Chapter 65

Jack, hands in his pockets, ignored the stares and walked past the crowd with cold indifference into Class P's classroom.

"Jack," a tall, fair-skinned girl began, "we bet with Class A. If we lose, we all leave Merida High. If they lose, they clean the toilets. They think they have one absent student, so their grades should still count. But we did too. What do we do?"

Jack paused, turning to the speaker. "Who are you?"

"I'm Aurora, the new student in Class F," she replied graciously.

Jack scratched his chin. "Then let's check the class roster."

The expressions of the Class A students changed drastically; Maura's name remained on their roster.

"Forget it," Erik waved dismissively. "Since you don't want to, let it go."

Class A breathed a collective sigh of relief. But Erik's magnanimity was short-lived. "I recorded your refusal," he announced. "It's going online. Everyone will know to avoid you." He turned and left.

A few steps later, a gritty male voice cut through the air: "I'll do it!" Smart people knew the difference between public humiliation and internet infamy.

Erik grinned, raising his phone triumphantly. "Should've admitted it sooner, saved us all a lot of time."

Damon led the way, Class A complaining as they retrieved cleaning supplies. Students who'd been studying looked bewildered at the brooms. "Wait, Damon and Alison represent the whole class? How dare they? We're not going!"

Others echoed the sentiment: "This is ridiculous! No one told us about this bet; why should we suffer the consequences?"

"Exactly!" Several Class A students threw down their brooms, glaring. "Alison, you made the bet; you clean it up! Don't drag us into this."

Alison, defeated, left with a few followers. Damon fared no better. Maura followed, broom in hand. "Maura, your health is poor. You shouldn't go. I can handle it," Jenny and Daisy protested, worried about her frail condition.

Maura smiled reassuringly. "We share blessings and hardships. I won't leave you." Alison, touched, hugged Maura tightly, tears welling in her eyes. "Maura, you must get better. I'll keep an eye on Aurora; I won't let her off the hook!"

Maura's smile deepened. Aurora, didn't expect this, did you? No matter how hard you try to push me away, it won't be easy.

Passing Class F, a dozen heads peered from the windows, students laughing and pointing.

A flash of malice crossed Maura's eyes as she approached Aurora. "Aurora, do you really have to do this? Can't we just… for my sake?"

Aurora laughed. "Move on? When Damon bullied me, why didn't he stop? When you made the bet and insulted us, why didn't you show mercy? Now that you're at a disadvantage, you want me to be magnanimous? That's absurd!"

Sometimes, I admire Maura's shamelessness. A few days ago, she trembled at my touch. Now, she's back to normal. Impressive.

"No way," Aurora stated firmly.

Alison couldn't stand it, pulling Maura away. "Maura, you don't have to plead with someone like her. Some people are heartless. We made the bet, we lost. Let's go!"

Alison's group, unable to tolerate Aurora's smugness, surrounded Maura, urging her to leave.

Maura was moved to tears. "I'm so glad I met you all."

Aurora rolled her eyes, returning to her Clinical Pharmacology book.

Alison, Damon, Jenny, and the others were cut from the same cloth. In Aurora's previous life, she'd suffered because of such people, and she wouldn't let them off easily.

Merida High's toilets were spacious, clean, and even had air fresheners, but Alison and her group still felt a simmering anger.

Alison stared at the sink, vowing, Aurora, I'll never forget this. As long as I'm around, you won't have it easy.

Maura, noticing Alison's fierce hatred, smiled triumphantly.

Aurora sat reading when Erik appeared, a sly grin on his face. "Professor Crawford, working hard?"

Aurora didn't respond, so Erik awkwardly continued, "Professor Crawford, the grades are out. Shouldn't you grade the exams? You promised to help us get into college."

Aurora looked up, confused. "When did I promise to help you get into college?"

Her memory was good; she hadn't made such a promise. She'd only taught Class F out of guilt for involving them in the bet. Now the bet was over, she wanted to resume her life.

Erik insisted, "When you were teaching us, of course. You always keep your promises; you wouldn't back out now, would you?"

Others chimed in, confirming they'd heard her promise.

Only Margaret didn't understand, her distressed words cut short by her deskmate.