When the races finally began, Odd was disappointed to learn that they weren't races at all, but long-distance trials. Nevertheless, their mousetrap car ran smoothly and even went past the janitor's closet, a feat that no one else had matched. Although everyone else continued to secretly fiddle with their cars while other raced, Herb simply stood confidently by his car, arms crossed, and a smug smile tugging at his lips. When it was his group's turn, Herb was setting the mousetrap and proceeding towards the starting line when Jeremie interrupted the "ceremony."
"Hey, Herb, why don't you give someone else a try? You've done everything else for your group!" Before Herb could reply, Mrs. Hertz stepped in.
"Is this true, Herb? Who built this car?"
"Well... I... I designed it, but... er... Nicholas! He did the actual construction. And Sissi... she... she..." He evidently was drawing a blank to what Sissi did to contribute. Other than the name, the Sissi Dream Racer.
"Well, Sissi can run the car in any case, so I suggest she does so now," Mrs. Hertz ruled. Sissi threw a look of wild panic to Herb.
"How do I work this thing?!" she mouthed. Other people around her began to giggle. Despite Herb's quickly whispered instructions, all the while under the skeptical eye of the elderly science teacher, it was a complete failure. Sissi's attempts had only made the mousetrap snap shut too soon, causing the vehicle to spin in circles before mercifully coming to a stop, two feet away from Sissi's shaking hands and scarlet face. Mrs. Hertz only shook her head.
"I am disappointed in all three of you," she said at last. "I expect much better work from you, and I hardly need to remind you that this project was meant to be a team effort. Since you insist on working individually, I expect on my desk first thing tomorrow morning three separate conclusions from each of you on why this car failed the experiment." Just then the bell rang, and everyone got to their feet. "Remember, conclusions due tomorrow for all of you!" Jeremie was about to follow Ulrich and Odd to meet Yumi outside when suddenly Herb's face was in his own, acne and all.
"Happy now, Jeremie?" he muttered so only Jeremie could hear. "Seems that I'm not the only one who needs to cheat to win." But Jeremie had had enough of this, of Herb's grudge, of Sissi's taunting. How many times had he saved their lives, that he had been thanked for it? And Herb was worried about a little extra homework that he had probably already done? Though his temper certainly wasn't short, he had reached his boiling point. So Jeremie did something that no one, not even himself, ever expected.
"Shut up, Herb," Jeremie retorted, shoving him out of the way. "You deserved what you got and you know it." Running to catch up with Odd and Ulrich, he didn't see the look of shock and anger plastered over Herb's features. Something had snapped, and it wasn't just Jeremie's temper.