Chapter 4The Girl Who Kept Her Ticket

On the day of the exam, I went to the school gate to soak in the atmosphere.

From a distance, I saw Bella surrounded by a crowd.

"What's going on? Did you leave them in another bag? They can't be lost!"

Bella's eyes were red as she frantically dug through her backpack.

"Impossible... I checked last night, everyone's was there..."

I knew she was lying.

Tickets fell into the trash the night they got drunk. How could she have checked?

The students looked nervous, glancing at the exam hall while trying to be patient.

"It's okay, look again. We have thirty minutes..."

But ten minutes passed. The bag was turned inside out. No tickets.

"You didn't actually lose them, right?"

Mike, the gym rep, snapped first.

He rushed forward and grabbed the bag, shaking it out.

"Holy sh*t! You lost them?!"

"No way!"

The class swarmed her, searching her pockets, her jacket.

"Bella, you said you'd keep them safe! Where are they! You lost 54 tickets!"

"I... I..."

Bella hugged herself, looking pitiful.

But she wasn't the class mascot anymore.

"Find them now or we're dragging you to the police station!"

Some girls collapsed on the ground crying.

"How could this happen! We should have let Sam keep them! She's responsible!"

Carter stepped forward, looking conflicted.

"Bella, think hard. If they're at home, there's still time."

But the police had already checked her house ten minutes ago. Nothing.

"Bitch!"

Mike tore her bag in half.

"I stayed up all night studying that guide! Now you tell me I can't take the test?!"

Parents were losing it too.

"What is going on! Aren't you the class president? I thought you were reliable!"

When they found out Bella was just "helping," the parents had a meltdown.

"You idiots! Your president is so responsible! Why give them to her?!"

Bella was surrounded.

Just as the mob was about to turn violent, she pointed a finger at me.

"I remember! It was Sam! She didn't trust me yesterday, so she forced me to give her the tickets!"

Everyone turned to look at me.

I looked at the parents. "I think you all know my character."

The parents hesitated. They knew how diligent I usually was.

Seeing them waver, Bella tugged on Carter's sleeve.

"Carter... you know, right? Sam took them..."

Carter stiffened.

He looked at me, hesitating.

"Carter..."

My voice was raspy.

He hardened his gaze.

"Yes. I saw her take the tickets last night!"

The parents snapped.

They rushed me, patted me down.

One slap landed hard on my face.

"Scum! Where is my son's ticket!"

"And my daughter's!"

I ignored the pain and pulled out my phone.

"I didn't take them! Bella lost them and framed me!"

Bella started wailing.

"Sam, how can you lie like that! I might make mistakes, but I would never joke with everyone's future! You're the one who promised a study guide and then bailed. Now you're framing me!"

Mike was furious. He slapped the phone out of my hand.

"She definitely lost them! She bailed on the guide, and Bella sent us the real questions.

"Why would Bella help us study if she wanted to sabotage us? It has to be Sam!"

Students and parents swarmed me, pulling my hair, tearing my clothes.

"Bitch! Where are the tickets! Tell us or I'll strip you right here!"

"If my son can't take the test, you're going to the hospital!"

They were so angry the police couldn't hold them back.

I looked at Carter.

He instinctively shielded Bella, frowning at me.

"Stop it! Just give them the tickets!"

My mouth tasted like blood. I used all my strength to grab my cracked phone from the ground and hold it up.

"Who lost them? Watch the video and see!"

Bella's face went white.