I entered the hearing with the petition under my arm and my hands trembling.
Noah walked beside me. He carried a copy of the restoration report, its pages marked with pencil notes. Professor Wren waited inside the boardroom, standing at the end of the long table.
Dr. Sloane looked up when we entered. "Mr. Bell, the restoration review is scheduled after the student appeal."
"I know," Noah said. "I'm here for both."
She turned to me. "Miss Vale, you may begin."
I put my petition on the table. The first sentence seemed to vanish when I tried to read it.
For a moment, I was back in the hall, watching the silver zero shine above my name. I could feel every person in the room waiting for me to do something wrong.
I set my notes down.
"My first exercise with Noah Bell was conducted under
