"Holy shit, Lucas, that's insane!" someone called from the back, their voice full of awe. "You're like a genius or something!"
I shook my head, grinning sheepishly. "I'm not a genius," I said, but I didn't really deny it either. With my 11 INT, maybe I was a little bit of a genius. Of course I was.
Mr. Henderson, our usually unflappable calculus teacher, actually smiled. He adjusted his glasses and said, "Mr. Reed. That's an outstanding achievement. You should be very proud of yourself. Not many students can say they've done what you just did."
Alex, still clutching my phone like it owed her money, looked up at me with a mix of awe, pride, and maybe just a hint of envy. She was smiling, but I could tell her mind was racing. "I can't believe you didn't tell me last night," she said, her voice a blend of admiration and playful accusation.
"I wanted to see your face," I admitted, and she rolled her eyes, but the smile stayed but her reaction was something complex that I could not read her but definitely guess it from knowing her. I hoped that it was not what I thought it was. I will talk to her later about it.
For now I was still in class where I was at the centre of attention. Someone started clapping, and soon the whole room joined in. Even then kids who never spoke up with me were clapping and looking at me like I'd just landed on the moon.
"Alright, alright," Mr. Henderson said, raising his hands to quiet everyone down. "Let's get back to derivatives, shall we? But first, let's give Mr. Reed another round of applause. This is a rare accomplishment, and it deserves to be celebrated."
The class erupted again. My cheeks would have burned if it was not for my gamers mind making me act casual but I still couldn't stop smiling. It was a surreal kind of spotlight—different from the rush of basketball, where adrenaline kept me focused and the crowd's cheers barely registered. This was quieter, and honestly, it felt good in a completely different way.
As the lesson resumed, I couldn't help but notice the glances and whispers. I knew this news would spread through the school like wildfire. By lunchtime, everyone would know. And honestly, I didn't mind. This was a big deal. According to the stats, out of the two million-plus kids who take the SAT every year, only about three hundred manage a perfect score. That meant I was in the top 0.015%—higher than ninety-nine percent of all test takers. It was rare, and it was something to be proud of.
Leonard had managed it too, which made it even crazier. The odds of two kids from the same school acing the test in the same year were astronomically low. It probably wouldn't happen again anytime soon. I was sure we'd both get some kind of reward or recognition from the school—maybe an announcement at assembly, or even a mention in the local paper.
As class dragged on, I found myself zoning out, replaying the morning in my head. The flat tire, the mad dash to school, the way Alex's face had lit up when she saw me, and now this. It was a lot for one day and it was not even over yet.
When the bell rang, I was immediately swarmed. People I barely knew were clapping me on the back, asking how I did it, if I had any tips, if I was secretly a robot. It was a different kind of attention than Leonard would get—because I was also a basketball player, people saw me as both a jock and a brain. Some liked me for it, others envied me, but everyone seemed to want a piece of the story. It was equal parts flattering and exhausting, but I tried to take it in stride.
Alex stuck close, her hand finding mine as we navigated the crowded hallway. She was like my personal bodyguard, acting clingy but in a cute way. I could tell she was proud, but also maybe a little anxious about all the attention.
"I knew you studied, but not this rigorously. And now you're famous," she said, giving me a teasing nudge.
"I'm just lucky," I replied, but she shook her head.
"Lucky!? Lucas, don't act too humble or people might take you for a jerk". She teased and I laughed at that. Maybe she was right.
We made our way to our lockers, and the scene repeated itself—more congratulations, more questions, more people wanting to see my score. It was overwhelming, but in a good way.
At lunch, the attention only intensified. The cafeteria was buzzing, and I could feel eyes on me as I walked in. Andrew and Jackson waved at me and then congratulated me as well, but I made my way to where Leonard was already sitting with Josh, looking smug.
"Look who finally showed up," Leonard said, grinning. "The other perfect scorer."
Josh leaned in. "So, what's the secret? Did you guys, like, sell your souls or something?"
I laughed. "Nah, just studied a lot. And got lucky." and alex laughed at that.
Leonard nodded, still grinning. "Yeah, right. We are two lucky guys."
The table was filled with my people. Debbie also joined us later. People tried to approach my table to sit with me but they can't just join the awesome table. They have to pass my awesome checks. We talked about stuff and then, the principal's voice crackled over the intercom, echoing through the cafeteria.
