“Not bad,” Callaway said, interrupting my thoughts. “Considering this was your first experience working together, I would say it went very well, actually.” Turning back to the rest of the students, he spread out his hands in invitation. “Now, who can tell me the significance of this historical event?” Four hands shot in the air, and I heard Regan mutter something about show-offs under her breath. I shifted uncomfortably. I should have had my hand in the air, but uncertainty kept them both balled into fists on my lap.

I frowned as Callaway pointed at one of the redheaded cousins. “Who is that?” I whispered to Regan.

“Tess,” she said. “I think.”

“The Butterfly’s target was Colonel Chamberlain. He was a thirty-four-year-old teacher who changed the outcome of the Civil War by helping win the Battle of Gettysburg,” said the girl who was probably Tess.

“Very good,” Callaway said. “Anything else to add?”

Her cousin waved her hand in the air and Callaway nodded at her. “Yes, Eliana?”

“Had the Butterfly succeeded and killed Chamberlain, he wouldn’t have led the charge down the hill that tricked the Confederates into surrendering,” said Eliana.

“That guy led a charge?” Regan whispered in my ear. “Was he crazy? He had no ammunition and almost no men left.”

I shrugged and flapped a hand at her to be quiet.

“Correct,” Callaway said. “Without Chamberlain’s bold move to charge, an event you all didn’t have the opportunity to see since all three groups managed to apprehend the Butterfly, the South would have won the war, and slavery would have continued for years to come.”

“So the United States would have been divided into two countries?” Regan asked, and Callaway raised an eyebrow at her until she sighed and raised her hand.

“Yes, Regan?” he said, and Regan repeated her question.

“No,” Callaway said. “By our calculations, the United States would have divided up into multiple territories, similar to Europe today. Can anyone tell me why that would have been disastrous?” Again, everyone’s hand shot into the air except for Regan’s and mine. While she sat there, seemingly oblivious to how embarrassing that was, I hunched down in my seat. First day or no first day, we looked like the partner team of clueless and buffle-brain.

Callaway called on Corban, and I sat forward to listen.

“Because if the United States didn’t exist as one united nation, there wouldn’t have been a country big enough to stop Hitler during World War Two.”

“That is correct,” said Callaway. “Now, this is all speculation and educated guesses, but it is safe to say that Colonel Chamberlain, from his one decision to charge instead of retreat, changed the course of history.”

“Can you imagine if he’d decided not to wear his belt that morning?” Regan murmured.

“What?” I said.