The Last Test I’ll Ever Take - Chapter 7: Chapter 7
You are reading The Last Test I’ll Ever Take, Chapter 7: Chapter 7. Read more chapters of The Last Test I’ll Ever Take.
With those words, he took off running, and I was ushered back into the car.
Mr. Bass turned to me, his brow furrowed. "What the hell was that about back there?"
I shook my head, lips sealed tight. Instead, I countered, "Are you actually taking me to the provincial office?"
"That's the plan," he said, gripping the wheel. "We'll talk once we get there."
We hadn't been driving long when Mr. Bass's phone buzzed—the Examination Office from my hometown. The moment he hung up, his expression darkened.
"Jessica," he said slowly, "I had my suspicions about your case from the jump. But now? Your town's office just confirmed they found an exam packet with clear tampering marks... and your fingerprints all over it. That seals it. You stole those papers."
I didn't flinch. "I knew this was coming. Here's the truth—those prints? I planted them there on purpose."
Mr. Bass's frown deepened, but no amount of prodding got another word out of me. The real story would wait until we reached the provincial office.
Hours later, the city skyline emerged—my lifelong dream, now a backdrop to my disgrace.
Growing up in that backwater mountain town, I'd lived and breathed studying. The college entrance exam was supposed to be my ticket out—a degree, a city job, a way to give my parents the life they deserved.
Never imagined my first trip to the capital would be in handcuffs over cheating allegations.
"We're here," Mr. Bass said as the car stopped. "Ready to come clean?"
I fired back, "One question first—is there anyone here named Barker?"
The exchanged glances told me everything before they spoke. "No."
Still, I kept silent. Then I dropped my demand: "I want a press conference."
Mr. Bass produced the damning exam packet—my fingerprints glaring under the office lights. He studied me for a long beat before nodding. "Fine. Let her have the mic. I want to hear what game she's playing."
The room erupted. "You're out of your mind, Bass! She's stalling!"
"This is a national security breach! If she goes rogue in front of cameras—"
I just locked eyes with Mr. Bass over the chaos. Something unspoken passed between us.
"Make it happen," he finally ordered.
When we were alone, he leaned in. "Jessica, my gut's screaming you're clean. So I'm gambling my entire career on you. Don't make me regret this."
For the first time, I told the truth: "I didn't steal those papers. You won't regret it."
Next morning, cameras flashed as I faced the press.
"Yes, I saw the exam questions," I began. "But I didn't steal them. That cheat sheet I 'got caught' with? Planted it myself—for this exact moment."
As jaws dropped around me, I started unraveling the real story.
It all began one week before the exam...
By then, I'd already secured early admission to Caledonian and Glasgow. Kept it quiet—didn't need the drama.
Mr. Bass turned to me, his brow furrowed. "What the hell was that about back there?"
I shook my head, lips sealed tight. Instead, I countered, "Are you actually taking me to the provincial office?"
"That's the plan," he said, gripping the wheel. "We'll talk once we get there."
We hadn't been driving long when Mr. Bass's phone buzzed—the Examination Office from my hometown. The moment he hung up, his expression darkened.
"Jessica," he said slowly, "I had my suspicions about your case from the jump. But now? Your town's office just confirmed they found an exam packet with clear tampering marks... and your fingerprints all over it. That seals it. You stole those papers."
I didn't flinch. "I knew this was coming. Here's the truth—those prints? I planted them there on purpose."
Mr. Bass's frown deepened, but no amount of prodding got another word out of me. The real story would wait until we reached the provincial office.
Hours later, the city skyline emerged—my lifelong dream, now a backdrop to my disgrace.
Growing up in that backwater mountain town, I'd lived and breathed studying. The college entrance exam was supposed to be my ticket out—a degree, a city job, a way to give my parents the life they deserved.
Never imagined my first trip to the capital would be in handcuffs over cheating allegations.
"We're here," Mr. Bass said as the car stopped. "Ready to come clean?"
I fired back, "One question first—is there anyone here named Barker?"
The exchanged glances told me everything before they spoke. "No."
Still, I kept silent. Then I dropped my demand: "I want a press conference."
Mr. Bass produced the damning exam packet—my fingerprints glaring under the office lights. He studied me for a long beat before nodding. "Fine. Let her have the mic. I want to hear what game she's playing."
The room erupted. "You're out of your mind, Bass! She's stalling!"
"This is a national security breach! If she goes rogue in front of cameras—"
I just locked eyes with Mr. Bass over the chaos. Something unspoken passed between us.
"Make it happen," he finally ordered.
When we were alone, he leaned in. "Jessica, my gut's screaming you're clean. So I'm gambling my entire career on you. Don't make me regret this."
For the first time, I told the truth: "I didn't steal those papers. You won't regret it."
Next morning, cameras flashed as I faced the press.
"Yes, I saw the exam questions," I began. "But I didn't steal them. That cheat sheet I 'got caught' with? Planted it myself—for this exact moment."
As jaws dropped around me, I started unraveling the real story.
It all began one week before the exam...
By then, I'd already secured early admission to Caledonian and Glasgow. Kept it quiet—didn't need the drama.
End of The Last Test I’ll Ever Take Chapter 7. Continue reading Chapter 8 or return to The Last Test I’ll Ever Take book page.