Going back to tackle the harder problems, Derek found to his surprise that he really did know most of the answers, especially the multiple-choice items. He finished the second go-round with ten minutes left.
He was just answering the last problem when time ran out. “Pencils down!” Ms. Terrapin said.
Whew. He’d done it—just barely, but Derek felt satisfied that in the end he’d done the best he could. He was pretty confident that studying with Vijay had made a huge difference. More than anything, it had given him the confidence that he could do it.
“Well, Gary,” Derek said as they filed out of the classroom, “may the best man win.”
Gary snorted. “He already has, Jeter. You just haven’t gotten the bad news yet.”
Derek laughed, shaking his head. “Messing with my head, huh? Nice. Same old Gary.”
“Come on, Jeter—don’t pretend you don’t do the same.”
“Me?”
“Look at you, Mr. Goody Two-shoes. Are you telling me you’re not messing with my head just as much? Well, I don’t buy your ‘innocent’ act for a minute.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Gar. I don’t play like that. Those kinds of sports really are a waste of time.”
“Don’t kid me, Jeter. This is only round one, and you were struggling in there, I could tell. And math is supposed to be your best subject? Man, you’re in deep trouble.”
Derek kept his arms close to his sides, so Gary wouldn’t see the sweat stains under his arms. “Is that what you think, Gar? Well, good for you. You just keep thinking it.”
“Uh-huh. I’m not buying any of this stuff, Jeter—but have it your way.”
“Thanks, I’ll do that. Better start practicing your clucking, my friend.”
Gary stood there watching him go, seeds of doubt sprouting in his suspicious brain. “If you win, I’ll know you cheated,” he called after Derek.
Derek took one last glance behind him, just to see the look on Gary’s face as his supreme confidence began to wobble just a little bit.
Good, thought Derek. Now at least he knows how it feels.
When Derek got off the school bus and rounded the corner of his block, he saw the black sedan parked in front of his house.
“Dave! Hi,” he called, waving to his friend.
Dave was standing on the sidewalk, waiting for him. “Hi,” he said as he and Derek went through their elaborate private handshake.
“I can’t hang out today,” Derek said apologetically. “I have to study for tomorrow’s English final.”
“I know. Me too. I… I just wanted to talk for a few minutes.”
“Okay.”
Dave looked down the path, toward the Patels’ townhouse. “Can we talk inside?”
“Uh… sure.” Derek waved to Chase, who was sitting behind the wheel. “Hi.”
Chase waved back and smiled. “Good to see you, Derek.”
“Come on in.” Derek led Dave up the front stairs and inside. “My parents will be glad to see you. It’s been a while.”
“Dave!” Mr. Jeter said, getting up from the couch and coming over to shake Dave’s hand. “How’s it going?”
Dave sighed. “Not so great, Mr. Jeter. Derek told you we’re moving?”
“He did. I’m very sorry to hear it. We’re going to miss you, Dave. Derek most of all.”
“Thanks. I’m going to miss you all too.”
“Let me go rustle up some snacks for you,” Mr. Jeter said, leaving them alone in the living room.
“It feels like months since I’ve been here,” Dave began.
“I know! Half the time it feels like you’re already gone. I mean, I know we’ve all been busy with playoffs and finals and stuff. But you never even come out to the Hill anymore.”
“I’ve been packing up all my stuff.” Dave was looking straight down at the floor. “On top of studying and playoffs. You know, when you’re feeling cruddy, you don’t really feel like hanging out with people. You don’t want them to see you like that… to remember you like that.”
A long silence followed. Mr. Jeter returned with a plate of cookies and two glasses of milk. Then, sensing the heavy atmosphere and realizing the boys needed some space to talk, he went back into the kitchen.
The two boys ate and drank in silence, each waiting for the other to say something. Finally Dave put down his glass and heaved a big sigh. “I don’t want to go anywhere!” he cried. “I like it here!”
“Well… you know, maybe Hong Kong will be great,” Derek said, trying to console his friend. “I mean, if you have to go, you might as well get excited about it. Right?”
“That’s what my parents keep saying. ‘You’re going to love it there!’ I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Derek could see that Dave was close to tears. Luckily, just then the doorbell rang. “That’s Vijay for sure!”
Dave got up, sniffing. “I guess I’ll see you… whenever.”
“Look,” Derek said, trying to find something to say. “We’ll find some time before you leave, to hang out. After playoffs and finals are over, but before… you know.”
Dave shrugged. “That only leaves a few days. And it’ll be chaos over at my house.”
“We’ll find the time somehow,” Derek insisted. “Maybe even play a round of golf, or at least hit some balls at the range?”
Derek knew that would lift Dave’s spirits, and sure enough, it brought out a smile. Dave’s dream was to be a pro golfer someday. He enjoyed other sports, but nothing compared to golf.
“That’d be awesome! Let’s do it!”
The doorbell rang again, more insistently this time.
“Great,” said Derek, opening the door and clapping Dave on the shoulder. “See you then.”
“See you. Hi, Vijay. Bye, Vijay.”
Vijay watched Dave go, a startled look in his eyes. “What was that all about?” he asked Derek.
“I’ll tell you later,” said Derek. “Come on. We’ve got studying to do.”
The next morning was their science final. After managing to dent Gary’s armor, Derek was in a better
