Another day in school

8:15 a.m. – Theo’s Class

Teacher: Good morning, class.

Tim: Have you marked our test?

Teacher: Yes, and the highest score goes to… Theo Krizma.

Students: What?!

Teacher: He’s the only one with a perfect score. (She walks over and hands him his script.) Well done, Theo. You’ve improved.

Theo: Thanks.

Max: Nerd.

Teacher: Max! Instead of teasing Theo, you should try to be more like him.

Max: Sure. So, should I start saying cringeworthy things, acting like a wimp with no backbone? (The class laughs.)

Teacher: That’s it — detention after school.

Sam: Sucker.

Teacher: Would you like to join him, Sam?

Sam: N-no, Teacher.

Teacher: That’s what I thought. Now, for the rest of you… (She continues reading out scores.)

Two hours later — recess bell rings

Casey: Finally, recess.

Teacher: Don’t forget your essay assignments! (Students pour out of the class.)

Tim: Theo, wait.

Theo: Hey, Tim.

Tim: Just wanted to say congrats on the perfect score.

Theo: Thanks.

Tim: I still can’t believe it. I remember last time, when they asked the meaning of “clause,” you wrote: “Santa Claus is a mystic being who delivers presents to good children on Christmas Eve.”

Theo: Yeah… that was so stupid.

Tim: Well, see you around — I’m heading to the soccer field.

At the field

Casey: I’ll take James, Max, and Sam.

Ali: That leaves us with two players.

Theo: I’ll play.

James: This is soccer, not Scrabble. Go read a book or something.

Theo: How about this — if I score a goal in two minutes, I get to play. If I don’t, I’ll do your homework for a month.

Casey: Deal. We’ll even give you ten minutes.

James: And if he loses, he does my homework too, right?

Casey: Not “if” — when he loses. (The game starts. Ali passes the ball to Theo.)

Audience: Whoa! Ay! Ayyy! AYYEEE!!! (Theo dribbles past Casey’s team.)

Casey: How can you let a nerd dribble you?! (He races at Theo.) Get ready for a lot of homework! (Theo leaps, striking the ball midair — it rockets into the net.)

Audience: GOOOOAAAALLL!!!

Theo: Told you I could play.

Casey: You’re still a nerd who does nerdy things. (He shoves Theo to the ground.)

Theo: Ugh. (He gets up, about to punch Casey — but his arm freezes. He turns to see Kira, one hand behind her back.)

Theo:…Let’s just keep playing.

After recess — hallway

Kira: I can’t believe you were about to punch a normal civilian.

Theo: There’s nothing civil about Casey. I’ve put up with him for years, and now that I can finally show him who’s boss, you’re stopping me?

Kira: Casey’s a jerk, but violence isn’t the answer — unless it’s against V.S. members. Just ignore him.

Theo: Ignore him?! How do I ignore someone who keeps calling me names?

Kira: You’re not defined by what people think of you, but by how you react. Right now, you’re no better than they are. (She turns to leave.) I’d better go before someone sees me with you.

Biology Class

Teacher: This is the cross-section of an onion. As you can see— (The bell rings.)

Boys: Woo, lunch!

Teacher: Don’t forget — your diagrams of the posterior side of a toad are due next week.

Cafeteria (Tim, Ali, Sam, and Theo sit together.)

Ali: I talked to the coach — he said you could try out for the school soccer team.

Theo: Really?

Ali: Yeah.

Sam: I’ve got to ask — how did you get so good? You used to be a total nerd. No offence.

Theo: None taken.

Sam: Seriously, you barely passed before. No sports. You were just there to warm the seat.

Theo: I was there physically, but spiritually, I was in another world. But that was the old Theo. The new Theo plays sports and aces tests.

James: Ali, are you hanging out with this nerd?

Ali: He’s no longer a nerd — he’s one of us.

Casey: I don’t know how you got good at soccer, but you’ll never be one of us.

Ali: Scared he’ll take your spot on the team?

Casey: Ha! A nerd take my spot? Impossible. He’s cringier than a mom trying too hard, has 20 imaginary friends, and couldn’t lift a 1kg dumbbell.

Theo: If I’m so weak, arm-wrestle me. If I win, I’m in. If I lose, I’ll never bother you again.

Casey: Get ready to leave in shame.

Sam: One, two, three — go! (Casey pushes Theo’s hand down, but Theo powers back, almost pinning Casey.)

Theo: Oh no, you’re about to win—Psyche! (Casey’s hand inches from the table.)

Casey: Look! A supervillain!

Theo: What—? (He turns his head.)

James: Gullible. (Casey slams Theo’s hand down.)

Casey: I win. Now scram. And take your food with you. (He throws it on Theo.)

Theo: That’s it! (He punches Casey in the face.)

Casey: How dare you! (Casey lunges, but Tim and Ali hold him back. A teacher storms in.)

Teacher: What’s going on here?!

Gem: Casey and Theo are fighting!

Teacher: Both of you — principal’s office!

Principal’s Office

Principal: Take a seat. Theo, what happened?

Casey: You’re asking him?!

Principal: Casey, you have a reputation for lying. Continue, Theo.

Theo: I challenged him to an arm-wrestle. I was about to win, he cheated, spilled lunch on me, and I lost my cool. I punched him — he tried to punch back, but Tim and Ali held him.

Principal: Casey, is that true?

Casey:…Yeah.

Principal: Since you didn’t start the fight, Casey — one hour detention. Theo — four hours. Two today, two tomorrow. (Casey leaves.)

Principal: Theo, why try so hard to be part of their group?

Theo: They’re the new Theo’s type.

Principal: Or are you just pretending to be someone you’re not? Don’t change yourself to please others. If they don’t like the real you, it’s their loss.

Theo: Yes, sir.

Detention

Kira (hologram): Kid, training?

Theo (whispering): Can’t. I’m in detention.

Kira: So you did fight Casey.

Theo: It was an accident.

Kira: Everything’s an accident with you. As punishment, you’re on normal-criminal duty for two months.

Theo: Ugh… (He drops his head onto the desk.)

Next Day — Break Time

Ali: Theo, try out for the soccer team.

Theo: No thanks. I don’t even like soccer.

Ali: Don’t worry about Casey — I’ll keep him in check.

Theo: It’s not about him. I only pretended to like soccer so you’d let me in your group—

Ali: Ugh, so you’re back to the old Theo?

Theo: The “new Theo” wasn’t the real me. I’ll just head to the library.

Ali: Casey was right about you. I can’t believe I thought you were cool. (Theo is already gone.)