The next morning dawned with the usual cacophony in the hostel. David was up earlier than usual, determined to avoid another chaotic rush. He neatly folded his blanket and grabbed his toiletries, heading for the communal bathroom. The sharp chill of the water jolted him fully awake as he splashed his face and brushed his teeth.
"Early bird today, eh?" Ethan teased as he walked in, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Can't risk running into Mr. Hargreaves' wrath again," David replied, grinning. "Besides, I've got to keep my streak of being 'almost late' intact."
The two laughed as they finished up and headed back to the room.
Breakfast was a relaxed affair. Mrs. Carter had prepared boiled eggs and toast, and the scent wafted through the dining hall. The students sat in clusters, chatting animatedly. David sat with Ethan, Ollie, and a few others, munching away while discussing the upcoming inter-hostel quiz.
"I heard our hostel might face Maple House in the finals," Ollie said, his tone slightly tense.
David raised an eyebrow. "Maple House? The one that always brags about being the best?"
"The very one," Ethan confirmed, taking a bite of his toast. "They've won three years in a row. Apparently, their captain, Lucas, is a walking encyclopedia."
"Lucas?" David repeated, frowning. He'd heard of the boy tall, sharp-eyed, and with a reputation for being both brilliant and arrogant.
"You'll meet him soon enough," Ethan said with a smirk.
By the time they arrived at school, the buzz of the upcoming quiz was everywhere. Posters adorned the walls, and students huddled in groups, quizzing each other on random trivia.
David and his friends entered their classroom, settling into their usual seats. Emily was already there, her books neatly arranged on her desk. She looked up and smiled at David, who smiled back, feeling his cheeks heat up.
"Good morning," she said warmly.
"Morning," David replied, sliding into his chair.
The teacher walked in a few moments later, bringing the chatter to a halt. The lesson was history, and while David usually found the subject dull, today's topic - medieval conflicts - piqued his interest.
At lunch, the cafeteria was more crowded than usual. Students were buzzing with excitement, and the conversations seemed louder. David and his group found a spot by the window, and as they ate, the conversation naturally shifted to the quiz again.
"You know, we could actually win this year," Ethan said, his voice brimming with confidence. "We've got talent, and we've been preparing for weeks."
"But Maple House has Lucas," Ollie countered. "He's practically unbeatable."
David frowned, his competitive streak kicking in. "Lucas or not, they're not invincible. We've just got to outsmart them."
Ollie shrugged. "Easier said than done."
Just then, the door to the cafeteria opened, and a group of boys from Maple House walked in. At their center was Lucas. He was exactly as David had imagined tall and confident, with an air of superiority.
"Speak of the devil," Ethan muttered.
Lucas glanced around the room, his sharp eyes scanning the tables. When his gaze landed on David and his friends, he smirked.
"Well, well," Lucas said, his voice loud enough to carry. "If it isn't the underdogs of Pine Grove. Ready to lose again this year?"
David's jaw tightened, but he forced a smile. "We'll see who's the underdog when the quiz starts."
Lucas chuckled, clearly amused. "I'll be looking forward to it."
The tension lingered even after lunch. Back in the classroom, David struggled to focus on the lesson, his mind replaying the encounter with Lucas.
"He's just trying to psych us out," Ethan whispered from beside him. "Don't let him get to you."
David nodded, though his resolve was already firm. He didn't like being underestimated, and he was determined to prove Lucas wrong.
That evening in the hostel common room, the atmosphere was unusually lively. Boys and girls gathered around tables, revising for the quiz. The soft hum of conversation filled the air, mixed with the occasional laugh.
David sat with Ethan, Ollie, and Sarah, a girl from their class who had joined their study group. Sarah was sharp and quick-witted, often catching mistakes others missed.
"Okay," Sarah said, flipping through her notes. "Here's a tough one: Who was the first person to circumnavigate the globe?"
"Magellan," David answered confidently.
"Wrong," Sarah said, smirking. "Magellan started the voyage, but it was Juan Sebastián Elcano who completed it."
David groaned. "I knew that!"
"Clearly," Sarah teased, earning a laugh from the group.
As the session went on, the tension from earlier faded, replaced by a sense of camaraderie. The group's laughter and banter drew the attention of others in the room, and soon, more students joined their table.
By the time lights out was announced, David felt more confident. The quiz was still a few days away, but he knew they had what it took to win.
As he lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't help but smile. Lucas might have been intimidating, but he wasn't unbeatable.
"Just wait," David thought to himself. "We'll show them what we're made of."