74. Holding back

"Bro, did you really need to go that far?"

Albert leaned the back of his head against the front of Sheree's bed. Elliot's antics at the assessment had gotten under his skin. He wasn't sure exactly why, but he was definitely bothered.

"I felt like I needed to show everyone what an elite looked like," Elliot responded.

He and Sheree sat on his bed to Albert and Rayne's right.

"I think all of us did that, honestly," Rayne said from Albert's left.

Albert looked at her. He wanted to say 'I didn't.' He had demonstrated that he had more than one ability, but they were both basic abilities. Dozens of students had the same speed or strength as he did. He was only special because he had two powers. All of his friends had a special power, though. They could all do something that no one else at the university could. He didn't really belong in the same group with them.

"Sheree cheated. Are we all just going to ignore that fact?"