"Let's get the awkward part out of the way early," he muttered to himself with a satisfied smile.
The next day, Dell stormed into Cartwright's office without knocking. "What's the meaning of this?" he demanded, waving a copy of the audition schedule. "Putting Elijah first? That's a deliberate setup for failure, and you know it!"
Cartwright leaned back in his chair, unfazed by the outburst. "The order was randomized for fairness," he lied smoothly. "Would you prefer I give him special treatment?"
"Don't play games with me, Richard," Dell said, his voice low and controlled despite his anger. "I've been teaching at this school longer than you've been an administrator. I know manipulation when I see it."
Cartwright's fake smile faded. "You're clinging to some romantic idea of genius rising from the ashes. That's not how the world works, Raymond. You're setting that boy up for disappointment."
"The only one setting anyone up here is you," Dell retorted. "And I have to wonder why. What exactly are you afraid of?"
The question hung in the air between them, loaded with unspoken history. After a tense moment, Cartwright turned his attention to some papers on his desk. "If there's nothing else, I have work to do."
Dell left without another word, his concern for Elijah deepening.
That evening, he called Alicia. "We need to prepare him," he said without preamble. "Cartwright's put him first on the schedule."
"First?" Alicia echoed, understanding the implications immediately.
"That's deliberate," Dell finished for her. "I've tried to get it changed, but Cartwright won't budge. We need to help Elijah be ready."
Across town, Alicia was facing problems of her own. Her father, Professor Tran, had just confronted her about her after-school activities.
"I heard you've been spending time with that Walker boy," he said during dinner, his tone making it clear he disapproved. "The one from Westside."
Alicia set down her fork, meeting her father's gaze steadily. "His name is Elijah, and he's incredibly talented."
"So I've heard," her father replied dryly. "Along with rumors about disruptive behavior and academic problems."