Chapter 536
The first big test was Literature.
Charlotte sat at her desk, her long legs crossed in that casual way, one hand stuffed in her pocket, the other spinning a pen between her fingers. As soon as the test papers landed on their desks, everyone around her dove in, flipping pages and scanning questions. Faces fell when they saw the essay prompt. People started scratching their heads, groaning, swearing under their breath as they scribbled away.
Charlotte just smiled to herself. The teachers at the exam board were really upping their game. She picked up her pen and calmly wrote down her exam number and name, then started working through the questions, moving at her own steady pace.
She finished her essay, glanced up at the clock, and realized there were still forty minutes left. There was no turning in early, and no talking allowed, so all she could do was rest her chin on her hand and zone out, counting down the seconds.
Right next to her, a guy was still writing like his life depended on it, racking his brain for more ideas. He shot a glance at Charlotte, sitting there perfectly still, and mumbled almost to himself, “Wow.”
Was she really done already? Had she just given up on the first test?
The proctor made his way down the aisle, planning to remind her to stay focused. But when he looked over her shoulder, he saw her test was completely filled in. His brows drew together, confused. That fast? Maybe she just rushed through and guessed?
Then his eyes landed on her name at the top of the page, and his doubt melted into surprise. Charlotte. He adjusted his glasses, looked again, and realized it was really her. The Charlotte everyone at Vanguard High talked about.
He found himself staring, and Charlotte caught him, looking up with a puzzled expression. Their eyes met, and he felt a jolt. It wasn’t just that she was smart—she was gorgeous, too. In all his years teaching, he’d never seen anyone quite like her.
Remembering where he was, he just smiled at her, then walked back to the front with his hands behind his back, a little spring in his step. Even after he sat down, he couldn’t help.. glancing her way again.
At 11:30 sharp, the bell rang. Test over.
Charlotte quietly packed up her things and headed out, meeting Andrew, Parrish, and Shirley at the door. Shirley and Parrish looked pretty pleased, smiling like they d just survived a big storm. Andrew, though, made a beeline for her, grabbing her sleeve with two fingers and whining, “Whoever wrote that test is evil. None of the stuff I
studied came up, and all the stuff I didn’t study was everywhere.”
“How’d you do, Charlotte?”
She lifted her chin just a bit, eyes scanning the crowd with a hint of a smile. “I think it went pretty well.”
Andrew, Parrish, and Shirley just stared at her, speechless. Pretty well? They all knew what that meant.
A moment later, Stella popped out of the crowd. Charlotte’s eyes brightened, and she waved her over. “Here.”
Stella rushed over, hugging her bag
tight. She wasn’t used to being
around so many people after
spending so much time in the
hospital, and all those eyes on her
made her a little nervous.
But then Charlotte reached out and took her hand, warm and steady, and Stella felt
that comfort soak right in.
“This is Stella,” Charlotte told the others. “She’s my sister.”