THOSE DAYS

The cheat sheet

                      A  MONTH  LATER

Today was the day of our first monthly exam . I learned everything I could the day before so I thought that I was totally ready for the exam but the problem was that we had maths exam today and there wasn't much to learn beside of some formulas and even if I managed to learn each and every formula then also I didn't knew how to exactly apply them to the questions . I was already freaking out while standing in front of the examination hall which could fit at least a hundred students without allowing them to cheat because the chairs were kept so far from one another that it felt like we were nearly going to occupy the whole room by ourselves . I just entered the hall but suddenly I heard some voice . I couldn't hear it clearly but as far as I could hear , someone was crying and pleading. I took my steps back and followed the voice till I saw Arlo and Noah standing in front of each other while Noah was on his knees with tears on his face which was surely water which he always used to fake his cries and everybody in our class knew his tricks and Arlo was his best friend so surely he knew that he was faking it all . It looked like they were fighting but after a few seconds , Arlo also fell on his knees and his face could tell me how annoyed he was . I took some steps forward to hear their conversation and I heard Noah pleading to Arlo

"Arlo listen to me once more , pleaseeee "
"All I'm doing is listening to you all this time so what now "
"My father will really break my legs if I get the last place this time . He already warned me more than a hundred times now . please help me "
" If I promise you and my dad knows about it then my legs will be broken too . Now don't make it difficult for me and let's go . Hurry up and stop making trouble"
" Please Arlo. Just For the sake of our friendship "
" Only this time "
" Okay okay . I knew you were my bestest friend"

They both got up to their feet and I also headed to the examination hall . After a few minutes , we sat according to our roll no. And Noah was just sitting behind Arlo a few minutes ago till the teacher saw both of them together and made Noah sit right behind me . Soon we were given the question paper and I started to solve it though I didn't knew most of the answers. I completely solved the questions which I knew and it felt like it was enough to get me the score to at least not be the last one so I stopped writing . After some time the teacher declared that only fifteen minutes were left now . I looked over to my right side where Lucas was sitting, still focusing on solving his questions . He always looked so charming no matter what he did . I just thought if one day he came to school all dressed up perfectly then all the actors,models and fashionistas would have left their jobs in second hand embarrassment . Though it was only my imagination but it would be quite perfect if it were possible. He deserved nonetheless all those things . Then my eyes left his sight till it fell on Arlo who was just sitting a few benches in front of Lucas . His eyes met mine and it looked like he was trying to make an eye contact for a long time but it's not what you're thinking cause he pointed at the floor and wanted me to look there . When I spread my gaze on the floor , I saw a piece of paper and Arlo urged me to pick it up but it was too far from my seat . I surely knew that it was a cheat sheet which he wanted me to pass to Noah cause when he tried to throw the chit to him , it disappointingly fell a bit closer than he expected . I didn't wanted to help them but I knew that I could no more offend Arlo , not because I was scared of him but because I knew how honest and good he was to his friends . So to help them , I lifted my toes and putted it on the paper but unfortunately a loud sound came when I smashed it with my foot . I guess it was because there was only silence in the hall and it felt like even if a pin dropped, we would knew that something has dropped . Due to the loud noise , the teacher came to me furiously before asking me to lift my foot.  I couldn't do that because I was scared till her loud voice reached my ears

" Catherine... I said lift your foot right now. "
As soon as I lifted it , the teacher picked up the chit and opened it while shouting on me

" Catherine... would you mind giving me an explanation ? You cheated!!!"
" Teacher , I ....."

I was really very scared and my nerves really froze that time . I was just going to say something but Arlo interrupted in between

"Teacher , I wrote it . It has nothing to do with her "
" Arlo !? You both just wait and don't any of you both try to run away today ! "
" I said I wrote it and it has nothing to do with her "
" Shut up ? Didn't I tell everyone how serious the consequences of cheating are ?"
" I said she didn't cheat !"
"She didn't cheat !? Didn't I saw it with my own eyes or do you think I'm a fool !? I'll tell your parents . You both just wait and watch and Arlo then I'll see if you have the gut to talk back to me when your dad is here "

I was quite scared while shocked because I never expected Arlo to help me at that moment and he even defended me . The most surprising thing was his confidence when he talked to the teacher. For some moment I nearly thought that he owned this school and had nothing to worry about .I knew that he was always talked like that , with that confidence but today it somehow felt different than before Or maybe I was thinking too much but shit ! Our parents were being called to the school . I knew that Arlo was always like that , never worried about anything but what about me . I had only my dad to support me cause my mother always found ways to find my mistakes instead of appreatiating my hard work . I shouldn't feel this way but sometimes I think that she just wanted my little brother , Harry . They called my parents and told them that I cheated and when I went home I started to cry . My mother came to me and consoled me while my dad did everything to make me cheer up till my mom started to speak

" It's alright , don't cry now . Come , let's have dinner now."
" But mom I really didn't cheat "
"I know , I know. I'll tell your teacher clearly at the school Tomorrow "
"You, you believe me ? "
" If I don't believe you then who will ? You are my daughter and I know you"
" But the teacher doesn't believe me "
"That's why I'll talk to your teacher tomorrow . Now come to eat , I made your favorite dishes . You worked hard for a month so just forget about this thing and stop crying"
" But if I fail then I'll be returned to my previous school "
" You're just anxious right now "

I was sobbing and just then my dad opened up the cupboard and took out two boxes . He handed both of them to me and asked me to open it . When I opened both of them , one of it had my school uniform and the other had a brand new pair of white glassy shoes . They knew that my shoes were torn by Harry that day and so they buyed me a new pair . I was crying with sadness before but now I was crying with happy tears . Just then my dad started to speak up

"Your mom and I transferred you to this school so you could study carefree but if it puts you under pressure then it's a better option to leave this school so don't cry over silly things now . We'll always choose the best option when it comes to both of you"
" Mom and you bought me this ? "
"What else ? She said that you've grown up now and need to focus on your studies than anything else as this is your last year in highschool . Now wipe up your tears and come to eat or else your mom will make us starve "

I was quite touched by this surprise because I knew that my family wasn't that financially stable and yet they saved money to buy me a new uniform and shoes . It was the first time that I felt mom wasn't as bad as I thought she was .I always thought that she didn't cared for me but now it turns out that she only wants me to study hard so I can motivate my brother and as the older one I can share the responsibilities . Just for whatever reason but now I somehow felt releived from the burden .