The Alien Within

Chapter 20: The Quiz Showdown

Adrian had become the name on everyone's lips. His prowess on the football field had earned him not only a reputation but also the hearts of many girls.

His calm, god-like indifference only added to the mystery that surrounded him. But not everyone was impressed.

A group of boys, led by none other than Roy—the class clown and self-proclaimed future genius—were growing increasingly jealous of the attention Adrian was getting.

The whispers in the corridors about Adrian being a "football god" and the heartthrob of the school had left them fuming.

One day, as they huddled together behind the bleachers, Roy slammed his hand down on a bench, his face twisted with determination.

"I've had enough of this Adrian guy," Roy muttered, "We all know the girls only like him because of football. But what if we show everyone that he's got nothing upstairs? He might be all dribble and no brains."

The other boys nodded in agreement, eager for some form of revenge.

"So, what's the plan?" one of them asked, leaning in.

Roy grinned devilishly. "We'll ask Ms. Caldwell to organize a quiz. Not just any quiz, though. We'll throw in every subject—maths, chemistry, English. That'll show him. He's probably just a dumb jock who's been getting lucky with the football!"

The boys chuckled, imagining Adrian's downfall in front of the whole class. Little did they know that Adrian wasn't just any ordinary boy.

---

The very next day, Roy and his crew approached Ms. Caldwell, who was sitting in the teachers' lounge sipping her tea, a bemused smile on her face as they fumbled through their request.

"We, uh, think it would be great to test our… intellectual abilities, Miss," Roy said, rubbing his hands together. "You know, a quiz, multiple subjects, like maths, chemistry, English—all the important stuff."

Ms. Caldwell raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing something fishy but playing along. "Oh? And this wouldn't have anything to do with Adrian, would it?"

Roy tried to suppress a grin. "N-no, Miss. It's just… we want to see who's the smartest. It'll be good fun."

Ms. Caldwell set down her tea, leaning back in her chair. She'd heard enough stories about boys like Roy to know exactly what was going on. But if they wanted to be humiliated, who was she to stop them? "Alright, boys. I'll arrange it. But be careful what you wish for."

Roy and his crew walked away, brimming with confidence. They had no idea what was coming.

---

A few days later, the quiz showdown was set. The entire class had gathered in the auditorium, eager to see what was about to unfold.

Tessa, sitting quietly at the back, couldn't help but smirk. She knew what was about to happen. Adrian, meanwhile, sat casually in his chair, tapping his foot to some unheard rhythm, his fiery scent filling the room. He didn't seem the least bit bothered by the upcoming event.

Roy strutted to the front of the room, practically glowing with self-assurance. "Alright, ladies and gentlemen," he said, addressing the class as if he were some kind of game show host.

"Today, we'll see who really runs this school. Sure, Adrian might be good at football, but can he handle maths? Chemistry? English? Let's find out."

Ms. Caldwell took her place at the podium, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. She had the quiz questions prepared, and she couldn't wait to see how this would play out. "First subject: maths. Everyone ready?"

Adrian lazily leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, while Roy cracked his knuckles, ready for battle.

"Question one," Ms. Caldwell began, "If the function f(x) = x² + 2x - 8 is given, at what point does it intersect the x-axis?"

Roy grinned, thinking he had this one. He grabbed his chalk, hurriedly scribbling an equation on his board.

But before he could finish, Adrian spoke up casually, "x = 2, x = -4."

The class turned to look at Adrian, who hadn't even picked up a pencil. He just sat there, arms crossed, as if the answer had been beamed into his brain from another dimension.

Roy frowned, looking down at his board, realizing Adrian was right. "Fluke," he muttered under his breath.

Ms. Caldwell, stifling a chuckle, moved on. "Next question: Simplify the expression 3x(2x + 5) - 4x² + 8."

Roy scribbled furiously, determined to beat Adrian this time. But once again, before he could even put chalk to board, Adrian spoke. "The answer is 2x² + 15x + 8."

The class was now buzzing. Was this guy even human?

Tessa, hiding a smile behind her notebook, knew the answer to that question. She wasn't surprised in the least, though she did enjoy watching Roy squirm.

"Alright, moving on to chemistry," Ms. Caldwell continued, a grin now visible on her face. "Explain the difference between ionic and covalent bonds."

Roy had barely written down "Ionic bonds" when Adrian calmly responded, "Ionic bonds occur when electrons are transferred between atoms, creating charged ions. Covalent bonds happen when atoms share electrons. Simple."

Roy's chalk clattered to the floor. The other boys in his group were pale, no longer laughing. Adrian wasn't just handling this; he was obliterating them.

"And finally," Ms. Caldwell said, clearly enjoying herself, "for English: Explain the thematic importance of light and darkness in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet."

Before anyone else could even open their mouths, Adrian launched into a flawless oration. "Shakespeare uses the contrast of light and darkness throughout the play to symbolize the duality of love and hate, life and death. The love between Romeo and Juliet is often described in terms of brightness, yet it is always overshadowed by the darkness of their family feud. The light that surrounds their love is fleeting, and ultimately, it is swallowed by the inevitable darkness of their tragic end."

The class stared at him, dumbfounded. Even Ms. Caldwell had to blink a few times. Adrian was supposed to be a football prodigy, but here he was delivering an academic masterclass.

Roy, now a complete wreck, slumped in his chair. He had thought he could expose Adrian as a one-trick pony, but instead, he had walked straight into a public humiliation.

Adrian, of course, was as calm as ever. As he stood up to leave, he glanced at Roy and his friends, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Better luck next time, boys."

The entire class erupted into laughter, while Roy turned beet-red. Adrian had not only won, he had done so with such ease that it made the whole thing look like a joke.

As Adrian walked past Tessa, he winked at her, his blue eyes twinkling. She gave a small nod, acknowledging the unspoken bond between them. Both of them knew what it felt like to be different, to hide the truth in plain sight. And in this moment, it was like they were the only two in the room who truly understood each other.

---

Later that day, as the school prepared for the semi-final football match, the tension was palpable. The whole school was buzzing with excitement, knowing that Adrian's presence on the field could change everything.

Even James, though still burning with jealousy, couldn't deny that Adrian was the key to their victory.

But while the students were busy preparing for the game, Mr. Rudbick was working behind the scenes. Sitting in his dark office, he scrolled through files and databases, trying to figure out exactly what kind of alien Tessa was.

I mean, she has to be an alien to do what she does, and if she is an alien, she didn't just drop from the sky or did she? There is no way the organization wouldn't have a document on her kind, I mean they should right?

His frustration mounted with every dead end. No information matched her. It was as if she didn't exist.

With a growl, he slammed his phone onto the desk. The screen cracked, but he didn't care.

In his mind's eye, he could almost see Tessa, her quiet smile taunting him. He was close to finding her true identity, but close wasn't enough. He needed answers. He needed to really understand her kind. Her weakensses, how they survive, what they eat, how they grow.

...

Back at school, James and Tessa had grown more distant. His constant pressure for a more intimate relationship had pushed her away.

She couldn't let him get too close—not without revealing her secret. Adrian, on the other hand, had effortlessly slipped into that space, growing closer to her each day, like a calm, steady fire.

And though Tessa wasn't sure what that meant for the future, she couldn't deny the strange pull between them.

As the final preparations for the semi-final match took place, one thing was clear: things were only going to get more complicated from here.