"Why don't you sleep, then, dumbass."

"Got too much adrenaline. Like I'm on a fucking roller coaster." Breathy laugh. "I'll be fine later. Don't worry about me. Just gotta make it through class today and then we're golden."

"Whatever you say, big dubs."

The day passes at once incredibly slowly and in no time at all. He can't pay attention in class.

He's the first one to the library, and then Schlatt and Alex saunter in, smug, laughing with each other, joking, and it takes all of Wilbur's energy to smile graciously, to shake hands with Alex.

He waits for everyone to arrive before announcing it's voting time.

"Everyone who would like me to lead the study group, raise your hand."

Tommy raises his hand. Niki raises her hand. Wilbur raises his own hand, because he didn't make any rules against voting for himself.

He waits a second, in case anyone will change their mind. Tommy's staring Toby down, a question in his face, all hurt-confused. Wilbur can relate. Toby's looking down, picking at a splinter in his chair.

"Everyone who would like Schlatt to lead the study group, raise your hand."

Schlatt and Alex, predictably, raise their hands. Jack Manifold raises his hand.

Toby raises his hand.

It feels like the floor's dropped out from under him.

"Schlatt, it was-- I want to say it was an honor competing against you, but, uh-- you didn't really compete at all, just let Alex do it."

"Well, that was pretty easy."

"Yes, sir!"

"Wilbur?"

And then, quieter: "...Toby?"

"It's fine, Tommy. They won, they, they made their choices." To Schlatt: "Do you have a, uh-- a speech? Anything?"

"You know what, sure. Yeah. As soon as I ran, I knew, things were gonna change. Now that I'm in charge, I want this group to look different when I'm done. No more goddamn pussies in charge. We're gonna sell drugs to Tampa and get rich. Boom! And Wilbur Soot can fuck off, I don't give a shit about him or his pretty face. We don't take pussies here."

"You calling me a pussy?"

"Yeah, what are you gonna do, cry about it? Oh, boohoo, Schlatt called me a pussy! If you're gonna be annoying you can get the fuck out of my study group. Yeah! MY study group!"

"And if I do? Huh?"

"Oh my god, stop fucking whining. You see this kid? Loses the election and can't stop fucking whining about it. I don't give a shit. Either shut up or get the fuck out.”

“You’ll miss me.”

“No I fucking won’t.”

“Fine. We’ll see.” Wilbur stands up and shoves at his chair almost hard enough for it to tip over. 

“Wilbur—”

“Shut up, Tommy. Schlatt’s made it clear he doesn’t want me here.”

“YEAH! Get outta here! WOOOOOOO!”

"Schlatt, are you sure--"

"Shut the fuck up, kid. I just started liking you, don't ruin it by being a fucking crybaby."

"...Right."

(Tommy keeps glancing between where Toby's sitting and where Wilbur left. It's--not top priority, right now, but Toby can't help but track it.)

"Well. There's still a while before dinner, we should--probably do homework."

"Now that's what I like to hear. Who here's good at English?"

"Alex. And Niki." And Wilbur.

"Fuckin'--great, that's great. I'm liking this kid more and more. Niki, you can do my English homework today."