Chapter 23 Victory
Chapter 23: Victory
Morning came early.
The lecture hall buzzed with frantic energy, students flipping through notes like surgeons preparing for emergency brain operations. Whispered panic traveled from seat to seat. Pens clicked. Laptops hummed. Heartbeats drummed in uneven rhythm.
Linda entered like a queen arriving late to her own coronation, chin high, curls bouncing, perfume declaring, “Attention, peasants.”
She claimed the front row, Fabulous dropping beside her like her exhausted personal assistant.
Golden’s hands trembled just slightly. But enough that she hid them beneath her table.
Alex glanced at Linda and wondered how anyone could be that calm with a presentation that morning. Light makeup, glossy lips, lashes curled.
Then she remembered Linda didn’t have to work for anything.
She had Fabulous, the human calculator.
All Linda had to do was sit pretty and sharpen her tongue.
Alex noticed Golden’s shaky exhale and squeezed her fingers.
“You’ve got this, Gigi. You’re the brain of this whole school. These people should be scared of you.”
Golden inhaled slowly.
Then Allan stepped closer, voice low and steady enough to anchor her nerves.
“Remember, talk to us. Not them. Eyes on your team.”
Golden nodded. Her pulse steadied, barely, but enough.
The door slammed.
Professor Dwayne walked in like a man who enjoyed marking students’ scripts with red ink more than he enjoyed breathing. His glasses perched at a dangerous tilt, Academic Death Mode activated.
He scanned the room. Heartbeats halted.
Then, he said. “Let us begin. Group One.”
Presentations began, one after the other. Some were smooth. Some crashed and burned gloriously.
Professor Dwayne, ever the executioner, spared no feelings.
With each group, Golden found herself gaining confidence.
She mentally noted the flaws, the strengths, the loopholes.
Then Linda’s group was called.
Linda turned and flashed Golden a sweet, slow, hateful smile.
Watch and learn, sweetheart.
Golden straightened. She knew Linda was a good presenter, annoying, but good. Charisma was her superpower. That, and being born with an amazing body. With Fabulous as her teammate, Golden was almost certain their delivery would be flawless.
And it was. Linda handled the presentation with polished ease.
Even Alex muttered, “She did good,” with a grudging nod.
Golden wasn’t intimidated, just focused. She remembered last night. The teamwork. The laughter. The insane rehearsal.
The almost moment with Allan that fried her brain like a faulty circuit.
Something in her had shifted. She felt… steady. Supported. Ready.
Professor Dwayne scanned his sheet.
“Group Ten. Golden, Alex, Allan. You’re up.”
Alex rose like she was marching into battle.
Allan stood tall, like he’d been waiting for this moment all his life.
Golden inhaled, slow, controlled.
The lines between fear, rivalry, friendship… and that simmering something with Allan?
Blurred beyond recognition.
They walked to the front like a three-person army…tired, nervous, united.
Golden stood between Alex and Allan, fingers gripping her notes like they were her last will and testament.
Her eyes met Linda’s smug stare.
Professor Dwayne crossed his arms.
“You may begin.”
Golden swallowed. Her throat felt like sandpaper.
Then Allan shifted just close enough for their shoulders to touch.
Alex gave her a tiny nod that said, You’re not alone.
Golden exhaled, and began.
“Our research focuses on the neurotoxic effects of synthetic opioids on adolescent brain development…”
Her voice trembled at first. But rhythm came soft, steady, confident.
Alex took over with the methodology, even cracking a joke that made Fabulous snort unexpectedly.
Allan wrapped things up with expected outcomes, speaking with that quiet authority that demanded attention.
When they finished, the room was completely silent.
Professor Dwayne raised one brow.
“Well structured. Clear. Collaborative.”
A beat.
“Better than expected.”
Golden nearly fainted on the spot.
Alex clutched her arm.
“We didn’t die! I repeat, we did NOT die!”
Allan gave a triumphant smirk.
“Told you.”
Class ended with Professor Dwayne announcing the standout groups and unsurprisingly, Linda and Fabulous took first place, beating Golden’s group by just one point.
But Golden felt no sting. Not this time.
Students spilled into the courtyard, exhausted and relieved.
Alex threw her hands up and screamed,
“WE DID IT!”
Golden laughed, genuine, bright, free.
For the first time in a while, she felt lighter, like she’d been stuck behind a door and finally stepped through.
“I’m proud of you,” Allan said softly.
Golden froze.
Alex groaned dramatically.
“Oh please. I’m not emotionally equipped for this slow-burn nonsense today.”
Golden flung her notebook at her. Allan laughed.
Then their moment was interrupted.
“Golden.” Linda’s voice sliced through the moment.
She approached wearing a victory smile too wide to be natural.
“How does it feel to come in second?” she asked sweetly, dripping with superiority.
Golden blinked then smiled a real one.
“Honestly? It feels amazing. I got to work with the best teammates I’ve ever had. And I still get an A, so it’s a win-win. Thanks for asking.”
She stepped around Linda and sat on a nearby bench.
Alex sauntered up to Linda, patted her shoulder dramatically.
“How does it feel to punch cotton? That victory doesn’t hit the way you thought, does it?”
Linda stomped her foot and stormed off, furious and humiliated.
Golden, Alex, and Allan burst into laughter.
Second place…but it felt like her first real victory.