Aatikah's POV

Today we're get our essays back. On one side, this is good, because this wait has been making me struggle for a long time. On the other hand, what if I failed? Also, Mrs. Roth isn't exactly Santa Claus: she has no hesitations in failing anyone, especially if she doesn't deem them worthy of being good students.

What's definitely getting to my nerves more than anything else is that I still suspect Kayla did cheat - if these were true, however, she would tell the teacher a blatant lie to cover up everything, as she's her darling. I mean, she doesn't need to make up excuses not to actually complete her assignments the fair way: she does have good grades, but isn't exactly the kind of person who usually likes accomplishing tasks related to school or helping other people.

Oh, God. Mrs. Roth is here, which means everybody must shut up at light speed - she tends to give harsh punishment to anyone who even breaks one of her absurd and strict rules. In other words, an easy way to be unpleasant to anyone else.

"Okay, people. I'm going to return your essays." Mrs. Roth doesn't seem as she wants to joke; better say, she looks pretty pissed off. Maybe it's because so many students put little to no effort in it, though I swear I'm not one of those; rather, this should apply to Kayla: if she actually cheated, however, she wouldn't get into huge trouble at all because, as I said before, she's a teacher's darling.

"Do you think you'll get a poor grade?" I hear Breckin, one of my fellow classmates, ask me that question, but I only listen to him half-heartedly. I have to admit my school record is irregular, but I don't really think it's bad enough not to be fixed.

Another student, Nikko, on the other hand, mock comments, "Huh. Like Aatikah Summers, who's never, ever opened her books in her life, would become a straight-A all of a sudden. In her dreams. She's just a failure." These words make my confidence hit a major plunge. How dare he comment on my grades? What's worse, Kayla is bursting into snide laughter: she's approving of his words.

"Oh, shut up, Lawson!" replies Breckin, disapproving of his supposed friend's words as well as Kayla's reaction.

"Why don't you mind your business, Shea?" It seems as Nikko is trying to defy Breckin's patience, other than Mrs. Roth's, who's unimpressed with there being the beginning of an argument in the middle of her class.

"That's enough. One more word from any of you, and I'll automatically turn all your grades into F's." Basically, she's trying to find the easy way to fail most students. I really hope, for my own sake, that this is the last year I have to deal with her. My older sisters also had her as a teacher: only Ash seemed to somewhat appreciate her, whereas the others loathed her, especially Alianah, who was almost failed due to a series of arguments and misunderstood decisions I'm still unaware of.

Never mind. Anyway, many students got quite low grades with this task, which means that, unless they fix them, they're at high risk of failing. However, what's causing Mrs. Roth to become even more agitated isn't the high percentage of D's and lower grades, but rather seeing my essay, as well as Kayla's. Uh-oh. She noticed they're too similar. Okay. I'm in trouble. 'She'll call the principal, then my parents and, why not, even the police. What if I pass as the cheater? Oh, come on, Aatikah, you've never cheated in your life...'

Nikko Lawson is clearly rejoicing - could he really be Kayla's partner in crime? - while seeing my worried face. He never liked me nor anybody else at our school, which is enough proof that he's a snarky little brat and such a manipulative guy. Sometimes I even hate him more than Kayla.

Anyway, my flow of thoughts is abruptly interrupted by the witch calling me and my cousin at her desk. Bad news, really bad news. I'm not willing to face detention once again, especially if I have no responsibility of what happened.

"Come here, both of you. I really hope you have a proper explanation for this." She's handing both essays, but it seems as she wants to tear them apart - well, she'd do me a great favor if she did so. She's cross, as usual when someone fails to follow her rules, but this times it really looks like she wants to kill me. If only someone could help me...

"Come on. I have no time to waste. Tell me. Who was the one who cheated? Be honest. If I catch either of you lying, I'll punish both in a way you'll never forget in your lives." Her threats are making me want to run away. I can't believe she called me a liar. Okay, I think I'll have Mom and Dad talk to the Principal: I want this woman out of our school. I won't let her put such a level of psychological pressure on me or my peers again.

"Mrs. Roth, please believe me, the original essay is mine. It's Kayla who cheated." While I say that, my cousin can't refrain from shaking her head, all while raising her eyebrows. However, she doesn't look very convincing; better say, she's more than tempted to possibly confess what she did.

In fact, her reaction is proving me right. "Okay, Mrs. Roth. I admit it. I openly took inspiration from Aatikah's essay, instead of trying hard to write my own. However, I was lacking ideas, which left me stalling for a long time." Wow. It seems so true, yet I still believe there's a part of her that would push her into lying.

At the end, the promised punishment doesn't seem to want to come. Instead, the teacher announces, "Okay, Aatikah, I'll correct your essay later and then give your grade. Speaking of you, Kayla, I won't give you an F straight away, since you at least bothered telling me the truth. But I expect you to make a new essay by Monday. If you fail to meet the deadline, I will give you an F, okay?"

Kayla, boasting her confidence, nods and goes back to her seat, whereas I stall for a couple of seconds more before remembering that Mrs. Roth could actually punish me, after all. Now, I can only hope my essay was good enough, and see how long the devilish teacher's black list will become after today.