The day kicked off with the big test, and to make things even more nerve-wracking, it was set by Mr. Ben—our head teacher. He wasn't the scary type, though, more like the funny uncle who occasionally acts weird in a good way.
I wasn't halfway through when I noticed Sara standing in front, submitting her paper. Mr. Ben took it with a grin and said, "Excellent. This shows the test wasn't that hard."
Everyone groaned and murmured. I stared at my own paper. My hand was trembling. My brain blanked out like someone had pressed delete. My heart raced for no reason I could point out. But somehow, I managed to finish before my shaking became too obvious.
Later that day, I stood in front of the class, waving the test scripts in the air.
"Everybody, test results!"
"Let me help you share," a voice said from the back. I hesitated, then handed over half of the stack.
"Maria, perfect score," I said, sliding her paper to her without flinching. No envy, no fake smile—just plain calm.
"Yes!" she beamed, her joy lighting up her face.
"Wow, she's so cute," Adam commented with a goofy grin, nudging the boys around him.
"And you're not so smart," I replied, tossing his paper to him.
He looked at the 85 at the top and shrugged. "Well, we can't all be Olive," he said, glancing in my direction. "Maybe... except Sara. She's like the new you."
My expression flickered, just slightly. I didn't want to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing how that line stung.
Then I raised my voice, "Wait—I can't find my own test script."
The guy I shared the stack with rolled his eyes. "You passed it twice," he said, tossing the remaining booklet into my hands. "Maybe you were looking for it by the score."
"What?!"
I flipped through frantically. Lola came over just as I found it and tried to peek. I quickly closed the page.
Sara walked over, trying to see what I got. As I turned the paper, I accidentally hit her face. She gasped.
"Oh my God—are you okay?" I asked, taken aback. "I didn't mean to hit you that hard."
From the back, Nora snatched the script from me and raised it high for the whole class to see.
"Olive scored 80!"
The room erupted with laughter. My classmates crowded around, trying to catch a glimpse. I reached for my script, tugging it back while my cheeks burned.
Adam stepped in, finally returning it to me. But Nora wasn't done.
"I guess she couldn't cheat her way to 100 this time," she said.
Another round of laughter. It hit harder than the first.
I couldn't take it anymore. I slipped out of the class and went straight to the library. My chest felt heavy. I slumped into a corner and let it all out. Tears poured freely. I didn't even care who saw me.
"Crying doesn't suit Queen Olivia of the Most High," a voice teased from the aisle.
It was Davis.
Still wiping my face, I said, "Neither does poking into other people's business suit you." I stood up. "Are you everywhere?"
I didn't wait for a reply. I walked past him and headed back to class just as the bell rang for break.
We barely settled in when one of the staff members entered.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Sara."
She stood up slowly and followed him out. All eyes trailed her as whispers filled the room.
Minutes later, Sara returned—but not the same Sara who left. Her face was wet with tears. Loud sobs echoed through the classroom.
Lola and Andrew rushed to her side. "Sara, what's wrong?"
"I… I'm getting suspended," she choked out.
"What? Why?" voices rang out.
"Someone reported me… for theft."
"What?!"
"I swear, I didn't steal anything," she cried, barely catching her breath. "During break, the Bookkeeper asked me to watch the school shop while she ran an errand. That's all I did."
"The principal did mention during morning assembly that some money went missing," June whispered from behind.
Sara kept sobbing, hugging her knees as Lola and Andrew tried to calm her down.
I sat frozen in my seat. I pitied her. But I didn't say anything. I just watched.
Later, the three of us—Lola, Andrew, and I—were called into Mr. Smith's office.
"Your class teacher says you three are the closest to Sara," he said. "What do you think? Is she capable of stealing?"
Lola spoke first, her voice soft. "Sir, Sara has been really kind. She respects everyone, even the teachers. She's focused too."
Andrew nodded. "I don't think she did it either. She's serious about her studies and has been trying to fit in. Maybe someone mistook her for someone else."
Mr. Smith turned to me. "Olive? What do you think?"
I looked at my friends. Then on the floor.
"She's a good kid," I began. "But we all know she's going through tough times financially. Maybe she didn't plan to… but something might've pushed her."
Their eyes burned into me. Andrew's jaw clenched. Lola's face dropped in disbelief.
Mr. Smith leaned back. "Olivia made a good point," he said. "She could have a reason."
"Sir," Lola spoke again, almost pleading, "she may be new, but she's been honest and hardworking. Please."
But Mr. Smith shook his head. "It's been less than a week. You never know people that quickly."
He sighed. "She'll face disciplinary action. Theft is a serious matter in Velmont Heights Academy. She'll only return if the money is paid back."
He dismissed us.
As we walked out, the silence between us was louder than anything that had been said. None of us looked at each other.
"I wonder who reported her," June said as we walked back slowly.
"It's possible she did it," Andrew muttered.
Lola stopped walking. Her eyes snapped toward him, sharp with disbelief. "You've been with her since the day she got here, and now you're saying that?"
Andrew sighed. His shoulders dropped a little. "I like her too, okay? But if the principal is sure of what he heard... maybe he's right."
"Unbelievable," Lola said, shaking her head. "You don't even have enough care to give her the benefit of the doubt."
"Benefit of the doubt? What's your problem?" Andrew asked, frustrated. "Didn't I just speak up for her in there? We only just met her. It's not like we really know her."
Esther turned to me, her voice soft but pointed. "Olive, you're not even saying anything?"
I opened my mouth to speak.
Nothing came out.
I looked at them—Lola's fire, Andrew's doubt, June's disappointment—and felt a knot tighten in my chest. Words sat heavy on my tongue, but none of them felt right.