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Lucy called out Sarah’s name, her voice cutting through the silence of the classroom. Sarah took a deep breath, steadying herself before confidently stepping forward. Her classmates’ eyes followed her every move, eager to see what score the top student would achieve.
Sarah had always ranked at the top of every exam. It was almost a given that she would meet the Tier 1 University requirements, and the tension in the room reflected that anticipation.
When Sarah received her report folder, she didn’t hesitate. She opened it immediately, wanting to share the result with her classmates. The score revealed a total of 1325. A wave of relief washed over her, followed by a satisfied smile that spread across her face.
Lucy, with pride in her eyes, beamed and said, “Congratulations, Sarah!”
Sarah bowed slightly, her voice soft with gratitude. “Thank you for your guidance over the past three years, Ms. Turner.” Her words earned a wide smile from Lucy, who was clearly proud of her student’s success.
“Sarah, what’s your score?” Herman asked eagerly, leaning forward with curiosity.
The rest of the class listened intently, their eyes glued to Sarah.
“I scored a total of 1325 points!” Sarah announced, her voice clear and confident.
A chorus of “Wow!” erupted from her classmates, followed by a warm round of applause. Sarah’s eyes scanned the room, her gaze landing on Carlisle. She expected to see admiration or perhaps even awe in his eyes, but to her surprise, he remained calm, unaffected. He didn’t even glance at her. It was as though she hadn’t made an impression at all.
For a fleeting moment, Sarah’s heart tightened, but she quickly recovered. He must feel challenged by her score, she thought with a subtle smirk, assuming that Carlisle must have been intimidated. With that thought in mind, she confidently returned to her seat, her smile unwavering.
“Christine Goodman!” Lucy called next.
Christine, her face a picture of anxiety and excitement, stood and collected her folder. When she returned to her seat and opened it, her hands trembled slightly as tears welled up in her eyes. Her score read 1340, a remarkable achievement. The class murmured in admiration, but it was clear that the next name on the list—Carlisle Zahn—would steal the spotlight.
“Carlisle Zahn…” Lucy’s voice rang out, and the class grew tense, all eyes now fixed on the boy who had always been on the fringes of their academic circle.
Carlisle stood up, his movements deliberate, and accepted his report folder from Lucy without a word. He returned to his seat, his expression neutral, as he carefully opened the folder.
The moment he saw his score—1400—his face betrayed no emotion, as if this result was something he had expected all along. He folded the paper back into the folder with deliberate care.
“Carlisle, what’s your score?” Herman’s voice broke the heavy silence that followed.
The entire class seemed to hold its breath, waiting for his response. No one knew how much Carlisle had truly improved in the month leading up to the SATs. Some of the students, including Sean, had witnessed him putting in more effort, but 1400? It was beyond anything anyone had anticipated.
Sean snapped out of his initial shock and leaned over to catch a glimpse of Carlisle’s score report. “Damn! You scored a total of 1400 points?” he exclaimed, his voice incredulous. The rest of the class followed suit, murmuring in disbelief.
Carlisle had never been a top student. In fact, he had previously ranked below Sean in past exams. For him to jump to a 1400 was nothing short of extraordinary. The whispers began almost immediately.
“What? Carlisle scored 1400 points?”
“How is that even possible? He’s always been one of the bottom students!”
“How did he pull that off? How could someone who’s barely passed in the past suddenly score so high?”
“I’m betting he cheated. There’s no way he could’ve scored that much. 1000 points would be more believable.”
Sarah’s voice cut through the rising murmurs. “He must have cheated,” she said, her tone laced with a sharp edge of disbelief.
Lucy, who had been observing the chaos with a calm demeanor, tapped her desk sharply. “Quiet!” she commanded, her voice firm. The class fell silent immediately.
Lucy stood up, her gaze sweeping across the students. “This year, our class has the highest enrollment rate for universities,” she continued, her tone warmer now. “You are the best students I’ve ever taught. But I also know that some of you didn’t qualify for college, and that’s okay. Don’t be discouraged if you didn’t get in. I suggest you consider repeating the year and giving it another shot.”
Lucy’s words hung in the air as she delivered an encouraging speech, but for some, it was little consolation. The bell rang shortly after, signaling the end of class.
Lucy stood up and gathered her belongings, her tote bag resting casually over her shoulder. Before she left, she glanced back one last time at the students she had guided for the past three years. She knew some of them might visit her in the future, but for others, this would be the last time they ever crossed paths.
After Lucy exited the classroom, Sarah stood, her lips pressing together in thought. She took a few steps toward Carlisle’s desk, her eyes narrowing slightly. Her voice dropped to a soft, curious tone as she inquired, “Carlisle, did you really score 1400 points?”
