Okay, so my girls Ashley and Brenda come tearing into the lunch room, like, begging me to tell them why Danny was called to the office.

And I’m all, like, “How should I know?” I’d heard his name called over the speaker. Me and the rest of the school—we all heard his name and Sarah’s! And Rob’s, too.

Bren says, “Come on, Ruby. We don’t keep secrets from you!” And Ash goes, “If Danny? Gets like suspended or something? They’ll kick him off the team.”

And I’m all, like, “Ask me if I care.” But so much for cool—next thing, my mascara is black-bleeding stripes through my blusher and my girls are hugging me, and I tell all.

Then Ashley says, “I absolutely? Like totally do not? Believe? Even for, like, a second? That Danny? Like, you know? Dumped you?”

And Brenda’s all agreeing. They both figure there’s been, like, a misunderstanding or something. They think me and Danny are totally like the greatest couple and so perfect for each other and in love and all that. So I begin to wonder if they’re right and maybe I’m being unfair. Then, for like two and a half seconds, I feel bad for poor Danny, in the principal’s office.

But please. He’s there with Sarah! They’re in trouble together.

Ask me if…oh, never mind.

Dan

Sarah came out of Chen’s office, but I didn’t get a chance to really look at her because he called me in right away. The first thing he asked was how I got ahold of last year’s test, and I told him I got it over the Internet. Which is true.

Then Chen called my mom. I could tell from his end of the conversation that she was in the car on her way somewhere and was not happy about being derailed like this.

Chen’s voice got tight as he said, “No, Mrs. Brand, this cannot wait until after your appointment. Your son Daniel is in my office now.”

After that, Chen sent me back to the bench and called Rob in. Once the door was closed, I asked Sarah if she had told Chen who she got the test from, and she said, “No!” As in, Of course not! So she probably got the test from some girlfriend of hers, like Katie or something. You know how chicks all stick together.

Or maybe some guy gave her the test. Some dude that she’s really got a thing for. Someone she’s protecting. Man, the lucky dog! If I’d known you could get a chick like Sarah Collier in exchange for a test, I woulda gotten a few tests for her myself!

Ruby