7 AM was a complete

or nervous energy. Just the hollow echo of footsteps

ady behind the affirmative podium, a red pen tucked b

my spot,"

up. "There ar

side is mine fo

idn't assi

tive podium and stood directly across from him, clo

immed, like he'd been up all night. But his

ssy in the

all the t

toward the podium like a butler of

The wood was cool under her palms. She'd imagined this moment for

ty," she said. "I'll take first con

N

N

s crossed. "We've never said a single word as a team. We don't know each other's rhyt

ghtened. "So wha

y seconds per exchange. We learn how to

her to push back, to prove she wasn't jus

e said. "Y

odium between them. "Topic: universal basic i

. "That's not-y

s started thre

ally impossible. The cost would exceed t

ative savings from eliminating means-tested welf

eoretical, not proven

You took too long to start. You

you amb

give you a countdown. They won't ask if you're ready. They'll

curled into fi

o the table and picked up a stopwatch. "Again. Topic: stude

the economy by freeing up disposabl

is regressive-it benefits high-earning professionals

pped at sixty t

oopholes. Lenders will restru

ulate the

onal action, which is politica

her own hand, copying

a second, he looke

he said.

, gig economy labor laws. Each round got quicker. Smoother. By the seventh

l justic

prosecutorial immuni

s perverse incentives for

nce, ex

one hand braced on the table, her face inches from

teppe

reak," s

st sta

water

e of the stage where a cooler sat and pou

ingers

etended no

-

lders too high," Darius s

was mid-sentence, laying out the framework for t

stop,"

Your shoulders are up by your e

e. You keep in

ur evidence." He walked around her, studying her posture like a tailor measuring for a suit. "Drop you

her shoulders d

wrist. "Stop gripping the podium like

o be inviting. I'

look open." He stepped back. "Try the

her hands loose. The words came easier. She wasn

ished, Dariu

" she

're

kno

eally good. When you stop trying to prove so

t know what t

d finally. "Let me s

smooth, almost. His voice was a warm baritone,

Whitne

pped.

e perf

s the

the thing you did in the exhibition. The

htened. "It's ca

your grandfather-in the hallway after the debate-that was real. You weren't performing

or a long moment, n

But pretend it's just me in the roo

podium, but this time he didn't stand

cleaned these floors so his grandson could one day walk on them. About

tened. Her

hed, the sile

e said, "w

es were bright-not with vict

t it every t

ect it ev

ht slanting through the windows. Whitney became aware

d-" Dariu

said. "Bac

age. Her heart was pounding for reaso

-

erent sources, and somehow agreed on a case framework. Whitney's throat wa

row?" he asked,

is still

re late

s on

ate in my book." He zipped his bag. "

know wher

West Hall. Third

e. "How do y

ugged. "Ka

sn't even

Instagram." He walked toward the

before she c

ed notes and empty coffee cups. She pulled out her phon

instantly: He

do anythi

ac

one back in her pocke

it until she was ha