abe was cluelest that she had been cklisted as a troublemaker by the vice principal because


    mpetition ramai, and with whispers flying around that she had used her connections toe here, her reputation was taking a hit. The students from both the Prodigy ss and the regr sses were giving her looks that dripped with sdment and disbelief.


    Being a problem student and used of pulling strings was the talk of the town, the stain on the school’s good name. the epitome of embarassmentt


    So, when the Gist of students selected to participate in the BrainSpark Nationals was posted on the school bulletin board and Mirabe’s name popped up, it turned into the juiciest gossip of the semester.


    “Good Lord, where does the new girl get the guts to sign up for BrainSpark Nationals? Isn’t she embarrassed?”


    “Does she think she can just charm her way into BrainSpark Nationals too?”


    Te bet a nickel she won’t even pass the prelims.”


    “My stars, looks like Parkside High is gonna be theughing stock of the nation this time!”


    “Seriously, wouldn’t it be better to just sit pretty and not stir the


    <b>e </b><b>pot</b>?”


    Jenna was dumbfounded when she saw Mirabe’s name on the list. “Queen Mira, I thought you said you weren’t interested in BrainSpark Nationals? You even turned me down when I asked you to sign up.” Jenna puffed her cheeks out in frustration. Her usually round face looked even rounder, like a petnt hamster.


    Ever since Jenna found out about the hefty sums being transferred into Mirabe’s ount every day, she’d taken to calling her “Queen Mira” as a nickname, and it had stuck.


    Mirab looked at her with a puzzled expression. “Wasn’t it you who signed me up?”


    Jenna blinked in confusion. “Nope, not me. I mean, I wanted you topete, but I didn’t put your name there.”


    Mirabe frowned. “Then who did?” Had she known it wasn’t Jenna who signed her up, she would have t–out refused when Ate called her to the office.


    Scratching her head. Jenna reiterated with an innocent look. “Queen Mira, I swear I didn’t sign you up. You gotta believe me.”


    Mirabe nced at her and said coolly, “I know.”


    Hearing this. Jenna stuck her tongue out slightly, worried about a misunderstanding, since BrainSpark Nationals was no child’s y. She tilted her head in thought, and Jenna’s inner detective kicked in, “Could it be someone wants to see you make a fool of yourself and did this on purpose<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Mirabe’s eyes lowered slightly, but she remained silent.


    “The BrainSpark Nationals is for super intelligent students, the real braics. If someone signed you up knowing your grades were dismal it’s a surefire way to humiliate you at Parkside High School, and maybe even cut you off at the knees.”


    “Queen Mira, think, have you ticked anyone offtely?” Jenna folded her arms, getting straight to the point.


    Mirabe’s expression was serene, and her voice was quite serious. “Does being envied for my looks count?”


    Jenna’s mouth twitched. “Can you please be serious? I can’t help you sort this out if you’re gonna be like this.”


    With a light “oh“, Mirabe then sprawled back onto her <b>desk </b><b>and </b>closed her <b>eyes</b>.


    Jenna was speechless. Queen Mira was uniquely nonchnt even in the gravest of times.


    With a sigh, Jenna said helplessly. “Maybe you should talk to the She–Devil about this? The She–Devil was the students‘ secret nickname for Ate, their head teacher.


    Chapter St


    without evening an eveld, Mirabe responded, “It’s okay.”


    Jenna was taken aback, then finally asked. “So you’re actually considering going through with thepetition?