attitude, started peppering the class with questions.
"What's the Pythagorean theorem?" she asked.
I knew the answer, but my hand stayed glued to my side. What if my accent gave me away? What if I said it wrong and everyone laughed?
"Anyone?"
Still, I remained silent.
"Alright, how about this one," she continued. "What do those letters a, b, and c, stand for?"
Again, I knew the answer. But the fear of being mocked 29for my "redneck" pronunciation paralyzed me.
Miss Miller sighed and moved on to another student. I stared at my desk, feeling like a complete failure. Maybe Toby was right. Maybe I didn't belong here after all.
During lunch break, I was digging through my locker when JB appeared beside me. His usual grin was replaced with a frown. "Dude, you look like you just ate a lemon. What's up?"
I sighed. "Toby happened." I hesitated, then blurted out, "He was giving me a hard time about being from Westwood."
JB's face darkened. "That jerk. What did he say?"
I told Toby's insults 30about hicks and pigs, my voice growing quieter with each word.
JB frowned. "Don't let him get to you, dude. You're way smarter than that overgrown Neanderthal." Then a naughty glint appeared in his eyes. "Tell you what, let's talk to Eve after school. My sister’s got a brain like a supercomputer. She'll know what to do."
After school, I found myself in JB's backyard, a chaotic wonderland of half-finished projects and overgrown weeds. A half-built skateboard ramp leaned against a fence, and a pile of scrap metal that vaguely 31resembled a robot stood guard in the corner.
Eve emerged from the house, her long black hair spread over her shoulders, her fingers covered with silver rings. "What's the emergency?" she asked, her voice as sharp as her black eyeliner.
JB filled her in on my run-in with Toby. "Any ideas, sis? We gotta teach that meathead a lesson."
Eve arched 32an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "And what exactly did you have in mind? A water balloon ambush33? A whoopee cushion on his chair?"
JB shrugged. "Something like that. Maybe find out what he's scared of and use it against him."
Eve shook her head. "That'll just make him double down34. Trust me, I've seen enough bullies in my day."
I fidgeted nervously. "So what do we do?"
Eve's eyes met mine. "You're smarter than Toby, Kyle. You gotta use that brain of yours." She paused, then added, "Wear your weakness like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you."