VC   ...

VC   ...Phoebe?

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

PB   Sorry. What were you saying?

PB   Got too caught up in my head there.

VC   Just about... the upcoming trial.

VC   Oh. N-not a court trial.

PB   What about it? Were you -

PB   ...

PB   Was that you making a joke?

VC   ...

You grab his sleeve the same instant he turns to flee. Days with this guy has given you second-nature reflexes.

PB   Relax bucko. It was a decent joke.

PB   You don't have to go anywhere.

VC   ...o-okay.

VC   And what I was saying... it's nothing important.

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 our stress and 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 on the tiled floor. Or maybe that was Vincent.

PB   Gods.

PB   What I would do for a podium right now.

PB   Don't classrooms have them? For the teacher?

However, all that sits in the front of the room, in front of the traditional blackboard, is the teacher's desk. It would feel demeaning to use it.

VC   You want... a podium?

PB   Something to stand behind. So I can look out at you. At everyone!

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   Your hands.

You wince and quickly return them to your sides.

PB   It's a little too dramatic huh?

VC   No.

VC   They were... shaking.

Aww, busted. You force out a laugh.

PB   Sorry.

PB   It might not seem like it but...

PB   I'm not doing so good right now.

PB   Worse is that I can see everything. Everything that everyone's...

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

PB   ...geez.

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

PB   I'd say no one gets it but...

PB   Shucks. You're probably the only one that does.

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

VC   ...yes. I do.

VC   And, um, for what it's worth,

VC   I think you would give a great speech.

PB   Thanks.

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

VC   It wouldn't, um. Stop the show, would it?

PB   No that's the thing.

PB   It'd just be for morale.

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

PB   A good attitude can take you far y'know?

PB   ...

PB   And it just makes me think...

PB   How did Grace do it?

PB   It feels like she blazed through her season like it was nothing.

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

PB   How did she do it?

PB   How did she find the strength to do all that and win?

Is that what makes real Champion material? 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   I guess...

PB   Thanks for being here with me.

VC   H-huh?

He jolts, as if he wasn't expecting to be prompted for an answer. 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. You keep going until you're only a foot away from each other.

PB   Outside of all this Program mess you should have more faith in yourself.

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

You silently refuse to say any more. Finally, he answers; his voice low, but resolute.

VC   …I’ll try.

PB   Promise?

VC   Yes.

He meets your eyes. You can never 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.

PB   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...

Predictably, he covers his face and cowers away.

VC   That won't be possible...

PB   Sure it would!

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

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.