“Well,” I said. “That means we also don’t have to tell them that they accidentally exploded in an alternate timeline.”

“Good point,” Elliot said. “That was really smart of you to think of getting them to help. We never could have done it on our own.”

“Thanks,” I said, cocking my head to the side. “You know, I think that’s the first time you’ve ever called me smart.”

Elliot looked up in surprise. “You are,” he said. “Not the same kind of smart as me, but you are smart.” When I just raised an eyebrow at him, he huffed and put his fork down. “It’s true,” he said. “It just took me a while to figure it out.”

“You’re forgiven,” I said, popping a bite of the cake into my own mouth. “It took me a while to figure it out too.”

“It reminds me of a famous quote by Albert Einstein,” Elliot said, his forehead wrinkled in concentration.

“Elliot Mason can’t remember something?” I said in mock horror, and smiled when he elbowed me.

“Obviously,” he said. “I almost forgot I had a bomb in my pocket.” He shook his head ruefully and held up a hand. “Just give me a second, I’ll think of it. I’m pretty sure it was Albert Einstein that said it, although it might just be something someone attributed to him. Everyone likes to claim Einstein said this, that, or the other thing, but I like to think Einstein said this one. I’m pretty sure it’s about a fish. Got it,” he said, snapping his fingers. “Albert Einstein once said that everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it would spend its whole life believing it’s stupid.”

“Huh,” I said. “I’ve never heard that before. I like it.” I turned to him and raised an expectant eyebrow. “So, if I’m a fish? What does that make you?”

“A jerk, remember?” he said, sliding what was left of the cake back into the fridge.

I shook my head. “You really aren’t anymore.”

“Thanks,” he said.

I stifled a yawn that felt like it was going to split my face in two and hopped down from the counter. “Let’s head to bed,” I said. “Even though Callaway said everyone was fine, I’ll feel better after I see everyone sleeping safely.” Elliot nodded, and we left the kitchen and made our way back across the atrium. I ran a hand over one of the simulation chairs as we passed and glanced over at Elliot.

“Want to get an early start tomorrow and do a quick study simulation?”

“Sure,” Elliot said. “Why not. Who needs sleep anyways?”

“It’s been quite a night,” I said, turning to Elliot when we reached our dorm rooms. “I’d say that I couldn’t have done it without you. But you know that already.”