Louise jumped to his defense. "Oliver's got my genes! He just didn't try his best..."
Yeah, Oliver coasted on Louise's teacher genes, getting all Dad's hopes pinned on him, but he kept bombing the SAT year after year.
Meanwhile, I aced my grades, only to get shut down with a "girls don't need education" line.
How unfair was that?
That golden boy who couldn't get his act together was still basking in all the favoritism.
No surprise, Louise's begging let Oliver dodge Dad's wrath once again.
Their bias was never even hidden.
Watching the cold indifference behind my family's backs, I made a silent vow to myself.
They'd taken my blood, my kidney, even my dreams and my life!
In this second chance, I swore they'd never destroy me again.
3
Back at school, I found myself facing deliberate hassles from Louise, our homeroom teacher.
She stuck me in a seat right by the trash can near the back door. Every time it opened, the icy draft felt like needles on my skin.
With the door closed, the stench of cigarette butts from the garbage made me want to gag.
Louise couldn't hide her smug satisfaction. "That spot's perfect for tossing trash. I don't let just anyone sit there, you know."
Ignoring her yapping, I buried my nose in my practice exam review.
When the exam started, Oliver, sitting in front of me, demanded I give him the answers.
Oliver was infamous as a "model" student. He'd shake down classmates for cash by the school gates.
He also "treated" kids to toilet swirlies and even swiped my tampons... then mocked me for leaking.
Now, he'd weaseled his way into the advanced class, riding on Louise's coattails.
Why the hell should I hand over my hard work to that lowlife?
I gave Oliver the cold shoulder, but after the exam, Louise tore into me.
"Grace Clarke and Gilbert Gomez swept the bottom two spots in the latest test.
"They're nothing but deadweight, dragging down our advanced class!" Louise spat out.
My eyes bored into Louise's powdered face. "I don't buy it. Let me see those papers."
I'd always been a top student, while Oliver consistently scraped the bottom of the barrel.
Louise, our homeroom teacher, hadn't raised a single eyebrow at this sudden role reversal.
Talk about playing favorites!
My best friend, Jane Pemberton, jumped to my defense. "Mrs. Clarke, there's no way Grace bombed this test."