Mikey sat in his usual spot near the back of the classroom, trying to focus as Mr. Hall scrawled the day's lesson on the whiteboard. The dull hum of conversation filled the room, but Mikey's mind was elsewhere. His weekend had been a blur of training, tactical drills, and quiet moments of reflection on his double life. Yet, here he was, back at school, expected to blend in like any normal student.
Mr. Hall turned from the board, clearing his throat. "Alright, class, we're going to have a bit of a challenge today," he said with a small smile. "Oral tests. We'll go student by student, and I'll ask you questions from the last few chapters. This is to see how well you've been keeping up."
A collective groan rose from the class. Mikey felt his heart skip a beat. He had barely glanced at his textbooks since the midterms, too focused on his secret life as an agent. The idea of being put on the spot sent a ripple of anxiety through him.
"Don't worry, you'll only get one question, but it's important you show me you've been paying attention," Mr. Hall added. "Let's start... with Julie."
Julie stood up, visibly nervous but trying to hide it. Mr. Hall posed a question about the Industrial Revolution, and after a moment of hesitation, she answered correctly. The class clapped lightly, and she sat down, relieved.
Mikey shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the test continued. Each student took their turn—some faltered, others breezed through. All the while, Mikey's mind raced. He hadn't had time to study, and while he could handle dangerous missions, this simple classroom test felt like a different kind of pressure.
"Mikey," Mr. Hall called.
The classroom fell silent as Mikey stood. His legs felt heavy as he moved to the front of the room, all eyes on him. Mr. Hall adjusted his glasses and looked down at his notes.
"Alright, Mikey. Explain the causes and effects of the Great Depression," Mr. Hall said, giving him an expectant look.
Mikey took a deep breath. He remembered reading about it briefly before the midterms, but the details were fuzzy. His brain struggled to push aside thoughts of his training and focus on the question at hand.
"The Great Depression... um..." he began, stalling for time. The class was eerily quiet, and Mikey could feel his classmates watching him. He forced himself to concentrate. "It was caused by a mix of factors—overproduction, speculation in the stock market, and... bank failures." His voice steadied as the facts came back to him.
Mr. Hall nodded, waiting for more.
Mikey cleared his throat and continued. "The effects were widespread—unemployment rose, banks closed, and... people lost their savings. It also led to reforms like the New Deal to help recover the economy."
Mr. Hall smiled, looking satisfied. "Good, Mikey. That was well explained."
Relief washed over him as he returned to his seat, feeling the weight of the classroom's eyes lift off his shoulders. Ryan leaned over and gave him a thumbs-up, while Julie whispered, "Knew you'd nail it."
But Mikey barely registered their comments. His mind was already drifting back to the complexities of his secret life. Even though he had passed the test, the contrast between the normalcy of school and the danger of his missions was becoming harder to ignore.
---
As the school day came to an end, Mikey lingered in the hallway, his thoughts swirling. The oral test had been a small victory, but it reminded him of the balancing act he was constantly performing. Each day he spent in the classroom felt like he was stepping farther away from the life he was truly living.
Ryan caught up to him, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. "Hey, man, nice job in class. You wanna grab a burger or something after practice today?"
Mikey hesitated. He wanted to say yes, to keep up appearances and spend time with his friends, but Gregor's text still sat fresh in his mind. More training was waiting for him this weekend.
"I don't know, I've got some stuff to do later," Mikey said, trying to sound casual.
Ryan frowned but shrugged it off. "Alright, maybe next time. Just don't disappear on us too much, okay?"
Mikey smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, I'll try."