Chapter 175
“Ms. Adams, Shirley was my student for three years. I know her better than you do, both her character and her actual grades.” Ronald’s face looked stormy as he spoke, his voice sharp.
“She cheated once when she first started here, and she’s always been at the bottom of the class in physics. How could someone like that, with terrible grades and no sense of integrity, ever get first place?”
“You want to use the B version of the test? Sure,” Ronald went on, his frustration spilling over. A tight, mocking smile appeared on his face. “I went out of my way to get that test from a top physics expert. The rights alone cost tens of thousands. We were planning to save it for another exam.”
“If you can find a way to get another set from that expert, I’ll agree to bring out the B version.”
Eleanor froze, caught off guard. She still had that fresh-out-of-college look, her hands twisting the hem of her shirt. Tens of thousands was a huge amount for a new teacher. Even if she could somehow pull the money together, getting those questions from a team of experts wasn’t something you could just do on a whim.
She looked completely defeated, her face pale.
“You’re just too young, Ms. Adams. You have no idea how bad some of these kids really are.” Ronald, seeing her at a loss, only got smugger. “Shirley, the school already gave you a break once. You promised you’d never cheat again. If you do, you know you’ll be expelled.”
Expelled?
Charlotte’s lips pressed into a thin line. She looked up, her eyes suddenly cold and sharp.
Andrew couldn’t take it anymore. He stepped forward, his voice steady but fierce. “Shirley didn’t cheat. I can back her up.”
“We studied together last night. We did two practice papers and reviewed a ton of stuff. If I could get a sixty, her score is real. No way she cheated.”
Shirley’s red, tearful eyes landed on Andrew. Until now, she thought only Charlotte would stand up for her. It turned out she had more allies than she realized.
Andrew was already upset, but
seeing Shirley’s sad, teary face
made him feel even worse. Why did Ronald get to accuse her like this? She looked so hurt, barely holding together.
“Mr. Baker, what do you think we should do?” Ronald barely even glanced at Andrew. He tossed the problem to Mr. Baker, as if he couldn’t be bothered to deal with it himself.
Mr. Baker’s face was unreadable. He seemed lost in thought. The test really was valuable, and using it for just two students would be a waste.
“Here’s what we’ll do.” Mr. Baker stood up, walked over to Shirley, and looked down at her. “Shirley, if you just admit how you cheated, the school will only give you a major demerit. You won’t be expelled.
Was this supposed to be some kind of deal? A threat?
“I Shirley squeezed her hands together, lifting her pale, drained face. She spoke slowly, each word clear. “I told you. I didn’t cheat.”
Why did they want her to confess to something she didn’t do, just like three years ago?
“You really don’t know how to
repent, do you?” Ronald sneered.
In
“Mr. Baker, I don’t think someone like her belongs at Vanguard High anymore.” He’d suspected it all along. Hanging out with Charlotte would eventually drag, Shirley down. If she liked sticking up for Charlotte so much, she could leave with her.
“Mr. Baker, I’m willing to Eleanor started, finally steeling herself to pay for the test and find a way to reach the experts.
But before she could finish, a cool, clear voice cut through the room.
“I’ll pay for the B version. And I’ll have someone get a new test from the experts.”