Louise deliberately kept a stern face, trying to assert her authority, but she didn't expect us to stand up to her unfairness.
"No need to check the papers. Grace, have you considered why you performed so poorly?
"Oliver reported that Grace and Gilbert are dating. We've got the love letters right here. Quit denying it, you shameless brats!
"How dare you start dating at your age? What would your parents say? Have you no self-respect?"
Louise smirked as she held up the love letter for everyone to see. There was no mistaking Gilbert's handwriting.
She was covering for him and throwing me under the bus at the same time!
I clenched my fists, wanting to ask why, but swallowed my words.
What could I do? She was my dear "mom" and the "homeroom teacher Mrs. Clarke" who held my academic future in her hands.
She barked, "Get out and stand in the hall until school's over.
"And you too, Gilbert. You heard me, didn't you?"
With Oliver and Louise sneering at us, Gilbert and I were forced out of the classroom to face our unjust punishment.
Gilbert whispered an apology, telling me Oliver had pressured him into writing it.
In my past life, I remembered Gilbert discussing homework with Jane, only to face Oliver's jealousy and bullying.
Once in the top ten, he'd now fallen to the bottom of the class.
I frowned and asked, "Why don't you tell the guidance counselor?"
Gilbert pressed his lips together. "It's no use. The counselor only believes what our homeroom teacher says."
"Then go to the principal and your parents."
Gilbert didn't dare, fearing retaliation from Oliver and Louise.
"Keeping quiet only emboldens the bullies!"
Students who make a big deal out of forgetting their school cap wouldn't dare to offend a teacher.
After my past life of betrayal and abandonment, I realized living for myself was paramount.
Jane pulled me aside after class, revealing Oliver had unexpectedly scored first place.
She handed me a love letter Oliver had written her.
One look at the handwriting and my heart sank - Oliver must've swapped out my test paper.
I bolted straight for the principal's office. Alvin Blake, the principal recognized me and asked what was wrong.
I came clean.
"Someone switched my test. My score dropped from first to second-to-last."
Alvin was shocked. He knew I was a top student with a real shot at Kingstown University. Plenty of first-tier schools were already trying to recruit me early.