VC   ...

VC   ...Phoebe?

You offer a half-hearted smile, but you mostly end up shaking your head in frustration.

PB   Got too caught up in my head there.

PB   Sorry. What were you saying?

VC   Just about... trials.

VC   And not the kind of trials you like.

PB   ...

PB   Was that you making a joke?

PB   That was a joke just now?

VC   ...

You grab his sleeve the same instant he turns to flee. Getting acquainted with this guy have sharpened your reflexes.

PB   Relax bucko. It was a decent joke.

PB   You don't have to go anywhere.

VC   ...o-okay.

His feet slow down their scampering.

PB   So about our trials...

VC   Just thinking out loud.

VC   While we have time. To think.

PB   Time.

PB   It's really not on our side huh?

PB   It's like by making these dang things so close to each other...

PB   They're just capitalizing on all the tension.

PB   No breaks. Just show.

You look around the classroom. Right where everything began. Remembering how clueless you were... it makes you want to kick a desk.

VC   Wah!

But it doesn't satisfy you. It just makes a horrible screeching noise. Or maybe that was Vincent.

PB   Gods.

PB   What I would do for a podium right now.

PB   Anything I can put my hands on and stand behind.

PB   So I can look out at you. At everyone!

However, all that sits in the front of the room is the teacher's desk. It would feel demeaning to use it - especally after constantly dealing with the 'teacher' in question.

PB   And then... I'd think of the perfect words to make the right speech.

PB   Something that unifies us.

PB   And something that detangles all these... horrible loose thoughts.

Your hands move on their own as you speak. If you close your eyes, you can pretend you're somewhere else. Somewhere with lights and a microphone but without the entire world as your audience.

PB   I'd point to the right people and hit all the cues...

PB   I'd slip in some tasteful jokes to set them at ease...

PB   And it'd be perfect.

PB   It'd give them exactly the hope they need.

PB   Heh. That'd do the job wouldn't it?

VC   ...

VC   Phoebe?

PB   Hm? What's up?

VC   Your hands.

You quickly return them to your sides.

PB   It's a little too dramatic huh?

VC   No.

VC   They were... you were shaking.

Aww, busted. You force out a laugh.

PB   Sorry.

VC   No, it's okay.

PB   No it's not. That's the problem.

VC   Wh-what's wrong?

VC   Are you... feeling sick?

PB   It's our whole predicament.

PB   I could've seen this coming from a mile away.

PB   And I still end up caught off guard like everyone else!

PB   ...

PB   I should've known better.

VC   W-well, umm...

He reaches over, maybe to pat you on the shoulder, but he retreats before any contact is made.

VC   We're all going through it together, at least.

VC   Isn't that... a comfort?

PB   I wish it was.

PB   But it only makes the ol' noggin more sore.

PB   I can see everything Mr. Labelle. Everything that everyone's...

When you matured such a Value, you knew exactly what you were getting into. You should've trained yourself better. You should've learned how to block it out at this point. What's so great about seeing any of it if you're just going to drown in it?

PB   It's always been too much but now I can hardly handle it.

PB   It's like a tsunami of brainwaves all the time.

VC   ...yes.

VC   Their anguish, their stress... it's overwhelming.

VC   Having it all so concentrated is nothing like I've experienced before.

PB   Yeah you'd be the one to get it the most wouldn't you?

PB   Be sure to take care of yourself Mr. Labelle.

VC   You too.

VC   ...

VC   And, um, for what it's worth,

VC   I'd love to hear one of your speeches.

You give him your best smile. Whatever he's seeing, you hope it's as 'radiant' as he describes.

PB   Thanks.

PB   But I don't think I'll actually be giving one any time soon.

PB   We gotta investigate first. Figure out everything that's going on.

PB   Then I can step up and say something.

PB   For morale.

PB   It would at least give them something. To take their minds off of all this.

PB   ...

PB   How did Grace do it?

PB   She blazed through her season like it was nothing.

PB   Chatting up the competition and making friends left and right.

PB   How? How did she do all that and win?

Is that what makes real Champion material? Someone truly determined enough to overcome a situation like this, enough to come out on top?

And... is that what you're really going to think about, at a time like this?

PB   Gods.

PB   I must be going crazy.

PB   My head... I just can't think straight.

PB   ...

PB   Hey.

PB   Thanks for being here with me.

VC   H-huh?

He jolts, as if he wasn't expecting to be addressed. Geez. Doesn't he know a conversation goes both ways?

PB   It helps if I've got someone to look out for me.

PB   And I'll be there for you too.

PB   I'm sure you're not feeling your best either but...

PB   I hope we can give each other the strength we need.

VC   ...

PB   Hey. I mean it.

You walk towards him, continuing even when he takes an uncertain step backwards.

PB   Outside of all this Program mess...

PB   You gotta have more faith in yourself.

PB   You can't expect me to do all the work right?

VC   …

VC   I’ll try.

PB   Promise?

VC   Yes.

He meets your eyes. You can never fully make out what's in that mind of his, but you can see the same word, over and over again.

VC   I promise, Phoebe.

VC   I'll do better. I'll do my best.

VC   I have to.

PB   Heh. Good.

You feel like a weight's been lifted. You trust his word implicitly, and you'll keep him to it.

PB   Y'know...

PB   You sound pretty cool when you’re not stuttering or murmuring to yourself.

PB   You could be a great speaker.

VC   Th-that's...

VC   That's not possible...

Predictably, he covers his face and cowers away.

PB   Sure is!

PB   I took a lot of public speaking classes to get to where I am today.

PB   You wouldn't believe the vocal tics I used to have.

PB   Maybe it'll take The Program to make it happen but...

PB   I want to see you talk with your head held up proudly.

You twirl a finger around his bang. The big one covering half his face.

PB   That's the Vincent I see. And he's in there.

He quickly turns away, murmuring something you can't quite hear. Well, one step at a time, you suppose.