Chapter 4: Under the Surface

I racked my brain, searching for any detail that might save me.

After we were caught, the school didn’t make our cheating public, just gave us a private warning.

They wanted to keep the scandal quiet. No one wanted the school’s reputation dragged through the mud.

After that, Brandon kept his head down and didn’t bother me again.

He avoided me in the halls, eyes fixed on the floor. For a while, I thought it was over.

I thought that was the end of it, but then…

Trouble always has a way of finding you, even when you think you’re in the clear.

On the eve of the SATs, he found me again, asking me to help him cheat in the real test.

He cornered me behind the gym, voice low and desperate. “Just one more time, Eli. I’ll make it worth your while.”

I refused immediately. That was the SATs—if I got caught, my whole life would be ruined.

I told him flat out: “No way, Brandon. Not this time.”

But Brandon said if I agreed, he’d pay me $4,000.

Four thousand dollars. My breath caught. That was more money than I’d ever seen in my life.

Four grand was an astronomical sum for me—too tempting.

I did the math in my head—tuition, rent, groceries. It could change everything.

After getting into college, I’d need every penny.

I could finally stop worrying about the electric bill, maybe even buy a new pair of shoes.

They say poverty kills ambition; I wavered again…

I hated myself for it, but I couldn’t say no right away.

Brandon said he’d arrange for us to be in the same testing room, and I’d only need to give answers to him—not like last time, where a dozen papers matched.

He promised it would be safer this time. “Just you and me, Eli. No one else.”

If it was just signaling him, the risk shouldn’t be high.

He made it sound so easy, so safe. I wanted to believe him.

After a lot of hesitation, I agreed.

I told myself it was the last time. I’d get through it, then walk away for good.

You know what happened next. We got caught during the second day’s test, and Brandon jumped.

The rest played out like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.

As for why he contacted other students or how he found the cheating ring, I had no idea.

I really didn’t. Brandon had secrets even I didn’t know.

About what you said about me going to the cheaters’ rented house, I remember now.

The memory came back in a rush, all sharp edges and bad feelings.

Before the SATs, Chris suggested we meet. I agreed, and he gave me his address.

It was a little house across from the school, the kind with peeling paint and a sagging porch.

It was close to the school, just across the street. I was surprised he lived so close.

I figured maybe he was a grad student or something. I was nervous, but curious.

But when I went to the address and knocked, no one answered.

I stood there for a while, shifting from foot to foot. The neighborhood was quiet, too quiet.

I thought he wasn’t home, so I waited at the door, but after a long time, still nothing. I had to leave.

I checked my phone for messages, but there was nothing. I walked home, feeling more alone than ever.

After that, I focused on prepping for the test, had no time to go online, and lost contact with him.

I buried myself in my books, trying to forget everything else. Chris faded into the background.

I think the rented house you mentioned is where Chris lived.

That’s the only place I went, besides school and home. Nowhere else.

Besides there, I only went between school and home—never anywhere else.

I tried to sound confident, but I could see Harper wasn’t buying it.

After I finished, Detective Harper was quiet for a while, then suddenly laughed.

His laugh was dry, humorless. It sent a chill down my spine.

“Your confession is full of holes. First, about Brandon selling answers—with his background, he wouldn’t risk organizing cheating on the SATs. He doesn’t need the money.”

He leaned back, folding his arms. He looked like a man who’d heard it all before.

“Second, you say Brandon did everything and you knew nothing, but…”

He paused, letting the silence stretch. My stomach twisted.

“Neighbors saw you enter that house more than once, sometimes with Brandon. Were you two just hanging out in there?”

His gaze cut into me.

I felt exposed, like he could see straight through me. My mouth went dry.

Looks like he’d found out some things.

He had evidence, or at least enough to make me sweat.

If I kept trying to clear myself, it would only make me look guiltier.

I could see the trap closing. I needed a new angle.

“Detective Harper, I did know about the cheating, but by then I couldn’t back out.”

I tried to sound honest, hoping he’d go easier on me.

“Why?”