“First, let’s go outside and take a look at your new car. Okay?”
Amber nodded, unable to speak.
The three of them walked out to the commons area. As soon as they turned the corner toward the front door, they saw it: the most beautiful new pearly white car parked right in front—with a big, red bow tied around it and her parents standing right beside it, beaming with pride. Could it get it better than that? She turned to Brittany, and her heart sank again. Not because Brittany looked sad—not at all. In fact, that would have made it easier. But what killed her was how Britt’s face glowed. Her eyes radiated true joy at the sight of her best friend winning such a great honor. Amber reached over and hugged her. They clung to each other.
“Congratulations.” Brittany squeezed her tightly. “I’m so glad it’s over.”
“Me, too.” Amber laughed. “Believe me.”
Principal Warner shook Amber’s hand. “There will be someone here from the newspaper to take your picture with Dave Druthers by the car after school. You can drive it home today, but there’ll be a ceremony at graduation where Mr. Druthers will formally present you with the keys and the title.” He grinned. “Congratulations.”
Amber didn’t know what to say. It would have been so much better if she’d won it the right way. But still …
“I hate to break up this love fest, but there are classes going on.” Principal Warner checked his watch. “You two need to get back to class.”
“All right. Give me a few minutes with my mom and dad, okay?”
Brittany walked into the school with Principal Warner, leaving Amber outside with her parents.
Mom stepped forward and embraced her.
“We’re so proud of you, sweetheart.”
Dad wiped his eyes. “We’ve never been more proud of you than we are at this moment.”
“I really need to talk to you.” Kyle hopped into the passenger seat when Amber pulled her new car into a parking spot. “Mmmm. I love the smell of a new car.” He rubbed the dashboard.
“Me, too. What’s up?”
“We have a problem.”
Amber’s face whitened, and her eyes opened wide. “What kind of problem?”
“We’re about to get caught.” He held up a finger. “I should say, they’re about to find out someone cheated.”
“H-h-how? W-who’s about to find out?” Amber started to tremble. She’d never been in trouble before—especially not like this.
“Don’t panic. I set it up so we won’t get blamed for it.” He shuffled and his eyes darted side to side—definitely hiding something.
“Okay, then who will?” Amber’s heart sank, instinctively afraid of the answer.
“It had to be Brittany, kiddo. It’s how it had to be.”
Amber turned white and froze in place. “You framed Brittany for this? How could you do that?”
“Well, actually, it was quite easy. I hacked her password—bkim—and made the access on a day and time when she really was in the computer room—at least according to the signin log.”
“I didn’t mean how did you do it. I meant, how could you do it? I mean, it’s bad enough I cheated against her, but it’s so much worse now that she’s going to get in trouble for it.” Amber pounded her forehead on the steering wheel a few times.
Amber noticed students streaming into the school, so she assumed the bell rang. In a huff, she grabbed her bag from the backseat and almost slammed the door, but managed to hold back. As they hurried toward the front entrance, she hissed at Kyle, “Fix this!”
“Fixing it means you take the rap, kiddo. Your call. I’m not doing it.” He took off in the other direction lighting a cigarette—apparently not attending school that day.
As she headed toward her class, the intercom squeaked. “Brittany Kim, please come to the office immediately.”
Amber wanted nothing more than to get in her car and drive away from the school as fast as she could. She slumped into her classroom and tried to focus, but she couldn’t concentrate on anything but the thought of what could be happening in the office. At that very moment, Brittany faced sheer heartbreak—and Amber was completely to blame.
Part of her wanted to run right down to the office and put a stop to it, but the logical side of her brain reminded her they’d take away her car and her scholarship if she admitted to cheating—no way could she allow that to happen. But as things stood, Brittany was in trouble. How could she watch her best friend lose everything because of her? What kind of person could do that?
But her whole life depended on that scholarship and her family needed that car. What have I done?
