Gale forced her tears to still again for a moment when Michelle spoke, once again simply sniffling with an occasional drop leaking from the corners of her eyes. "Do . . . *sniff* . . . Do you think . . . *sniff* . . . I should . . . *sniff* . . . I should just give up . . . *sniff* . . . like he said?" Gale managed to ask between uncontrollable sniffling. She was aware of her lower-than-average record, which had never bothered her before, but having it thrown back in her face like that had completely devastated her.

---

Brent felt as though he could tackle the boy after his ignorant and completely repulsive response. "Listen, whether her record was good or bad means nothing right now. This has to do with the fact of insulting someone to the point of tears is . . . it's disgusting. To be so detached from human emotion like you are makes me sick. I'm doing this because I care about my sister. Not that you'd understand what it means to protect a sibling. You're probably a spoiled only child who gets everything he wants from his parents." Brent had likely pushed some buttons with what he had said, but he figured really make it plain how it felt, he had to try to strike at Korbin's cold, rock-solid heart, assuming he even had that.