Page 69 of Room to Breathe

“No,” I said, because that was just instinct. And I hadn’t cheated for theentiretest. Just six questions. How could they prove that? Especially if I didn’t get the exact same grade as Beau. My moving up in the class ranks proved that I hadn’t.

“I guess that was more of a rhetorical question,” he said. “We know you cheated.”

I swallowed.

“You will get a zero for this test.”

“A zero?” I asked, appalled.

“We’re questioning your other test scores from this year as well. I’m consulting your teachers, trying to decide if you need to retake all the tests you’ve taken this year in a controlled environment to see if you can replicate the grades.”

“What?” I asked. “That’s not fair.”

“We take cheating very seriously. The punishment is typically an expulsion,” he said. “Especially when we know you’re trying torise in the school ranks. But we’re willing to extend some courtesy since you’ve been an exemplary student.” His hand shifted to the computer screen, reminding me this was about more than cheating. Was he saying they were going to extend me courtesy there as well? Was he trying to get me to confess? Would it help if I did?

“Who else was with you?”

“We were just getting his backpack,” I said. “He’d left it.” Although as I said that out loud, I realized there was no backpack. Or if there was, he hadn’t gotten it that night.

Next to me my mom sighed.

“I didn’t cheat on my other tests,” I said in a panic. “This is literally the only one. And only because I lost my textbook. And only for a few questions. I’ll retake this test. I’ll show you.”

“You don’t get to retake this test. This test, the one we know you cheated on, will be counted as zero. It’s the others that are being negotiated.”

My head whipped over to my mom. Was she going to defend me?

“They pulled me out of work for this,” she said. “I told them you would never break into school or cheat, but you’re saying you did?”

“No! Well, yes, but I didn’t do anything,” I said. If they had more video, they’d see that.

“And the test?” she asked.

“Just thisonetime. On a few questions because those FBI guys stole my book.”

“Indy,” Mom said in a warning voice. “Watch it.”

I snapped my mouth shut, my jaw instantly clenching.

“I can’t believe you did this.” She pinched the bridge of her nose.

“I shouldn’t have to retake all the other tests. Not withoutproof.” Were they really going to take Beau’s word over mine? Although now I’d admitted to it, hadn’t I?

“You sound like your father,” my mom said under her breath.

Tears sprang to my eyes.

“Is that all you need from me?” she asked. “I only have an hour lunch break and I’m using it for this.”

“We’ll be in contact, Mrs. Blair. Thank you,” Mr. O’Connell said.

She walked straight out the door and didn’t look back.

“You’re lucky,” Mr. O’Connell said. “That the rest of the video backs up your story.”

I didn’t feel very lucky.

Chapter 29