SUCKER PUNCH 🛶 PACEY WITTER [book one]

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

SINS OF EVE

...🛶...

PSAT'S were a turbulent time in the average American high schoolers life, and Heather Leery was no exception. Her fingers drummed anxiously atop her handmade revision cards, willing herself not to peek as Principal Green ran the breakdown session before their practice tests would begin the following day.

"Our next word is, nonchalant." Principal Green turned to the next slide before peering around the library "Miss Leery, the synonyms?"

Heather froze for a millisecond before taking on the definition itself as she answered with a casual smile "The four C's: cool, calm, collected and composed."

"Good." The man nodded before looking to the blond boy beside her "Now antonyms, Mr. Leery?"

"Alert, attentive, concerned." Dawson listed off "That is, provided you believe that the PSAT is a true measure of intelligence and not a culturally-biased weapon against the poor and disenfranchised."

Principal Green looked from Dawson to Heather "You're sure you're twins?"

Heather snorted in amusement "Lugubriously."

"Nice." Pacey gave her a low-five under the desk.

Principal Green smiled "That's a good point, Dawson. Standardised testing isn't perfect. In fact, some might say that it's designed to trip you up... mess with your mind, generally convince you that you're not as smart as you think you are. But if you want to go to college, it's the only game in town."

The teenagers were saved quite literally by the bell and were quick to pack up their belongings "All right, hang on, hang on. Now, look, don't forget. Tomorrow: sample math section. Okay, I need you to bring a number 2 pencil and your brains, both of them sharpened, thank you very much." Principal Green glanced to the Potter girl "Uh, Joey, would you hang on for a moment, please?"

Heather shared a look with her friend before turning back to her cards and heading for the door. She was just about to test her knowledge on the word 'calamity' when she felt her arm collide with another and watched as her cards spilled across the ground, mixing in with another set "Great."

"God is not this humourless." Andie groaned and Heather rolled her eyes before hunkering down to grab her stuff when her head collided with the McPhee girls "Ow!"

The Leery girl rubbed at her forehead before aggressively collecting her now mixed up cards. Andie picked up her own, sparing a weary glance at the girl "So, how have you been?"