Class ended, and then another one started and ended. No word of Brittany. Finally, as she walked toward Calculus, busybody Paula Markham grabbed Amber’s arm, pulling her to a dead stop.
“Did you hear the news?” Paula’s eyes bugged out with excitement at the gossip.
“What news?” She tried to act nonchalant, but dread coursed through her veins.
“Brittany got busted for cheating.” Paulawhispered and looked both ways.
Yeah, right. You can’t wait to tell them all. “How do you know that?” Amber tried to look surprised.
“I went to the office to get a Band-Aid.” She held up her bandaged finger. “I heard the secretary calling her parents.”
Oh no. “Oh. What a bummer. I have to go.” Amber turned away without another word.
In her math class, she sat in back, near the window. Hopefully her teacher would chalk her lack of focus up to end-of-the-year boredom. Only two days remained until graduation, after all. Would she be there? Would Brittany?
Distracted by movement in the parking lot outside the window, Amber turned her head just in time to see a shiny Lexus pull into a parking spot—right next to her brand-new car. Mr. and Mrs. Kim climbed from their car looking white as ghosts, like they’d had the wind knocked out of them. They hurried into the school with looks of such dread—like they marched to their doom.
Amber’s inner battle continued to rage. She couldn’t let Brittany suffer like this. But she couldn’t take the fall either. She could blame Kyle. No. She shook her head. That wouldn’twork. It’s not like he operated with a super-high moral compass. He’d surely rat her out. She deserved it anyway—didn’t she? Oh no. What do I do? What would Brittany do? She’d never have done this—that’s what!
Exactly thirty-four minutes later, the Kims walked down the sidewalk toward their car with a shell of their daughter following behind. She carried a box, presumably with the contents of her locker, and her bag slung over one shoulder and across her chest. Her shoulders slumped forward as if to shield herself from the stares and the reality of the horrible nightmare she’d woken up to. Finally, Amber looked at her face: her skin chalky white, her eyes sunken and dim, and her cheeks moist from crying. The tears had stopped flowing—she must have run out.
Brittany climbed into the backseat of the Lexus. Her mom shut the door and got into the passenger side. Mr. Kim got into the driver’s seat, but didn’t even reach for his keys. No one moved inside the car, and no one’s lips moved—they just sat there as if pulling away from the school would seal Brittany’s fate.
Amber looked at the clock. Class neared its end, and the hallways would soon be filled with students. She could still fix this. All she’d have todo is run out and stop them from leaving. Then, they’d go to the office, and she’d tell her story. Simple. It’s what would come after that that froze her in her seat. Amber glanced out the window at her car—her prized possession, the symbol of her adulthood, her freedom, her success—her cheating.
The Kims still waited for something, as though they could sense the battle going on within her. Then she saw Mr. Kim had his eyes squeezed shut, but his lips slowly formed words. Brittany and her mom sat in their seats the same way—eyes closed, lips moving. Ah. They’re praying. That realization hit Amber like a punch in her gut. Such good people. They didn’t deserve this.
But I have so muc
h to lose.
Now or never.
IT’S DECISION TIME
The time has come to make a decision. Think long and hard about what you would really do if you encountered the exact same circumstances Amber is facing. It’s easy to say you’d make the right choice. But are you sure you could admit your wrongdoing and risk everything—graduation, scholarship, and a new car—and disappoint your parents so badly? Especially if your family had such a great financial need and your friend’s family did not … would that make a difference in your choice?
Once you make your decision, turn to the corresponding page to see how it turns out for Amber—and for you.
Turn to page 116 if Amber decides to turn herself in and clear Brittany’s name.
Turn to page 152 if Amber decides she has way too much to lose to admit to cheating.
The next three chapters tell the story of what happened to Amber when she decided to admit to cheating and clear Brittany’s name.
