Chapter 61: The Flight of Followers
The buzz of the airport terminal served as a muted backdrop to Elliot's tightly-held enthusiasm. His large eyes glimmered with a hint of awe as he settled into the vacant chair next to me, his demeanor a sharp contrast to the doubt he had previously shown.
"You should of won," he said bluntly.
I tilted my head a little, just enough to see him through the openings of my mask. "Ah?"
He leaned forward, hands clasped, his voice lowering. "The library competition. You should've won."
A slow blink. "I see."
"I mean, come on!" His voice carried a hint of indignation, but not directed at me. "Everyone saw it. Your score was perfect—PERFECT. And they still passed you over? The judges were biased, I'm telling you."
I hummed, neither confirming nor denying his statement.
Elliot continued, undeterred. "That mechanics portion? That was insane. No one solves that without looking."
I smiled beneath my mask, but not for the reason he thought. If only he knew the truth. If only he knew just how much luck had played a role in that moment. But I had no intention of correcting him. Let him believe what he wanted.
He exhaled sharply before shaking his head. "Doesn't matter, though. You're better than them. And that's why—" He straightened, leveling me with a determined stare. "I'm following you now."
I tilted my head. "Following me?"