Hearts Across Halls

Chapter 27

In the following days, the air around Elara was tense and heavy. The academic integrity investigation hung over her like a dark cloud, shadowing her every thought. She'd told no one about the incident yet; it was too raw, too uncertain. The dorm was buzzing with the usual life and laughter, but even the comforting warmth of her friends couldn't quite shake the anxiety from her mind. In moments when she should have been focusing on lectures or laughing along with everyone else, her mind wandered back to that fateful conversation, wondering what she could have done differently and how to prove her innocence.

The email came late one evening. Elara was in her room, curled up under her duvet, mindlessly scrolling through messages on her phone, when the notification appeared in her inbox. Heart pounding, she opened the email from the university's academic integrity office.

The message was clear: she and Cyrus were required to attend a formal hearing in front of the academic integrity committee in two days. They'd need to present any evidence supporting their claims, and they'd each have the chance to make their case separately. The email further emphasised that they'd need to demonstrate both individual understanding of the exam material and clarity on how their answers had come to be so similar.

Reading over the message, Elara felt her stomach twist. She had nothing but her word, her notes and her own knowledge—there were no reasons she could point to that would explain why her answers looked so close to Cyrus's. She was good at physics, but Cyrus was right that she hadn't been putting herself out there as an obvious star student. Not that it should matter, she thought bitterly. But her frustration was real, and Cyrus's harsh accusations had stung.

A sudden knock at her door broke her thoughts, and she was startled to see Emmy standing in the doorway, her gaze soft and concerned.

"You okay? You looked kind of lost at dinner," Emmy asked, folding her arms as she leaned against the doorframe.

Elara considered brushing it off, but the need to share her burden with someone overcame her. She exhaled, then waved Emmy over, watching as her friend's brows knit together with concern as she explained the situation.

"Cyrus accused you of copying him?" Emmy looked stunned, her voice a mix of shock and indignation. "That's absurd. You study hard—I see you doing it all the time."

"I know, right?" Elara sighed. "But I'm not as obvious about it, I guess. I feel like I don't have anything to prove I'm innocent. And what if this gets on my record? It could ruin everything." She rubbed her temples, trying to dispel the ache of worry creeping in.

Emmy placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Look, you've got a hearing, right? Just show them what you know. You've got a great understanding of the subject—you don't need his notes to do well."

Elara nodded, though doubt still gnawed at her. "I just don't know if it's enough."

"Well, if you need me there for support, I'll be right outside," Emmy promised with a warm smile.

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In the days leading up to the hearing, Elara found herself growing more anxious. She'd replayed her conversation with Cyrus over and over in her mind, thinking about what she could say to convince him of her innocence. They'd never been close, but she'd respected his work ethic, even if it seemed more intense than her own approach to studying. But now, her respect had turned into frustration—anger, even. She'd been accused of cheating, a charge that threatened everything she'd been working for. She knew she had to do everything she could to prove herself, especially if Cyrus wouldn't give her any benefit of the doubt.

Finally, one afternoon, she spotted him in the library, sitting at a table surrounded by stacks of textbooks and notebooks. She approached, her heart pounding, determined to at least try to reason with him before they faced the committee.