I stood at the door until Principal Brown motioned me inside, his phone glued to his ear. He was pacing, voice tight, and I could already tell who was on the other end.
His wife.
I sat down quietly, folding my hands in my lap as his sharp words came through the silence.
"Honey, I told you—I can't fly to Country V right now. The board won't grant me leave." His tone softened for a moment, then stiffened again. "No. There's no one else. Don't accuse me of that."
I pressed my lips together because I already knew how this marriage ended. In the future, his wife would file for divorce, dragging his name through the mud.
And with her brother being one of the members of the board, Principal Brown's downfall had been easy. He lost his position, pride, and everything.
Even now, I could hear it cracking. The shrill voice through the phone and the weariness in his eyes.
He glanced at me briefly and muttered, "I chat do this right now, I have a student with me-- No I'm not saying this to hang up on you."
"Sweetheart, I'll call you later," he said before pulling the receiver away and hanging up. His face was pale with restraint.
"Sorry you had to see that." He lowered himself into the chair, pulled open a drawer, and set a booklet on the desk.
My breath caught because that was my exam booklet.
I leaned forward, letting my eyes scan the red ink stamped boldly across the front: A+.
My eyes widened, but I smiled anyway. My slender fingers twitched on my lap, aching to touch it, to prove this was real. I bit my lip to hide the shriek bubbling up.
Hayden had kept his word. He really had gotten me into Class Elite. Speaking of Hayden; I hope he wasn't upset because of the rumor flying around. Though I swallowed the thought.
But Principal Brown's gaze was almost too steady on me.
"Stephanie," he said slowly, "do you feel proud of yourself?"
"Yes," I answered without hesitation, my smile soft but sure.
"Do you believe you deserve this?"
The question hit differently. A ripple of unease formed in my chest, but I nodded again, though slower this time.
Cause honestly, I didn't think I deserved something I cheated for. But like Hayden said, it was a one time thing.
"I do." the lie came out stiffer than I intended.
He hummed lightly before leaning into his chair.
"Then why has it been reported to me that you cheated?"
My breath stilled.
Cheated?
"Reported…? By who?"
Principal Brown didn't answer immediately. His sigh was deep, almost disappointed. "That's confidential. What matters is that it was brought to me by someone reliable and I couldn't ignore."
Reliable? Who? I had barely spoken to anyone about it. He'll, I didn't even trust anyone—
The smile that had bloomed inside my chest just moments ago withered, replaced by a hollow chill.
As if he noticed I was breaking down, "Stephanie," Principal Brown pressed, his tone soft, "do you deny it?"
"I—" I stuttered, my voice betraying me now. I was generally just trying to make sense of how word of my cheating licked.
"If it's a lie, you have to defend yourself. You can write the exam again to prove you deserve the distinction."
Principal Brown looked like he pitied me and wanted to give me the benefit of the doubt. But I knew I didn't deserve it cause I couldn't write the exam again even given the chance.
Finally, a whisper slipped past my lips. "...I did cheat."
Principal Brown closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them with finality. "You know the school's policy on malpractice."
I nodded as if I was sorry. I did know the penalty and I've been trying to avoid it since the day I got into Stan-Hedge. I was a lot of bad things but I never once cheated for something. That's why I always failed.
But perhaps desperation got the best of me and instead of thinking for a solution to actually getting into Class Elite. I resorted to cheating... and all because of Hayden.
Still, I shut my eyes, praying to God I wasn't going to get expelled. And that he should mercy me by giving me a suspension.
"I'm sorry, Ms Porter. But you're expelled."