Ellie looked up in surprise and shock.
“How dare you?” Mrs. Ann asked angrily. Ellie stood up and looked at her with eyebrows twitching in anxiety. Before anyone could talk, she already landed two slaps on Ellie’s face. Everyone gasped in shock while Ellie winced out in pain and held her cheeks as it was blowing hot. Tears filled her eyes. Elsa and Jake looked at them in surprise while Jayson only glanced at them and continued writing.
“Get back to your work right now. Unless you want me to reduce your mark.” She warned the rest. Everyone turned their heads slowly back to what they were doing.
“Whenever I teach, don’t I always ask if you understood it or not?” She asked with anger written all over her face.
“Yes, you do.” Ellie mumbled with teary eyes and hands holding were she was slapped.
“Then why do this despicable thing?” She asked again as she shove the papers in her face. Ellie took the paper and went through it. She opened her eyes wide in shock.
“Ma’am, please, listen to me… I was not...” Mrs. Ann raised her hands up and shunned her.
“When you reached the principal’s office, you can talk.” She said and dragged her out of the class.
“Mrs. Ann.” Jake called out and she stopped abruptly. She turned to look at him with her hands gripping Ellie tight that she kept wincing.
“I…” Jake was about say a word.
“Jake, what are you trying to do? You know the rules of the school yet you want to argue?” Shawna’s voice cut him off.
“She cheated and is going to get punishment for it. How is that your concern?” Shawna asked.
“Jake, don’t try to interfere in this.” she warned earnestly. Jake gulped hard and sat down reluctantly. Ellie's eyes implored her sister but Elsa was tongue-tied, she did not know what to do. Mrs. Ann dragged Ellie out of the class.
“Never knew she could do something like that.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“Can you imagine? Wait, isn’t she under scholarship?”
“Oh my goodness, she has ruined her future.”
“You can’t afford a school tuition yet she cheated.”
People whispered among each other. Elsa did not dare to talk as she would have. She was really disappointed in her sister’s behavior.
“You all should continue writing.” Jayson shouted. And the whispering died down.
**
“Ma’am, I really did not do anything as you claimed.” Ellie said in a pleading tone to Mrs. Ann as they walked through the hall.
“You will tell that to the principal yourself.” Mrs. Ann gritted her teeth and stood before the secretary with a polite smile she forced.
“How may I help you?” The secretary asked.
“I will love to report to the principal about an urgent matter.” Mrs. Ann said, stressing the word ‘urgent’.
“Okay, Ma’am.” The secretary said and picked up the telephone. She dialed a few digits and placed the telephone close to her ear.
“Okay, sir.” She said and dropped the telephone.
“He said you can come in.” She turned towards them. Ellie was already shaking on her legs. She was doomed already.
“Good morning, sir.” Mrs. Ann greeted.
“What is so urgent during the examination period?” He asked directly.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
“What?” The vice principal asked from behind.
“She did what?” She asked angrily as she dumped the pile of papers that were in her hands on the table. Ellie flinched as she slowly wiped the tears off her eyes.
“Please, ma’am, I did not see the paper neither did I write that. Believe me, sir.” Ellie begged with new tears brimming her face.
“This is nonsense. Despite being under scholarship, you still dare to do something as delirious as this. You really disappointed the sponsors.” The principal remarked.
“It is because we trusted our students, that is why we don’t search them before entering into the class. But now this…” The vice principal added.
“Sir, you need to believe me. I did not do it. I did not write it. It is not my handwriting and more so I have never laid my eyes on the question so I could know the answer?” Ellie said, whimpering. She was really scared. What is going to happen to her now?
“Keep shut. You have committed this great sin and yet you are trying to defend yourself without evidence. Do you know that if words of what happened today get out, our beloved SHINING STARS HIGH will be ruined because of you. Mr. Adams, I think it would better if we just expel her.” Mrs. Ann said. Ellie fell on her knees and started sobbing.
“No, she won’t. we will talk to her guardian first.” The vice principal said.
“What? No… please…” Ellie begged. Her granny cannot come all the way here.
“Erm.. Mrs. Ann, you can get back to what you were doing.” The principal dismissed her. She bowed a little and exited the office after she sneered at Ellie.
“And you, you can go have a seat there.” The principal pointed towards a chair. She used the tip of her uniform to clean the mucus. Not like she deserves to use a tissue anyways.
All she can do is wait anxiously for her granny to come. She trusts her granny, she will definitely not let them expel or suspend her. She was really sure.
“Sir, you need to believe me.” Ellie said and slowly dragged her knees towards the chair since she was still on the knees.
“You can just walk there.” The principal said and continued what he was doing.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Hope you answered it all?” Mrs. Ann asked as she collected the answer sheet from the students. The students did not even bother to talk, they just walked out of the class.
Elsa stood up and walked towards the teacher. Mrs. Ann looked up and saw her.
“Did the principal already let you go?” she asked with furrowed eyebrows.
“No, ma’am. I am her twin sister.” Elsa answered.
“Really? Never knew that. You must really ashamed. Like your sister just embarrassed you.” Mrs. Ann said as she shuffled the papers. Elsa did not reply.
“You can’t even speak for her. Seems you know her so well.” Mrs. Ann said again and looked at Elsa directly, expecting an answer.
“Ellie will never cheat, Mrs. Ann. Don’t spread rumors.” Jake said and dropped his answer sheet on her hands. He slowly glanced at Elsa and shook his head.
“Having you as a sister will be a regret to her.” He said spitefully and turned to leave.