“Alessia, top of the ss–you’ve really held on to that spot, huh? Three years, and not once did anyone else manage to take it from you.”


    Pierce Quinn nced at the rankings on the board, then at his own name sitting somewhere in the middle, and shook his head.


    “What can I say? Times have changed. I’m just getting by on schrships now.”


    Pierce shot her a look that said, You don’t expect me to buy that, do <i>you</i>?


    “But honestly, forget about you–how does Cole manage to show up just once a year for exams and still end up with a score way higher than mine? It’s just not fair!”


    He’d barely finished whining before Ste Laine smacked him lightly on the head with her book.


    <b>“</b>As long as we’ve got Lessie around, you really think she’d let Cole fall behind? Besides, your grades aren’t bad at all–you aced literature, passed everything else, so quit fussing in front of me.”


    She nced at her own results, grimacing for real this time. The other subjects were manageable, but math? Not even ten Alessias could save her there.


    “I’m pretty sure I even gave you the exact problems to study. How did you end up with such a terrible score?” Alessia rapped her knuckle against Ste’s ringly obvious 66 on the board.


    “Swear on my life, I really did memorize everything–it’s just that the numbers changed on the test. Totally unfair.”


    Pierce couldn’t help himself; he doubled over withughter, clutching his stomach and curling up like a boiled shrimp, unable to straighten up.


    Alessia sighed, but the corners of her mouth lifted in a wry smile.


    Ste scratched her head, suddenly sheepish, and let out a couple of awkward chuckles.


    “Ste, you should be grateful you’re at our school. I passed by Crestview High this morning, and I swear, the whole ce felt shrouded in gloom. The atmosphere over there could power a viin’sir.”


    Pierce gave her a pat on the shoulder, which Ste promptly brushed off with a look of mock annoyance.


    <b>12:40 </b>


    “We barely have ten people in our ss actually sitting the finals–most are heading abroad or already have early admission. But Crestview? All they care about is college eptance rates. With my grades, I’d be public enemy number one over there. I’d probably be driven up the wall in less than a week.”


    “Seriously. Just look at their faces–so pale, so heroic, like they’re marching to the gallows. I couldn’t take it either,” Pierce agreed, making a face.


    “But Alessia, you could’ve gotten early admission too. Why bother with the exams?” “I don’t know. Taking the tests is kind of fun.” Alessia propped her chin on her hand, eyes drifting to Cole’s spot on the board, lost in thought.


    “Alright, forget I asked.” Pierce and Ste exchanged a look and simultaneously shrugged, hands out, shoulders sagging.


    “No point wondering–the world of geniuses is just lightyears away from ours,” Ste said, resigned.


    “Oh, right–did Queenie Windsore back? My mom went to her art show and fell in love with one of the pieces. She even hired someone to try and buy it on thest day, but it wasn’t for sale. Any chance you can find out more for me?”


    “You mean the Trinity Chain?”


    “Yes! That’s the one.<i>” </i>Pierce’s eyes lit up, and he started giving Alessia a yful shoulder massage.


    “Alessia…”


    “ttery won’t get you anywhere.”


    Ste rolled up her sleeves and dangled the chain around her wrist, delicate diamonds glinting along its length, a topaz embedded in the center catching the sunlight–subtle, but striking.


    Alessia pulled <i>out </i>a matching ne from under her cor, identical in design to the chain on Ste’s wrist.


    “Oh, so that’s what it’s about. I thought maybe you two had drifted apart after not seeing each other for so long.”


    It all clicked for Pierce–the Trinity Chain wasn’t just a piece of jewelry; it was created especially for the three of them, a symbol of their friendship.