**County High School**
3:00 PM.
The final science class of the day had just ended.
Mr. Givens, the science teacher, shot Sheldon a furious glare before storming out of the classroom.
"Sheldon, how are you feeling?"
Adam and his friends gathered around, teasingly asking the question.
"Feeling?"
Sheldon tilted his head thoughtfully. "Fantastic! This was the most enjoyable class I've had in years."
In American high schools, science class covers subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, and geography. The goal is to teach students basic scientific concepts and principles, apply scientific methods correctly, and solve various problems.
It's no surprise that Sheldon, a staunch advocate of science, would love this class so much.
"I'm sure Mr. Givens feels the exact opposite," Adam joked.
"Absolutely," Juno chimed in with a laugh. "If Sheldon weren't so young, I think Mr. Givens might have lost it. He really held back."
"Why?" Sheldon asked, frowning in confusion.
"You really don't know?" Emmett teased. "Today, every teacher you had ended up as mad as Mr. Givens. Sheldon, you sure have a way of annoying people. Impressive!"
"Every teacher?"
Sheldon looked even more puzzled.
"Let's see…" Adam started counting on his fingers. "In English class, you pointed out that Mrs. McElroy hadn't shaved her mustache properly."
"In math class, you questioned Mr. Ingram's qualifications," Juno added.
"And science class was the best of all," Emmett said dramatically. "First, you accused Mr. Givens of violating hygiene regulations and said he smelled bad. Then you suggested that your intelligence was a threat to him and offered to take over his role as the teacher. Wow, Sheldon, you're something else!"
"Was I wrong?" Sheldon asked, still bewildered.
"..."
The trio was momentarily speechless.
Although Sheldon's bluntness could leave people at a loss for words, the truth was that his observations were often spot-on. Public school teachers were average at best, and for a super-genius like Sheldon, it was hard not to notice their flaws and speak his mind.
"If I wasn't wrong, why can't I say it?" Sheldon asked confidently. "This is America. We have the freedom to say anything."
"Hahaha."
The three exchanged glances and burst out laughing.
Sheldon hadn't yet experienced the harsh realities of the world. He didn't understand that so-called "freedom" was often reserved for a select few. Even if Sheldon was a super-genius and a future Nobel Prize-winning physicist, he wasn't part of that privileged group because he lacked the financial and social power of someone like Iron Man or Batman.
"Uh-oh, here comes trouble."
While the Fruit Candy Quartet was laughing and joking around in the classroom, the door was suddenly pushed open with a loud bang. A group of people swaggered in, and Emmett immediately shrank back in fear.
"Adam Duncan!"
"Cash Goodman!"
Adam recognized the cocky teenager leading the group. He was another well-known rocker at County High School, followed by members of his emotional rock band.
As the saying goes, rivals don't get along.
Cash's band had always overshadowed Adam's "PJ and the Dynamics" band. However, Adam's average demeanor had consistently outshone Cash's in popularity rankings, especially since Adam had once dated "Amazing Amy," a choice that clearly irritated Cash.
The tension between them was no surprise, and conflicts were frequent.
After Adam had traveled back in time, recognized Amy's true identity, stopped switching girlfriends on a whim, and started focusing on being a better student, these conflicts had gradually diminished.
"What do you want?"
Adam's gaze briefly passed over the girl standing next to Cash, and he quickly understood the situation, sighing helplessly.
"This little brat is with you?"
Cash, with his arm around the girl, gave Sheldon a disdainful look. "He's got some nerve humiliating my girlfriend in front of everyone. Aren't you going to give me an explanation?"
"Forget it."
The non-mainstream-looking girl frowned. "He's just a kid."
She was the one Sheldon had called out during the first class of the day for wearing a shirt that was too thin and revealing.
"Shut up!"
Cash snapped at her. "This isn't about you and him; it's about my reputation!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Juno and flicked his long hair dramatically.
Juno smiled at Adam, who twitched his lips in response. Both of them understood what was really going on.
In the original timeline, this situation didn't exist. As the non-mainstream girl had said, Sheldon was just a kid. She hadn't cared much about the awkwardness his bluntness caused, so nothing came of it.
But in this timeline, because Adam had gotten closer to Sheldon, the story had reached Cash's ears. Feeling the need to stand up for his girlfriend, Cash didn't go after Sheldon but targeted Adam instead.
First, Cash had always disliked Adam.
Second, Cash's resentment flared up even more after noticing how close Adam had grown to Juno.
Though Juno was considered eccentric and often ridiculed by others, secretly, many boys had a crush on her.
That's right, a crush!
Looks are everything. If it weren't for Juno's frequent visits to psychologists and the cheerleading squad's collective disdain for her, labeling anyone who dated her as tasteless, someone like Cash would've pursued her long ago.
Giving up a whole cheerleading squad for Juno? No way any playboy would do that.
But not acting on it was one thing; seeing his rival cozying up to Juno was another. Cash couldn't handle it.
And now that Adam's group had "bullied" his girlfriend, Cash wasted no time confronting them.
"So, what do you want?"
Adam sneered. "Beat up Sheldon?"
"What?!"
Sheldon immediately ducked behind Adam. He was the kind of "brave soul" who'd climb a tree to escape a chicken and thank the heavens that chickens can't climb. Any threat of violence deeply unsettled him.
"Why would I hit him?"
Cash smirked. "He's one of your people, so it's your responsibility. The school's Homecoming Party is this weekend. Let's settle this on stage in front of the whole school. We'll compete, and the loser runs ten laps around the school naked. Are you in?"
"Damn it!"
Adam cursed under his breath. This guy was ruthless. Even if Adam were confident of winning, he wouldn't agree to such a wager. If he lost, it would be humiliating whether he ran or not.
"I'll do it! Who's afraid?"
Before Adam could refuse, a confident voice piped up. Adam turned in disbelief to see who had spoken.
---
*(End of Chapter)*