WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

61. Flight or Fight

The exam room was silent save for the occasional rustle of paper and the faint hum of laptops powering up. Vanessa sat at her assigned seat, the weight of the moment pressing heavily on her shoulders. She placed her laptop on the desk, carefully arranging her pens and scratch paper beside it. Her movements were methodical, each one a small attempt to quell the nerves threatening to surface. As per Professor Bellamy's instructions, she had left her bag against the far wall with everyone else's belongings.

Once settled, Vanessa's honey-brown eyes scanned the room. Around her, other students mirrored her actions, some moving with shaky hands, others with a confidence she envied. Her gaze lingered briefly on Jack, seated to her right. She quickly averted her eyes when she caught him glancing her way, her jaw tightening as she forced her attention back to the desk in front of her.

Professor Bellamy stepped to the front of the room, his presence commanding even in the quiet atmosphere. He clasped his hands behind his back and addressed the class, his tone firm but even.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room, "as a reminder, the written portion of today's exam consists of multiple-choice questions. You will have two hours to complete it. Only those achieving a score of 18 or higher will proceed to the oral component this afternoon. If you wish to withdraw from the exam at any point, you may do so by submitting your blank answer sheet or exiting the exam platform on your laptop."

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle over the room. "Good luck. You may begin."

The faint tapping of keys and the soft shuffle of papers filled the air as students launched into the exam. Vanessa exhaled slowly, her fingers hovering over her laptop's touchpad before she clicked to open the quiz. The questions loaded, and her eyes scanned the screen. She read the first question carefully, her mind automatically shifting into problem-solving mode.

Her fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard as she began answering. Each click was purposeful, her thoughts focused on recalling the countless hours she had spent preparing. She worked systematically, flagging the few questions that required more thought and returning to them after tackling the ones she was confident about.

Despite her concentration, the sensation of being watched gnawed at her. Jack's glances were persistent, and though she didn't dare turn her head, she could feel the weight of his eyes on her. Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to breathe steadily, focusing on the screen and the questions that demanded her attention.

Minutes blurred into hours as the exam progressed. The room saw a steady stream of students withdrawing, some leaving within the first ten minutes, their resolve shattered by the difficulty of the questions. Others lasted longer but eventually closed their laptops with resigned expressions, quietly packing their belongings and exiting.

Vanessa remained steadfast. She powered through, her focus unwavering despite the occasional flicker of doubt. Her determination anchored her, and she methodically tackled each question until she finally clicked the "Submit" button. A small confirmation popped up on the screen, signaling that her exam had been recorded. Vanessa closed her laptop with a soft click, exhaling deeply as a wave of relief washed over her.

She rose from her seat, gathering her laptop and stepping carefully around the desks as she made her way to the door. The cool air of the hallway greeted her, and she stepped to the side, pressing her back against the wall as she took a moment to compose herself. Vanessa drew in a long breath, holding it for a few seconds before releasing it slowly. The tension in her chest began to ease.

Her friends were gathered in a loose circle a short distance away. Luke, Maya, Simon, Amy, and Cassie were chatting animatedly, their voices a blend of relief and post-exam analysis. And there, standing slightly apart from the group, was Astra. Her emerald-green eyes lit up the moment she spotted Vanessa.