"Attention, students. We have a special announcement. Congratulations to Lucas Reed and Leonard Hofstadter, who have both achieved perfect scores on the SAT. This is an incredible accomplishment, and we are all very proud. Please join me in congratulating them."
The cafeteria erupted in cheers and applause. Leonard and I exchanged a look, both of us a little embarrassed but also kind of thrilled.
"Looks like we're officially school celebrities," Leonard said, grinning.
"Guess so," I replied, shaking my head.
Alex squeezed my hand under the table. "You deserve this," she whispered, and I smiled at her, grateful for her support.
The rest of lunch was a blur of congratulations, questions, and the occasional request for my number—which Alex intercepted before I could even say no. Even teachers stopped by to offer their congratulations. It was surreal, but also kind of amazing.
After school, I had to skip basketball practice because apparently there was a local news reporter and a camera guy who came to interview us. Leonard was practically bouncing with excitement, loving every second of it, but I was a little reluctant. The attention was starting to feel like too much, and I hadn't expected things to blow up this way. Still, I tried to answer the reporter's questions as best I could, talking about study habits and balancing sports with academics, while Leonard hammed it up for the camera. By the end, I was exhausted, but also a little proud.
Later that evening, I called Alex and asked her to hang out. I didn't want her to feel too pressured or left behind because of all the attention I was getting. I knew she could be a little too competitive, especially things related to studying, even if she didn't show what she was feeling , I could sense it. We spent some time together, talking and laughing, and eventually just relaxing in each other's arms. We made out for a while, and things got a little heated, but mostly it was just nice to be with her, away from the noise and the pressure.
After she left, I tried to focus on homework, but my phone kept buzzing with messages—friends, teammates, even a few girls I barely knew. I tried to ignore most of them, but it was impossible not to feel a little overwhelmed.
At one point, Alex texted me: "You okay? You seem a little out of it."
I smiled and replied: "Just a lot to take in. But I'm good. I didn't think it would blow up like this."
She sent back a heart emoji, and I felt a little lighter.
Later, Josh called me to show off the first draft of the highlight reel. We watched it together, laughing at some of the edits he'd added—slow-mo dunks, dramatic music, and even a few inside jokes. "You're gonna blow up online, too," he said, grinning.
"I don't know if I should be happy about that," I said, and deep down, I wondered if all this attention was a good thing. It was fun, but it was also a lot of pressure. I liked being recognized, but I didn't want to lose my freedom or my sense of self.
Josh was confused hearing that but before he could ask for anything I made an excuse to talk to him later.
That night, as I lay in bed, I thought about everything that had happened—the flat tire, the sprint to school, the moment in class when Alex announced my score, the way the whole school had reacted. It was a lot to process, but also kind of amazing. For a while, I let myself enjoy it, but then my mind wandered to the music project I was working on. If that blew up too—which, honestly, I had a feeling it would—I'd be even more in the spotlight. I liked being famous, but not at the cost of my freedom. I didn't want to be recognized everywhere, to have people always watching, always expecting something from me.
So, I called Josh late that night and told him my plan: we wouldn't use our real names as singers, and we wouldn't film music videos with our faces. Josh, surprisingly, was serious and understanding about it. "I don't understand you logic man but I will help you protect your privacy. We can still make the awesome music"
I chose to take this approach because I knew that, eventually, people would recognize me and seek me out—there are plenty of sharp-eyed fans online who can track down almost anyone. But I want to keep my life as normal as possible for as long as I can. I want the freedom to enjoy new experiences, explore different interests, and simply be myself without the constant spotlight that comes with fame. If I become too big or too famous, people will notice my every move, just like they do with other celebrities. That kind of attention could get in the way of my "gamer" abilities and the quiet focus I need to keep improving and growing. So, for now, I'm keeping things low-key and making the most of my freedom before things change.
Josh and I brainstormed ideas for the music video—should we use simple visuals, lyric videos, or something else? After tossing around a few ideas, we settled on using simple animations. "I know a couple of freelance animators online," Josh said. "We can outsource the visuals, keep it low-key but still professional."
"Perfect," I said, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Let's do that. I want the music to speak for itself, not just our faces."
We talked for a while longer, planning out the next steps. Before I finally went to sleep I also informed alex about my plans and then just laid on the bed. I felt a sense of calm. The world was spinning fast, but I was still in control—and that made all the difference.
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Power stones is my motivation fuel and I am running low on it nowadays.
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