The aftermath of the quiz had everyone buzzing for days. The dormitory hallways were alive with chatter, and David's team found themselves at the center of attention. Students who rarely spoke to them suddenly wanted to share congratulatory words or relive the quiz's most intense moments.
"David, you absolute genius!" called out Oliver, a younger student from a different dorm. "You saved the day with that Canberra answer!"
David smiled modestly, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "It's teamwork, mate. Couldn't have done it without the gang."
Claire, walking beside him, nudged his shoulder. "You're insufferably humble, you know that?"
"I try," David quipped, grinning.
But amid the post-quiz euphoria, life at the boarding school moved on. Lessons resumed, homework piled up, and the usual routines settled back in. Yet, the air was different. The quiz had left an impression, solidifying alliances and creating new tensions.
It was during one of these ordinary days that the school received an unexpected influx of visitors: parents. The biannual Parents-Teachers Association meeting was being held, and the campus buzzed with an entirely different energy. The students' polished uniforms and unusually tidy dormitories hinted at the impending arrival of mothers and fathers, some of whom hadn't visited in months.
David, Claire, Simon, and Evelyn sat on the common room couches, watching the scene unfold through the large windows.
"Look at that car," Simon said, gesturing toward a sleek black Mercedes pulling into the driveway. "Must be Henry's parents."
Claire raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Only the best for the Carltons."
Evelyn leaned forward, watching as a tall, stern-looking man in a tailored suit stepped out, followed by a woman wearing oversized sunglasses. They both exuded an air of wealth and superiority.
"Wow," Evelyn murmured. "I didn't think it was possible to look that rich."
Simon snorted. "Explains Henry's attitude, doesn't it?"
Meanwhile, David's attention was drawn to a more modest arrival. A middle-aged woman stepped out of an aging sedan, her warm smile lighting up the dreary afternoon. She carried a basket, balanced precariously as she looked around for someone.
"That's my mum," David said quietly.
Claire turned to him with a smile. "She looks lovely. You should go meet her."
David hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I will."
The hallways were bustling with parents being led by their children, teachers greeting families, and an overwhelming mix of voices echoing off the high ceilings. David made his way through the crowd, his mother spotting him almost immediately.
"David!" she called, her face lighting up.
"Hi, Mum," David said, embracing her.
"You've grown taller," she said, holding him at arm's length to take a good look. "And you look… tired. Are they working you too hard here?"
David laughed. "No harder than usual. Come on, let me show you around."
As they walked, they passed various students and their parents. Some interactions were warm and affectionate, while others were tense, filled with whispered reprimands or barely concealed annoyance.
In the auditorium, the PTA meeting was already underway. Parents filled the rows, with teachers seated at the front alongside the headmistress, Mrs. Fairchild. Discussions ranged from academics to facilities, and then, inevitably, to behavior.
"We've had some issues recently with vandalism in the boys' dormitories," Mrs. Fairchild announced, her tone serious. "We're working to identify those responsible and ensure this does not continue."
A murmur spread through the crowd. David exchanged a glance with Claire, who was seated beside her parents further back.
Henry's father, Mr. Carlton, stood up, his voice cutting through the noise. "Perhaps it's time to reconsider the kind of students being admitted here. Not everyone holds the same standards of behavior."
The room fell silent. Mrs. Fairchild cleared her throat. "Thank you for your input, Mr. Carlton, but we take pride in the diversity of our student body. These incidents are isolated and do not reflect the majority."
David felt his mother tense beside him. He placed a hand on her arm, shaking his head slightly.
"Let it go, Mum," he whispered.
But the atmosphere remained tense.
After the meeting, parents mingled outside, their conversations ranging from polite to pointed. David's mother seemed content to meet his friends, exchanging warm words with Claire's parents and sharing stories about their children.
Henry, however, was standing near his parents, looking uncharacteristically subdued. His father's sharp tone carried across the courtyard.
"This kind of performance is unacceptable, Henry," Mr. Carlton said. "First, you lose that quiz, and now this nonsense about vandalism. I won't have our family's name dragged through the mud."
David watched from a distance, his expression unreadable. Henry caught his eye for a brief moment, then turned away, his shoulders stiff.
"Not so confident now, is he?" Simon muttered, appearing at David's side.
"Leave it," David said quietly. "Not our place."
Simon frowned but didn't push the matter.
As the day drew to a close, the parents began to depart. David walked his mother to her car, helping her load the basket back inside.
"You've made good friends here," she said, smiling. "And you're doing well. I'm proud of you, David."
He felt a lump in his throat but managed a smile. "Thanks, Mum."
As she drove away, David stood in the fading light, watching the car disappear down the long driveway. The campus felt quieter now, the bustling energy of the day replaced by a lingering sense of reflection.
"Ready to head back?" Claire asked, appearing beside him.
"Yeah," David said, turning toward the dorms.
The day had been a whirlwind of emotions, but one thing was clear every interaction, every event, was shaping the path ahead.