Chapter 10
HOLD EVERYTHING
That’s it! Amber jumped out of her seat and scrambled over her backpack and purse in the aisle. “I’ll be back. I have to … go …” She saw her teacher staring openmouthed as she ran from the room, leaving the door open behind her. She couldn’t take the time to close it. They’d be pulling out of the parking lot at any moment—it might already be too late.
Tearing down the hall at full speed, Amber saw the doors looming ahead of her. It felt like she moved in slow motion—like running through quicksand in a dream. She chanted with every step. Please wait. Please wait. Please wait. She slowed down a bit where the hallway intersected with another one—good thing, because she almost ran right smack into Kyle.
He grabbed her arm. “Whoa, whoa. Is someone chasing you?”
“Can’t talk now.” She shrugged off his hand and picked up speed as she approached the door.
From behind her, Kyle called, “Don’t do anything stupid, Amber.”
She ignored him.
Panting, she pushed the crash bar on the door and spilled out onto the steps. She looked toward the parking lot on her right. Still there. Mr. Kim had turned in his seat and appeared to be talking to Brittany in the backseat. Amber approached the driver’s side window and knocked.
Mr. Kim whipped around, his tie tucked across his left shoulder. He buzzed his window down with the flick of a switch. “Miss Amber? Is something wrong?”
She tried to catch her breath. “Mr. Kim, Mrs. Kim, if it’s okay, I have something I need to say to Brittany—to you all. Could you maybe step out of the car?”
“Is okay, Amber. Wait a minute. We get out.” They climbed from the car and stood before her.
Amber cleared her throat. “I have no idea how to say this except to just do it.” She took a deep, ragged breath.
“What’s going on here?”
Amber closed her eyes and sighed at the familiar voice of Principal Warner. She slowly turned around to face him. “I have something I need to say to the Kims.” She stared at the ground. “It’s good you’re here. You need to hear this, too.”
Principal Warner’s face had turned a blustery red. “Amber, I heard you left class without permission and then tore through the hallways like you were on fire. Now this? What’s going on?”
“Give me just a minute. You’ll understand.” She took a deep breath, wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans, and then looked at the principal. “It wasn’t Brittany. It was me.”
She turned away from his confused expression toward Brittany, who had her arms crossed on her chest. “You know you didn’t cheat, it seems like your parents know you didn’t cheat. And I definitely know you didn’t cheat. How do I know? Because I’m the one who did it. I had help getting copies of the exams, then without me knowing, my help framed you for it.”
Brittany glared at Amber and shook her head. The glare quickly dissolved as she looked her mom and started to cry.
Mrs. Kim reached a protective arm around her shaking daughter.
After a moment of silence, Mr. Kim directed his stern attention to Principal Warner. “I’m sure this will be fixed right away.” He faced Amber. “Miss Amber. I know you did wrong. But took a lot of … uh … guts to do what you just did. We all make mistakes in our life. Is part of life. You made right choice when important.”
Brittany snorted and shrugged her mom’s arm off her shoulders.
Amber steeled herself for the onslaught she’d been expecting.
“I am so angry and so hurt … I don’t even know what to say to you, Amber.” Brittany shook her head and glared at the sky. “I guess I’ll have to give you points for coming clean. Why did you do it, anyway?”
Amber looked down at the ground. “Why did I cheat? Or why did I admit to it?” Her voice came out barely a whisper.
“I guess I know why you cheated—your faith is dead. You have no faith in anything, not even in yourself.” Brittany pulled her arms tighter across her chest, her face as cold as stone. “But why did you admit it now when you were pretty much assured of getting away with it?”
“I saw you, Britt. I saw you walking to your car, beaten down, sad. I couldn’t be the cause of that.” She opened her mouth to continue, but decided that some things were better left unsaid.
“You had to know I’d be furious.”
“Having you mad at me, as bad as that is, is better than knowing I ruined your life. This was all my fault—”
“Obviously.”
“—and I’ll do anything to try to fix it. I want things to be right between us.”
