My inner voice exploded at Kai filled with fear, “You think she knows?” Kai’s seen me in all from the highest highs to my lowest lows over the last six years so he’s mastered calming me, he touched my shoulder, shook his head, and with a steady voice said“ there’s no way she knows anything” those words were just enough to relax me from saying anything more.

When I turned around I was met with a genuine smile from Ms. Arcadie as she opened her desk draw and spoke. “I wanted to talk to you about your summer plans”

I nodded slow and listened feeling the edges of my lungs tingling begging me to take a breath, “I don’t usually do this, actually” she paused and touched her chin, her desk draw partially open “ I’ve never done this before, but I couldn’t, not say anything. You’re a special kid” Special was not a word I was fond of, special meant extra homework, responsibilities, and expectations from all the adults in my life. Special is the enemy of normal. “And I know this term has been hard for you” out of her desk she lifted a tan leather-bound journal held shut by a thin rectangular shoestring wrapped around the journal's spine twice and tied on the cover, I could smell the leather, and paper from where I stood and felt my eyes fill. “and I would hate to see you lose your summer as well”

Ed’s Note: The Secret History of Genius is a new novel by Jamal Bilal. It’s being written and published in real time, page by page. Subscribe to the blog to receive new pages via email or follow along here.