third. A promotion of this puny institution.

Something the man sitting in front of him probably badly wanted for his career.

- Very well. If there is anything you believe could help you, please do not hesitate to ask. We are here for you - he said and smiled.

- Yes... Actually - the boy started after a short pause. - I've been doing those breathing exercises, and I believe they are helping me a lot. Since I basically already have all my grades, maybe I could focus more time on that, instead of the lessons? I think that could help me a lot.

The proposition clearly took the principal by surprise, as he froze with his mouth slightly open. This lasted for a few seconds, before, the smile returned.

- That's... That's definitely an interesting proposition. I'll... I'll consult with your teachers. How about we return to this sometime later?

- Yes... Yes... Sometime later - Trevor nodded.

- Good. That would be all. Please go back to your class.

So the boy left.