“Alright,” he leans back in the chair, his fingers drumming absentmindedly against the armrest. “Your exam results are low. Do you know why?”
“No,” I sigh. “I spent the entire summer preparing, and even the beginning of this year. There’s not a single chance I got such a low grade, let alone in all subjects.”
“A couple of students have reported seeing you cheat,” Colton explains, his voice cool and collected. “And as such, the professors had no other choice than to fail you.”
I freeze in my spot, eyes widening slightly. Someone saw me cheating? That’s fucking impossible because I’ve never cheated a day in my life. It has never crossed my mind to cheat instead of studying. My throat closes up, going entirely dry as I process what he just accused me of.
“I—,” I clear my throat yet again, swallowing thickly. “I did not cheat.”
“Seven people reported you, Miss Sloane,” he drawls out, eyes narrowing at me. “It’s your word against theirs.”
“But I didn’t!” I defend, standing up from the chair abruptly. My heels click against the wooden floor as I pace back and forth inside his office, which doesn’t seem to bother him. I bite my thumb, thinking long and hard about who would go as far as to lie to mess with my academic career.
“I’m having trouble believing that as well,” Colton says. “You’ve always been an exceptional student, and your record speaks for itself.”
“Then—”
Colton interrupts me with a flick of his wrist, lifting his hand. “However, this isn’t something I can take your word for, Ms. Sloane. If it were one student accusing you, maybe I’d be more lenient. But it’s seven people.”
“So, what happens then?”
Colton tilts his head to the side. “Well, I’ll have to talk with the school board.”
I wince. “Do you really have to?”
The worst part about this is that my parents are on the school board. If they get a sniff of this, it will end terribly. Not for me; they know better than to believe such nonsense. But if the names of the accusers are ever revealed, they’ll be sure to make these people’s lives a living hell.
“Yes,” Colton nods.
“Names.”
Colton lifts a brow at the demanding tone in my voice, smirking. “I’m afraid I can’t reveal their names, Ms. Sloane.”
“Why not? Because they don’t exist?”
His jaw clenches, but he manages to keep his cool. “I’ll pretend you didn’t accuse me of being a liar, Ms. Sloane, and tell you frankly that you have no footing here. This school isn’t prestigious just in name; we’re a very disciplined establishment and you will face the consequences of your actions.”
“A moment ago, you said you didn’t believe them.” I stop pacing, looking at him with a flexed jaw, my hands tightened into balls next to my body.
“True as that may be, I can’t just sweep this under the rug.”
“So, what will happen?”
“The board will decide,” he explains, relaxing a little. “You’lleither be suspended or expelled.”
My eyes widen. “Expelled?! Even if I did cheat — which I did not, by the way — isn’t expulsion too severe?”
“Perhaps,” he shrugs. “But that’s out of my hands. Once the board meets, the decision will be made.”
“And when, exactly, will that be?”
“In two weeks.”
“If I do get suspended,” I swallow, the words tasting like poison on my tongue, “what’s next? I failed all seven exams.”
“Given your track record, I believe you’ll be allowed to retake the exams. But if you do, it will be during the winter break.”
“Ah, hell,” I groan. “I was going to be wintering in Japan.”
