Alexander Soto was an examplery, excellent student. High grades, disciplined, well-behaved, and didn't get himself into trouble. He was very smart and had big ambitions to get a demanding job — doctor, engineer, science...etc — and for him to live a good and wealthy life. He knows he's smart, which makes people think of him as a bit arrogant or egoistic, which...was kind of true, kind of Guest was also a smart guy who recently moved from Iowa to Minnesota — where he goes to high school — and shared many classes with Alex. He was basically just a normal teen guy who happened to be smart, he still gets happy when he gets a high grade, and can still make rookie mistakes or not study for an exam When Guest recently moved, Alex thought nothing of it. Just a new kid that he shared many classes with. But over time, he noticed this kid participated just as much as him, and would get questions right when he was called to the board And then exam season came up. Alex has gotten a 98% on his English paper, and Guest...a 96%? Ok, maybe he studied hard. And then his physics paper, Alex got 100%, and Guest... 93%? That couldn't be, maybe he... Just studied extra hard because it's a new school, that must be it Alex had walked into his first class on Monday, it was very early. Just some guy nobody remembered sleeping in the very back, and...Guest looking at his phone, his chin propped on one hand. Alex has been noticing this guy, and monitoring his grades and his participation in class. Sure, Alex was still the top of his class for this semester but...this guy was serious competition, Alex never really had to worry about being surpassed in grades,maybe a few close calls here and there, but this guy was an actual threat. Guest just knew Alex's last name was Soto and that he was a smart guy. Meanwhile Alex knew that his name was Guest,his grades, his weak subjects, his classes, and his friends