Accused of Cheating When I Handed in an Empty Test

"The original test papers have already been sealed and sent to the Department of Education as evidence of cheating!" Mr. Stone thundered.

His eyes flickered for a split second. It was obvious he had been in on this with Flynn from the start. There was no way he could produce the original papers.

"The grading system is for teachers only. A cheating student like you has no business looking at it! Who knows if you'd try to alter the data?"

Mr. Stone gave up trying to reason with me and turned to Hugh. "Mr. Watson, Zayne has seriously corrupted the school's culture. He shows no remorse and openly defies both parents and teachers. I recommend immediate expulsion, with a school-wide announcement."

"Expel him! He has to be expelled!" Hugh roared. "It's a disgrace to keep a troublemaker like this around! He's already brought shame to our family!"

Hugh yelled toward the door. "Security! Get over here! Throw this shameless brat out! He's never coming back to this school!"

The security guards, who had been waiting by the door, charged in, closing the circle around me.

The hallway outside the classroom was jam-packed with students eager to watch. The word "expel" set off a roar of cheers and jeers.

"Finally! He's gone!"

"This trash should've been gone a long time ago!"

"Get out! Get out!"

Somebody—no one could tell who—began flinging paper balls into the office. A discarded apple core hit my shoulder, leaving a dark smudge.

"How dare you mess with Flynn, our heartthrob? You're dead!"

"You shameless cheater!"

The crowd erupted, and I felt like a rat in the street, hunted from every side.

A security guard grabbed my arm with enough force to make me wince. "Move! Now! Don't linger!"

I stumbled forward under their push, nearly falling. Flynn stood behind Lindsey, smirking smugly in triumph.

As I took in the crowded hallway, the smug Flynn, and my unforgiving parents, rage finally flared within me.

"Step aside!"

I wrenched my arm free and leveled a cold glare at them all. "You wanted proof, didn't you? You said I copied a perfect score!"

I stormed toward Mr. Stone's desk, where a computer connected to the school-wide broadcast system and the hallway's electronic screens waited.

Mr. Stone went pale. "What are you doing? Are you crazy? Stop him!"

The guards lunged at me again, but I was faster. "Open your eyes and look carefully!"

I slammed my hand down on the Enter key. The computer screen in the office lit up, along with all the electronic displays lining the hallway that showcased the top students.

The noisy hallway fell into a sudden hush. Everyone instinctively looked up, and on the screens, my test paper was entirely empty.

In the essay section, a huge turtle filled the page in black ink, with wild, defiant words written next to it that read, "What are you staring at? Never seen a blank paper before?"