25

Kira's POV

Wed, 11:03

I'm sitting in the Maths class beside Laura. There's a guy from my IT class next to her on the other side. He looks like those people that would track you down and kill you just from the comfort of his bed. Now that I think about it, his bed is probably loaded with cables and GPSs and that kind of stuff.

He's a blond head with big square reading glasses and no braces. Fortunately. The braces would make him look bad. The teacher walks in briskly, holding a pile of papers in one hand and a coffee cup in another. I already envy her. I'd literally drop the papers and cling onto my coffee.

"She hands out from the lowest scores to the highest," the IT guy leans in and whispers to me. I offer him a small smile and look back on the board, mentally solving the equations. After some while, I look around and notice a red-head getting her test paper back.

Then the teacher comes around and gives the IT guy his. Laura gets hers and then she stops at my desk, smiling broadly. I bet she doesn't know my name yet, but neither do I hers. I look at the test paper she puts on my desk and almost scream. Its a 100%! I have to thank Kian for helping me.

"Can you see me at the end of the lesson?" she whispers and I nod.

She goes back to the front of the class and begins her lesson for the day. After 42 minutes the bell rings and I wait until all the learners leave before I get up. She gestures for me to sit down in the front chair. She stands in front of me and leans against her desk.

"I showed the board your results and they were impressed," she smiles.

"But why would they be? Most learners here perform the same," I tilt my head and cross my hands on the table.

"Yes, but keep in mind this is a progress test set up by the school's invigilators from MPSC."

"What's MPSC?"

"Manhattan Private Schools Club," she says and my eyes widen. "They measure the performance of learners from all 4 private high schools here. Of course," she smiles teasingly, "RPHS has been the leading school since day 1." I chuckle at that and she straightens her pencil skirt.

"I'll skip all the boring details and tell you my favourite part." I sit up straighter and feel a blush coming. I don't know what it is but I always get all goody giddy when someone tells me something that they like.

"You have the opportunity to attempt the same test the levels four did, and if you score above their average points, you may be transferred to their class." I just stare at her.

Surely she must be kidding me. I saw how stressed Kian was when we practised for our separate tests. I do not want to relish in that.

"So?" she asks me and I smile unconsciously.

"I-I guess I could try," I nod. This doesn't determine anything. If I fail this test, I will just pretend like I never took it. No harm in that. She reaches for the papers behind her back and staples them before handing them to me.

"Don't worry," she says as she writes on a green paper. "You'll be excused from you next two classes. You have 60 minutes." I nod and skim through the test. Then I take my materials out and start attempting the questions.

*~*~*

"I have finished," I close the booklet and pack away. I suddenly remember a meme I saw on some social network. It read something like, 'When you finish your test ahead of time because you knew shit.'

I chuckle softly to myself because frankly speaking, I'm a living example of that meme right now. It's not that I didn't understand what I was doing, it's just that I kept doubting my answers. I'll admit, I secretly hope I get moved to Kian's Math class. But if that happens, I'll be with Ryan and Miguel. They're the only ones I know to be in Level 4.

"In 37 minutes?" she asks as she looks up from her laptop and I nod. "You have double-checked all your answers?" I nod again. "Alright," she takes my paper. "You may go to the recreational hall or just hang out here somewhere while I mark," she says as she takes her red pen.

I think I might just stay put. After all, I do not know where the recreational hall is exactly and much to my disadvantage, I forgot my map today. I take my phone out and delete Sudoku. I already beat my previous high score and set a new one; 47 seconds.

It's of no use now, so why keep it? I start playing Minesweeper. I may as well be signed up at the experts hall of fame because I'm killing it. The bell rings after what felt like 10minutes and I stand up to leave. These free 60 minutes have been a dream come true.

"Kira," Mrs Jell, as I got the chance to steal a glance of her name from her class file, calls me and I look at her. "The choice to move is yours, okay?"

"What do you suggest?" I have to make an informed decision about this.

"Move to level four. There's more competition for you there," she winks and I smile broadly before walking out of her class.

Friday, 10:16

In the class I had after lunch, I was announced to come to the principal's office. I started thinking of all my actions in the past couple of days. I haven't been rude to a teacher, I haven't cussed out loud. I didn't hit another student.

There's definitely nothing she can hold against me. Once I got to the principal's office, a very sophisticated middle-50s aged lady greets me. She looks like the kind to have afternoon cocktails with Mrs Grand.

"Please have a seat," she says as she looks me in the eye. I mouth 'thank you' and sit down, putting my bag next to the chair.

"You know why I called you here, right?"

"No, not really."

"Awesome! I have here with me a copy of your second test results," she points to a brown envelope in front of me on her large table.

"How does it look like?" This could make or break my hopes of being in a class with-

"Why don't you see for yourself?"