Principal Warner stepped closer to the group. “Folks, I think it would be best if we took this to my office. The bell is about to ring, and students will be all over the place.”
They silently made their way to the front office, entered the conference room, and took seats. Amber played with the dial on her silver watch. Brittany stared out the window. Mrs. Kim tapped her fingernails on the table. Mr. Kim—always the stately professional—sat still and straight. No one said a word.
Principal Warner came into the room. “I called your mom and dad, Amber. They’ll be here shortly.”
Amber slumped lower in her seat.
“So, we’ll save any talk about your situation for their arrival. How about we fix things for the Kims so they can be on their way?”
Everyone nodded.
“Well, I wish this could be under different circumstances so you could truly enjoy your victory, Brittany. But you did earn this.” He reached an open hand to Amber, who placed the car key into it. He took the key and put it into Brittany’s hand and closed her fingers around it. Then, Principal Warner clasped his hands around her fist and squeezed. “You deserve this, Brittany. You worked hard. You’ve been a stellar student. Please enjoy your reward.”
Brittany wiped the tears from her eyes. “It’s just … well … I wish …”
“I know. The win is bittersweet.” Principal Warner released a deep sigh.
Brittany turned away from Amber, toward her parents.
Amber couldn’t let the moment pass without one more attempt to reach out to her. “Brittany.” The tears fell like waterfalls down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I don’t think I’ve ever really understood what it means to be sorry until now. I wish I could change things. Please, please forgive me.”
Brittany stared at her, appearing to listen to what Amber said.
Amber flinched, shocked when Brittany reached out one hand and placed it lightly,
gently even, across her cheek. Brittany gazed at her with sadness. No, not really sadness … pity. Without a word, Brittany left the room.
Mrs. Kim hurried to Amber’s side. “Dear Amber, is okay. You make mistake. We love you like our daughter. Brittany will turn around and forgive you. She loves you, too. She a good girl. You’ll see.” She started to leave the conference room, but stopped. “One more thing. Brittany is right. You have no faith. If you had faith in Jesus, you would have trusted Him enough that you didn’t cheat. If
you had faith in yourself, you’d have known you not need to cheat. If you had faith in your parents, you’d have known they didn’t want you to cheat to get a car. Find your faith, Amber. Go to church. Okay?”
Amber nodded, Mrs. Kim’s words resonating in her mind. Those might have been the most words she’d ever spoken at one time to Amber, but they proved she knew her well, perhaps better than anyone.
Mrs. Kim walked through the doorway where Amber’s mom and dad stood waiting to enter. She patted Mom on the arm and gave her a sympathetic look, but didn’t speak to her.
Amber wished she could disappear. She couldn’t think of a single place on earth that would be worse than where she sat at that moment. The middle of the lion cage at the zoo right before lunchtime—better than this. The operating-room table without anesthesia—much better. A burning building—she’d take it. But no, her immediate fate was inescapable. She’d have to sit there and face her parents.
The plush, vinyl conference chairs let out a whoosh as Amber’s parents sank into them. They looked at the principal, pale, speechless. They hadn’t said anything, yet. What could be said?
“I’m really sorry we had to call you here under these circumstances …”
The principal’s voice droned on like a buzz in Amber’s ear. She couldn’t listen to the facts being recounted again.
What have I done? No more college scholarship. No more car. No more trust. No more perfect high-school transcripts. Wait a second! Will I even graduate with my class?
“Wait!” Amber interrupted Principal Warner.
“—came running out to stop them from leaving.” He finished his sentence, then looked at her. “What is it, Amber?”
“What about graduation? Am I going to graduate?” Amber’s heart, like a lump in her throat, beat wildly.
“We’re about to talk about all of that. So, hold on one second with those questions, okay?” He looked at her with kind and compassionate eyes and then turned back to her parents. “Do you have any questions so far?”
“No, I think we pretty much get the picture.” Dad squeezed his eyes shut.
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