Chapter 6 - Laura's Competition
"In 1532, Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro defeated this Incan emperor at the Peruvian highland town of Cajamarca. What is his name?" the proctor bellowed to the room of nervous braniacs.
Laura lowered her head in thought. Oh God, she hated when the answer didn't come to her immediately. She was panicking.
"Montezuma?" Brian suggested, not even sure himself. Laura knew he was wrong. More panicking.
"No, no! Montezuma was in Mexico not Peru" she corrected. But his guess sparked a name in her mind she just couldn't quite put her finger on it. C'mon Laura! You know this!
"It's like Anta- something" Laura desperately looked at the clock, nearly out of time.
"Atahualpa?" Sam offered up like it was nothing. Laura had completely forgotten he was there. He had contributed practically nothing the entire round but, she had to say, this was as good a time as any to speak up.
"That's it!" she exclaimed quickly writing the answer down as the proctor announced the end of their time.
Laura handed the correct answer over and beamed at Sam. Sure, he's not the MVP of the team but she figured that was mostly due to nerves. His hands are doing the same thing they were doing on the plane. He must really want to win too.
"That's five points for Woodmount" Sam smiled at the announcement, obviously happy to contribute something to the team, which Laura appreciated.
"And five points for Pinehurst Academy" Laura looked over at their competition. She knew after the first two questions that the curly headed prep school kid and his sidekicks were the ones to beat. She saw the rich student nod to her in approval.
She smiled back appreciatively and ecstatic that her and her teammates were keeping up with him. He's kinda cute, in a creepy obviously-full-of-himself kinda way, definitely not a Sam way though.
Laura dropped her smile, appalled that those thoughts had just entered her mind.
This was gonna be a long week.