I squinted further into the microscope, trying to compensate for the glasses I had tossed on the counter. There they were, all wriggling and living in between the slides. Just where Mrs. Nolton said they would be.

When I had backed away and slipped my glasses back on, I was met with the sight of Toby, arms crossed, leaned back, eyebrows raised, face explicitly saying: well?

"She's right."

Toby narrowed his eyes and shuffled over to the microscope. "How can you be so sure?"

I shrugged and started making notes on the lab report. "I can tell."

"How?" I could hear him getting frustrated. "I can't see it."

I opened up my textbook, looking for a definition. "That's cause you're not paying attention."

He yanked his face away from the microscope incredulously. "I've been paying attention for two hours now!"

I huffed and muttered under my breath, "No, you've been talking to me."

Toby's eyes grew hard before he tried once more to find the little life forms present in the pond sample Mrs. Nolton had provided us. I watched out of the corner of my eye as he adjusted the focus knobs on either side with no avail. Sighing, I stood and tapped him on the shoulder.

"I could point them out if you want--"

"I'm gonna leave and just go back to my seat." He wouldn't meet my eyes.

I watched as he scooped up his papers from the lab table with jaw clenched. I caught his arm as he turned.

"Wait, Toby." I swallowed and leaned in close. "Do you trust me?

He blinked slowly and leaned in closer. "What does that have to do with anything?"

I dragged him back to the table and onto a stool. Sitting down opposite, I looked him in the eyes. "Let me help you."

"She's wrong." His voice started rising. "There's no microorganisms in our sample!"

"Shhh." I leaned in again. "Believe me, she's right. They're there. And believe me," I looked left and right then leaned in even closer, "they're important. Vital, even."

I could tell I'd gathered his interest finally. He swallowed and looked around, voice shaky. "What do you mean?"

I looked away, "I really shouldn't be telling you this, but since we're partners--"

"Lab partners."

"--yes, lab partners, I'll tell you what I know." He started at me, rapt, as I lowered my voice even further. "One of my good friend's older sister's teammates is one of the lab assistant TAs for this class--"

"They have those?"

"Who do you think prepares all the molar solutions and waters all the plants and stuff? Some of the juniors and seniors give up their lunch study halls to do it. Anyway, my friend's sister's teammate helped prepare one of the labs for the final next week."

Toby's eyes widened. "Is this--"

"Yes. It's almost a replica of this very lab."

The color drained from his face. "I have to do well on the final, or--or I won't pass the class." Toby hung his head, defeated.

I stood. "C'mere." I guided him gently to the microscope with one hand while swiping up my textbook with the other. "Look at this diagram. Here are the things you're looking for.
Now look in the microscope. Make sure you're zoomed in enough and in focus. Do you see anything?"

There was silence for a few moments before I saw Toby's form perk up. "I think...there! I see it, Jon, I see it!"

I gave his shoulder a firm pat. "Well done, partner!"

When Toby straightened, he was beaming. "She was right! Mrs. Nolton was right!"

And for the rest of the period Toby kept going back to the microscope to peer in and murmur quietly enough that he thought I couldn't hear, "She's right. They're there. She's right."