Claire took Eli’s badge and did the same.

She pinned it carefully to his jacket, making sure the official state logo was clearly visible on the plastic.

They had earned these spots by outscoring private school students with private tutors, and she refused to let them hide now.

“They said we were disqualified,” Eli said.

“The tournament director used very specific language about our eligibility in the holding room.”

“The director made a mistake based on false information,” Claire said.