Afternoon 1:1 Session with Samantha

The two of you enter the library and settle back down on the couches.

"Should we continue?" Samantha asks, glancing in your direction.

"Actually," you respond, "I kind of want to ask more questions about you."

"Umm, are you sure? We still have a lot to cover regarding the units," she replies, a hint of hesitation in her voice.

"Yeah, we can do that later. Right now, I really want to get to know you better," you insist gently.

She hesitates for a moment, then nods with a small smile. "Alright, what do you want to know?"

"Hm, maybe we can start from the beginning? How was it like having to move around so much as a kid and being so smart?" you ask.

She sighs, her shoulders slumping slightly. "To be completely honest, it was really tough as a kid. There were countless times I wished I could just be normal and fit in like everyone else. Back then, just being myself rubbed some people the wrong way."

"What do you mean?" you ask, your brow furrowing slightly.

"Well, it's a common occurrence, and Maria mentioned it earlier, but sometimes kids who are too smart can get bullied," Samantha explains, her voice tinged with a trace of old hurt. "There were times when I just wanted to help my classmates, but they would think I was showing off or that I thought I was better than them. It led to me getting shunned and mocked."

"Kids can be ruthless," you reply, shaking your head. "What about that one friend you mentioned you had a few days ago?"

"Oh, you remembered that?" she asks, somewhat surprised, her eyes widening slightly.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" you answer, meeting her gaze.

She pauses, her eyes dropping to her hands. "Well, because of how often I moved around, I couldn't stay friends with them for long."

"That must have sucked. How close were you two?" you ask.

"I'd like to say we were close, but who knows. We were only friends for a year. I doubt they'd even remember me," she answers, her voice tinged with melancholy.

"Don't say that. I'm sure they kept you in their hearts," you reply compassionately, your voice soft and reassuring.

"I hope so," she says, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She looks up into your eyes, her gaze sincere. "They were the only ones who didn't completely ignore me or treat me like dirt. They helped me regain hope that there are good people out there."

"The two of you didn't keep in touch?" you ask.

"We did at first, but staying long-distance friends becomes harder over time. Especially as a kid," she replies, her voice tinged with wistfulness.

"That sucks. Moving around as a kid must have been really tough," you empathize.

Samantha nods, her expression softening as she recalls the past. "Yeah, it was. Wherever I went, the cycle would repeat itself. It was a lonely experience, always being the new kid, always being the strange one. But I learned to adjust. I started to keep my thoughts to myself and became less social. Instead, I used that time to focus more on my studies."

She continues, "The results came pretty quickly. I finished high school by the age of 12 and got my PhD at 15. But it was the same story in high school and college. My peers were always much older, and I never quite fit in. I was still always looked at as a freak or a threat."

"They were probably just jealous or intimidated," you comment, trying to offer some comfort.

She smiles softly, appreciating your attempt to console her. "After becoming an adult, it became a bit easier. I found my identity, tuned out the critics and haters, and focused on what I loved. It's been a journey, but I'm proud of who I am now."

"That's good to hear. It sounds like you really found yourself," you comment warmly.

"I did," she nods. "And while I'm proud of who I am now, I guess I still kind of feel envious of those who had a real childhood, y'know. But being a part of this unit, it feels like for the first time I've made a group of true friends who care for me and respect me. I wasn't sure how it would be and what type of people I would meet, but I guess I got lucky in getting to meet such great people."

You smile in agreement. "Yeah, everyone here is great. I think your presence also adds to the comfort and camaraderie of the group."

"Thanks, I'm just being myself," she replies modestly, a bashful smile lighting up her face.

"Speaking of being yourself, despite being the smartest person on Earth, you don't come off that way. You don't use big words or sound pretentious at all. Why is that?" you ask in curiosity.

"Well," she begins, smiling thoughtfully. "There was a time I used bigger words when talking, but I realized there's an art to using more casual speech. It helps me bond with others and makes communication more effective. Well to be honest, a friend taught me that."

"Oh you had more than that one friend?" you reply teasingly.

She giggles. The two of you continue to make light banter as you chit-chat, feeling more at ease with each passing moment.