The five of them sat in the night fee ten hour. No one spoke, yet none felt hored


    These remaining moments of high school were unenj


    edly pretions.


    Nearing 9:30 P5, they finally rose to return to the doutory for washing and rest.


    Camerony in bed with an eye mask on, unable to sleep. She turned over


    Bradley spoke up, "Cameron, can''t you sleep


    ved the eye mask. "Not really the


    The room lights were off, with only outdoor streetlights filtering through the ss,


    Xander said, "Funny, me too. Cameron, are you nervous? Mr. Drake must''ve pressured you too much. So what if you don''t get first ce?"


    Elijah interjected, "Cameron can nailit".


    Xander retorted, "I know he can. I was just trying to help him rx. Since when did you get a say?"


    Austin sighed. "Xander, Elijah, you both mean well, so stop bickering"


    Cameron said simply. "Let''s just go to sleep"


    Early the next morning, a soft knock rapped on Room 316''s door


    It was SAT day. Bradley skipped his run but still rose early. Hearing the knock, he


    put down his book to open the door, surprised to see Tiana smiling


    outside.


    "Did I wake you?" Tiana asked softly.


    Bradley said, "Ms. Murphy, they''re still asleep. What''s this about?"


    Tiana held up both hands, full of breakfast bags. "Those are your breakfasts. Mr. Drake insisted I deliver them to your dorm."


    Bradley quickly took them. "Thank you."


    Tiana smiled. “You''re wee. Let Cameron choose first, okay?"


    Bradley nodded, and Tiana lett.


    He set the breakfast down. "Wake up, everyone. Mr. Drake sent breakfast for Cameron-and us too."


    Thanks, Cameron!"


    "What''s for breakfast?"


    One by one, they rose, washed up, and ate. It was only 7:00 AM when they finished, with 30 minutes left before the 7:30 AM assembly on the ygroun


    Bradley answered a phone call openly in the room.


    "Hi, Mom. Yes, I ate. You came? I said you didn''t need to Okay, I''lle out now Cameron, organizing her stationery, looked up. "Your family''s here?"


    21:47 Wed 4 Jun


    Bradley nodded, "My whole family, Utold them not to, but they arrivedst night."


    Elijah said, "Brad, you love such a big family Temy that."


    1. Unlike Bradley, Elijah''s home was always cold and quiet


    Bradley smiled. His parents were


    een indeed affectionate. He grabbed his stationery and i


    Xander stroked his chat, "I wish my parents had more kids... Nah, they''d just fight me for the inheritance, Only child''s life is better


    Austin smiled silently, agreeing. Being an only child in a wealthy family meant nopetition for assets.


    Cameron said nothing. Though she had many rtives, she''d never known family warmth


    The group arrived at the pickup spot. William waited these, smiling "Just do your best."


    Cameron smiled back. "will"


    The exam venue was a


    venue was a high school ten minutes from Langford Academy. Departing now would get them there on time


    Cameron boarded the bus and sat down. Xander quickly plopped down beside her.


    Austin and Elijah paused, then took front seats.


    Bradley boarded just before departure. Cameron nodded slightly to him.


    The five were in separate exam rooms. After exiting the bus, they split to find their venues.


    Kander turned to Cameron, "Good luck, Cameron!"


    Cameron smiled. "You too."


    Xander grinned. "Got it!"


    The first morning cam was reading. Though Cameron hated leaving early, she''d finished ages ago and checked her paper twice.


    ??


    Finally, she submitted 30 minutes early-the only one in her room to do so.


    The SAT was a culmination of years of study, no one dared take it lightly.


    Stepping out of the ssroom, Cameron nearly collided with Willd.


    Wim checked his watch, startled. "There''s still half an hourt Why leave early?"


    Cameron stayed silent, unsure how to respond.


    William softened his tone. "How was the paper? Hard?”


    Cameron said, "I could handle it."


    William froze, unsure if that meant easy or difficult.


    Cameron added, "You should go ahead. I''ll grab a drink,


    William hesitated but didn''t follow. With more examsing, he couldn''t pressure


    her.


    Cameron bought a soda and waited for everyone to finish-they''d return by bus together.


    Half an hourter, they boarded again.


    ssmates immediately started debating answers, though it was pointless for reading


    "That Moby-Dick analysis wors boutal Lucky Tread it, or Edhie fated?


    Xander, sitting diagonally from Cameron, pripped, "Can you shut up


    Mentioning the exam annoyed him. He''


    He knew he''d bombed liter


    (the book and rambled Thorugh the intam


    fn''t get into a good rotege, he''d let Camén


    So, he avoided sitting beside her, fearing she''d ask about his performance,


    Elijah sat next to Cameron. "Paper wasn''t too hard, right?"


    Cameron nodded. "Yeah. The Moby Dick question might be hard for most students, though?


    Elijah sighed. "True. That question was tough.


    Austin chimed in,


    Bradley said, "Let


    "Let it go. Rx before math"


    Soon, the next exam began


    As Cameron entered, a ssmate spilled carameltte on her arm.


    "Sorry, did it burn you?" the boy apologized profusely.


    Cameron frowned but shook her head.


    With five minutes till the exam, she needed to clean her sticky arm.


    Standing outside the restroom, she hesitated men''s or women''s?


    Her ID now listed female, but dressed as a boy, entering the women''s room risked being called a pervert


    She chose the men''s room. After all, only examiners checked IDs; others didn''t know her secret.


    Inside, the washed the stain. Turning around, she found herself surrounded by five boys her age.


    Cameron frowned. "Move, please."


    "Grab him," the tallest boy barked, Four others closed in,


    Cameron stepped back. "What do you want?"


    by sneered.


    "You''ll see," the tall boy


    Cameron warned, "You''re SAT students, too. Don''t ruin your futures"


    The boy scoffed, "We''re not ruining ours; we''re suihing yours!"


    Their employer had called Cameron a tough opponent, but the slim, unassuming


    boy before them didn''t fit the description. This would be easy mon


    Cameron snapped, "Samuel sent you, didn''t he?"


    He was the only enemy that could be so active.


    She thought Samuel had learned his lesson, but he actually targeted her on the


    SAT day.


    21:47 Wed, 4 Jun


    "Who''s Samuel? We just hate your guts," the boy lied. "Hold him down make it


    They weren''t worried With the exam starting, no one woulde to


    me to the restroom


    Cameron asked coldly. "How do you n to stop me?".


    "Simple. Keep you from taking the exam," the boy said.


    Her eyes hardened. "That would ruin my future,"


    Missing a


    an exam would devastate her scores,


    She cracked her wrists. "Come at me all of you."


    "Arrogant brat! Go!" the boy hissed.


    They were risking. After taking care of Cameron, they still have to take the SAT


    Four boys charged. Cameron kicked the first into a wall, then flipped another over


    her shoulder. Both copsed in pain.


    The remaining two froze. The tall boy was stunned. Their employer had been


    right. This "weak" boy was a fighter.


    Cameron said tly, "Come on. I have an exam to take."


    The tall boy snapped out of it, pulling a spray from his pocket. One mist would


    knock her out for 30 minutes.


    in was cruel to make her watch herself miss the exam.


    SAT allowed the students to enter the test site in 15 minutes. Samuel''s n