THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

That’s my home.”  The words were out of my mouth before I realized the truth behind them. Those mountains did feel like home.
    But at what point in time?
    “Really?” Her face lit up. She turned to Mr. Brown. “I’ve got an idea. Rayen might not be in law enforcement data files for fingerprints, but she’s clearly Native American at least on one side of her family. She might be in the BIA records.”
    I asked, “What’s BIA?”
    “Bureau of Indian Affairs.”  Mrs. Brown’s enthusiasm picked up momentum. “She could be listed in local tribal records. If so, Takoda would be able to tell us.”
    Who was Takoda? And could he really help?
    I watched the interplay between the Browns, pinning my hope on Mrs. Brown. The husband and wife exchanged some silent looks until Mr. Brown’s face shifted from rock hard determination to something less resistant.
    That gave me hope that Nick hadn’t said anything. Yet. I asked Mrs. Brown, “Does that mean I can stay?”
    The uncertainty of this moment sent terror through me, which seemed ridiculous after facing deadly creatures and carnivorous plants in a strange Sphere.
    But I had nothing if I got kicked out of this Institute. I’d lose the only friends I had plus any chance of returning to the Sphere–and Callan.
    Mr. Brown unfolded his arms and shoved his hands in his pockets. “You can stay while Takoda researches the Tribal Records–”
    What had Tony said today? Halle-freakin-lujah !
    “–but it’s a long shot so don’t hold your breath.”
    I had been holding my breath and let it out now that I had a reprieve, even if only a temporary one. “When will you have this information?”
    Mrs. Brown said, “Probably within a day or so.”
    Not much of a reprieve.
    Dr. Maxwell had been scribbling notes the whole time and stopped writing. His jaw rigid, he forced his flattened lips to lift with a polite smile that failed to hide his lack of support for this plan. “You can sleep in dorm eight. Mrs. Brown provided a duffle of clothes and personal items for you on the chance that you could stay.”  He sent a scathing look up and down me. “Try to do a better job taking care of those items than the ones you’re currently wearing.”
    “I will.” I stood, turning to add, “Thank you, Mrs. Brown.”  I gave a nod to Mr. Brown who made no move to acknowledge it.
    Outside the administrative offices, I searched until I found Tony, who was reading a paper posted on a glass window to the offices.
    “Where’s Gabby?” I asked, walking up to him.
    “Down the hall.” Tony pointed to his right without taking his eyes off the paper. He mumbled, “She had to go somewhere.”
    I searched the hall. There went Gabby, the prancing rainbow with bouncing ponytails, alongside Hannah who had guided me through the building this morning. Had it only been hours since I woke up in the desert?
    I gave another look down the hall, concerned about Gabby leaving us. Hannah had no reason to harm Gabby. Right? But after having fought our way through one battle after another today, I had the urge to grab Tony and follow her to make sure she was safe.
    “Oh, man!” Tony slapped the wall beside the window. “I can’t believe he’s doin’ that to me.”
    “What?”
    “Suarez said he posted a roster for the Top Ten Project and that he made a few adjustments.”  Tony wheeled around, snapping his knuckles. “He’s teamed me up with Nicholas Brown.”
    Had Suarez also put me with someone else or assumed I was leaving? I searched the list and found my name matched up with Hannah. Annoying, but not so bad.
    But Tony still stomped around.
    I didn’t understand the problem. “I thought you wanted someone good at computers.” Lowering my voice, I said, “Maybe someone who can work on them...and not inside one.”
    “Very funny, Xena,” Tony said, not smiling. “You don’t understand. There can only be one Top Ten winner sent to MIT, the second member of the team can have another school, but both can’t go to MIT.”
    “And that means what?”
    “Nicholas is no slack, but he knows I’m better with computers, which is why he probably pulled rank and got himself teamed up with me. We have to choose a team leader. There’s no way Nicholas will agree to me runnin’ our project, which means when we win that he’ll get first choice and walk away with MIT a year early. I’m so screwed.”
    I had yet to figure out what this MIT thing was, but clearly Tony wanted it badly.