Chapter 237: The Dinner III

“How’s Caltech?” asked Alex, excited.

“Tiring because of the research,” Paige replied, “but I really love it. The people I’m working with are amazing.”

“What research are you doing?” Alex showed great curiosity and interest.

“It’s about graphene, a material we once thought was only theoretical, impossible to exist in reality. But it was proven that this was wrong,” she responded, glancing at me.

I remarked a little exasperated, “I can’t believe you put the name ‘Jacob’s Method’ in the paper for the tape method process.”

“You made a tribute to Jake?” Scarlett teased.

“Sort of. He’s the one who discovered it in the first place,” Paige clarified.

Alex and Scarlett looked surprised at me.

“Not that big of a deal, girls. The experiment basically consists of taking some adhesive tape, placing graphite powder from an ordinary pencil, and sticking and peeling it off a bunch of times,” I explained, “basically a four-dollar experiment. Or two-dollar if you scrape it with your nail instead of scissors.”

Now they looked at Paige, not understanding anything.

“Jake is oversimplifying to the point of being insulting,” Paige muttered, a little annoyed. “Yes, the experiment is as ridiculous as he described, but the implication of what it proved is Nobel-worthy.”

"What?? A Nobel Prize??" Alex snapped, making everyone look at her.

Scarlett had a look of realization, probably remembering what I had said at the party about Paige working on something that could lead to a Nobel.

"A Nobel Prize..." Alex murmured again, her eyes unfocused.

Poor girl was having another reality check.

"Really Jake? Now a Nobel?" Scarlett gave me a look like, 'What the hell?'

"Nah, it will probably go to Paige, Mildred, and some other big name in the project," I countered, but I could see Paige’s face with a look that suggested she was plotting something – she will probably do everything to make me win along, I sighed.

"I’m not even close to being as much of a prodigy as Paige, Sheldon, or some of those big names. I just have a way of thinking very much outside the box."

Paige just rolled her eyes.

"Do you want to see an example, Lettie?" I turned to her. "That bighead"—I pointed at Paige—"is one of the smartest people in the world and is almost fully focused on this project. A highly intellectual genius, but she seems to forget some obvious things."

"Who said that ‘Jacob’s Method’ can only be used to isolate graphene? If graphene already proves the existence of 2Ds, why couldn’t the others be true as well?"

Paige’s eyes widened and she stayed like that for a while before she began to murmur, "Hexagonal Boron Nitride, Molybdenum Disulfide, Tungsten Disulfide..."

Then she grabbed my arm with both hands, "You are a genius," she shouted, "this could open a gigantic avenue. I need to tell Mildred and..."

I placed my hand over her mouth and pulled her closer, "Ayo, girl, calm down. We are at a dinner here, a few hours later won’t make a difference," I remarked, already knowing she would go to Caltech afterward (she wouldn’t be able to sleep without knowing if it was possible).

"What are you nerds up to now?" Haley questioned, looking at Alex and Paige, who had just shouted.

"Boring stuff, Haley," I replied for both of them, "but Paige can talk about something interesting, like her birthday on the 17th of this month, and the party." That seemed to catch Haley’s attention and shift the focus from Paige.

"Oh yeah, Alex, I’m going to throw a party right on my birthday, which happens to fall on a Sunday two weeks from now. You’re invited." She then looked at Haley, "you too, Haley, and..." she paused for a moment.

"His name is Dylan," I told her.

She shot a glare at me. "I know his name. I’m not like you who forgets other people’s names (strangely more often boys)."

"You can invite him, don’t worry about the capacity," I added (obviously I understood why she had paused), and I turned to explain to everyone, "I proposed an even bigger party than the end-of-year one for Paige, but she didn’t want that." She’s like Freddie and Sam in that regard—she doesn’t want anything too big.

"So we’re going to do something more private, and it was decided that it will be on our yacht."

"You have a yacht?" Haley’s eyes widened.

"Yep, The Harper. Since it will remain anchored in the middle of the sea, it can host up to 80 people comfortably without feeling crowded," I nodded. The maximum capacity (legally) changes depending on how it’s used.

"But you don’t need to worry about space because there will be six other smaller yachts as support, as well as others being used for security," I continued, "plus a floating module to extend The Harper."

On top of that, we secured a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction), so any private aircraft entering the airspace above the party without our permission would be committing federal crime. 

"Oh my god!!" Haley exclaimed enthusiastically.

"I will go," Alex confirmed.

"To where?" Claire jumped into the conversation, already holding a glass in her hand. Mitchell and Cam also approached (they had just arrived, and DeDe came with them...).

"Paige's birthday," I answered, "ahh, which will also be Paige’s graduation party."

"What??" Claire turned quickly to Paige. "You’re already graduating?"

"Yes, I received an honorary Bachelor (BS). I don’t have all the credits required to graduate, but the president of Caltech, Dr. Siebert, granted me an exception via special consideration," Paige affirmed.

"As expected of my lil' sister," I said proudly, patting her head.

Yeah Alex, it’s not just you that was having reality check—Sheldon was as well. Graduating before him, a Fields Medal, and the cherry on top, a future Nobel. Maybe I’ll have to talk to C-3PO to see if he won’t break down (as annoying as he is, it would still be a waste to lose a mind like his).

Then the focus completely shifted as Manny, Jay, and Gloria arrived