“You know my favorite Edison quote, right?” she finally said.

I rolled my eyes, because I knew exactly what quote she was talking about. “It’s the one about failing ten thousand times when he tried to invent the light bulb, right? Is that how long you think it’s going to take me to pass the Lincoln assassination?”

Mom laughed, a rare thing for her, and shook her head. “No, the one you’re thinking of is his most famous, of course. I believe that one went, I have not failed. I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work, and I must say I like that one. But Thomas Edison had another one that I like even more.” When I just raised an eyebrow, she went on. “It’s one that I used to have on the wall of my dorm room when I was a cadet. I found it during a study session over Edison, and it always resonated with me.” She cleared her throat and waited until I looked up and made eye contact before continuing, a trick she’d been doing for as long as I could remember. “Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who do not realize how close they were to success when they gave up,” she quoted.

“That’s very nice, Mom,” I said, “but what are you trying to get at here?”

“I think you should participate in the simulation test tomorrow,” she said. “I think you need to mix things up a bit. It would be a good challenge for you.”

My thoughts flashed immediately to Elliot and his smug confidence that he was going to win that test and level up. He’d talked about it like it was a sure thing. I shook my head.

“I don’t want to,” I said, bracing myself for a fight so familiar I could have it in my sleep.

“You are the only fifth-year cadet who hasn’t participated in one yet,” she said. “Win or lose, the practice would be good for you.”

“No,” I said again. “I won’t be humiliated in front of a bunch of judges and whatever audience shows up to watch. It’s bad enough that everyone just thinks I’m dumb. I don’t need to prove them all right.” I stood up and stomped out of the room and up the stairs.

“Regan!” my mom called after me, but I didn’t turn around. I had bigger things to worry about than the stupid simulation test tomorrow. I had to go face Elliot Mason.

Chapter Five

Elliot