West Coast, East Ivy, and the Boy Who Never Chose Me Chapter 07

West Coast, East Ivy, and the Boy Who Never Chose Me Chapter 07

The principal invited me back to Lincoln Memorial High School for the academic honors assembly. He wanted me to share my study tips and exam preparation experience with the younger students as the top SAT scorer. I agreed without hesitation.

I arrived early at the school media center to finish writing my speech. A bright flash went off in front of me; someone was secretly taking photos.

I noticed people around me whispering and staring at me from the corners of their eyes.

“Can you believe she’s back here? She acts like she’s actually the top scorer.”

“She’s just a hopeless dreamer with a huge ego.”

“Heard she’s obsessed with that Kael guy from West Coast and made up this whole thing just for attention.”

“That’s so desperate.”

…

I took a deep breath and calmed my emotions. I sat back down at the table and continued working on my speech.

When they saw I showed no reaction, one student pulled up a live stream and pointed their phone camera straight at me.

“Everyone come watch—this fake’s putting on another show! Hit that like button. Soon as we hit fifty thousand, we’ll expose her for what she really is.”

My fingers tightened around my ballpoint pen. The live stream flooded with hateful comments attacking me.

I slung my backpack over my shoulder and tried to move to another area, but the person streaming followed closely behind me.

“Look, she’s trying to run away!”

Irritation washed over me. I turned a corner and ran straight into Kael and Liora.

“You actually have the nerve to show up here? Still pretending you’re the top scorer so you can fool the freshmen?” Kael sneered, dripping with sarcasm.

“Elowen, don’t be like that,” Liora chimed in, frowning at me. “If you didn’t get into college, just say so. Kael and I are happy to help you out.”

I rolled my eyes and pushed past them to keep walking. The live stream chat exploded with angry remarks.

[Wow, the audacity—treating our favorite campus stars like that?]

[Right? Liora’s literally so sweet and forgiving. I could never be that nice.]

[She’s obviously just bitter she couldn’t have what they do.]

The camera stayed locked on me no matter where I walked around campus. I stopped trying to escape and waited for the assembly to begin.

When the ceremony started, I stood up and walked onto the main stage to stand beside the principal. The entire auditorium fell dead silent, and even the live stream viewers froze for a moment.

[Why is she standing up there?] someone typed in the chat.

The principal’s next words shocked everyone in the room.

“Everyone, please congratulate Elowen Voss—our school’s city-wide top SAT scorer. This is what discipline and effort get you.”

“Take her as your example. Put in the work, and it pays off.”

The principal handed me an official honor certificate, grinning widely. His words officially confirmed my identity to everyone present.

[Wait a minute, she’s really the top scorer?]

[So all those rumors about her hiring actors and faking interviews were lies?]

[The news on local TV just showed her official interview. This is real!]

[She’s been framed by someone for sure!]

Shouts of surprise rose from the student audience.

“Our school has a hidden genius all along!”

“I can’t believe we judged her unfairly before.”

Kael stood in the crowd, shaking his head repeatedly, completely stunned. Liora’s face turned an ugly shade of ashen gray.