Chapter 4

Back in the classroom, the atmosphere was chaotic.

Naomi was staring at the report card, looking at Serena in disbelief as she walked back in.

"Serena... did you bubble in the wrong circles on the answer sheet?"

"How did you end up with a thirty?"

Classmates crowded around, throwing questions at her.

The very people who had been kissing her boots minutes ago now looked at her with blatant suspicion.

Serena took a deep breath, forcing herself to look calm.

"The questions on this mock exam were garbage. I didn't feel like wasting my time."

"I just guessed randomly."

"I'll show you my real strength on the next one."

She walked back to her seat, pretending to flip through her textbook.

But her trembling hands betrayed her panic.

"Give me a break. Your true colors are finally showing," a mocking voice sneered from the back. It was Jake Thompson, the class athletic rep.

"I bet you cheated your way to first place before, and you got caught this time."

Naomi immediately fired back.

"Shut up, Jake! We all know how smart Serena is!"

"She just didn't care about a stupid practice test!"

Serena shot Naomi a grateful look.

"Don't worry, guys. On the actual SATs, I'll show you what I'm truly capable of."

I sat in the back row, spinning my pen.

What you're truly capable of?

Yeah, a solid thirty.

For the next two weeks, Serena did a complete 180 and started sucking up to me.

She stopped sending her minions to bully me.

Every morning, a gourmet breakfast would miraculously appear on my desk.

After classes, she would volunteer to erase the whiteboard for me.

"Chloe, I'm so sorry about how I acted before," she said, handing me a Starbucks iced coffee with a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Can you share your study methods with me?"

"I've always admired how efficiently you study."

I looked at her pathetic, groveling face.

"Sorry, but I've officially given up on studying," I said, pushing the coffee away.

"Right now, I just want to sleep and read. Academics aren't my thing anymore."

Serena panicked.

"You can't do that! The SATs are the most important thing in your life!"

"You can't just throw your future away!"

She looked more anxious than my own parents.

"Chloe, as long as you promise to study hard, I'll do literally anything you want!"

She actually grabbed my arm, her hands trembling.

I yanked my arm back and stared at her coldly.

"You seem awfully invested in my grades. Anyone would think you're the one taking my tests."

Serena’s eyes darted away nervously.

"I'm... I'm just looking out for you as a classmate."

"Looking out for me?" I let out a dry laugh.

"Naomi was literally calling me a useless loser behind my back yesterday."

"Aren't you two best friends? Maybe you should go handle that."

Serena gritted her teeth.

"I'll take care of it right now!"

Less than ten minutes later, Naomi's loud crying echoed from the hallway.

In front of the entire class, Serena had slapped Naomi across the face.

"If anyone dares say another bad word about Chloe Miller, you'll have to answer to me!"