Shadows Drift Beyond Memory by Xarin Vale novel Chapter 40

Chapter 2

The proctor frowned and walked straight toward me.

She picked up the note, unfolded it, and placed it in front of me.

“Is this yours?” she demanded.

I didn’t say anything.

“I’m asking you one more time–is this note yours? Are you cheating?!” Her voice shot up, sharp and loud.

The proctor wasn’t from our grade. She didn’t know me and didn’t know I was deaf.

“Teacher, she’s our class little princess.”

“Acts all high and mighty. Even if she cheated, she’d never admit it!”

“Oh, and by the way–she’s disabled. Deaf and mute…”

Anna’s voice rang out. Laughter rippled through the room.

My face burned red. Instinctively, I looked at Quentin.

Quentin’s expression stayed cold, but he shot Anna a hard look.

I knew this was just Anna’s new tactic–another round in her twisted little game with Quentin.

By the time our homeroom teacher arrived, the situation was already a mess.

“Quentin, ask Rachel if the note is hers.”

Quentin stood up and signed the question to me.

I stared at him quietly. If this were before, he never would’ve played along with the teacher’s question.

He would’ve told everyone, firmly and without hesitation, that I didn’t need to cheat.

But now? For the sake of Anna’s game, he was asking me in front of everyone whether the note was MINE.

“She said… it’s hers…” Quentin answered, his back to me.

In that moment, it felt like wind tearing through my chest, howling and hollow.

I grabbed his arm before he could finish. Under everyone’s expectant stares, I nodded–hard.

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Chapter 2

Quentin’s handsome face twisted. It’s NOT yours. Why would you admit to it?)

Seeing me act like I didn’t care, Quentin’s heart felt like it had been hollowed out.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I picked up a pen and wrote on my scratch paper:

[Teacher, I’m sorry. The note is mine.J

Our homeroom teacher’s face turned dark. She took me out of the exam room.

Even Anna froze in place. She hadn’t expected me to admit it so easily.

Quentin swayed slightly, his emotions flickering.

After the whole drama, my exam results were voided. But because our homeroom teacher vouched for me, I was spared a formal demerit.

She kept going on and on in the office, telling the dean how good I was–how obedient, how hardworking, how well–behaved.

“This kid isn’t usually like this. Maybe it’s the pressure of next year’s college entrance exams. Dean, please–just let her off this time!”

“I’ll have her sign a promise…”

I stood outside the office. Sunlight streamed through the hallway, falling across my body.

Warm. But I felt ice–cold all over.

Quentin, your little game with her? I will be the one to end it

It wasn’t until noon that I was allowed to go back to the classroom.

The second I walked in, Anna led the jeers. “Well, well, well–Quentin’s little princess is back.”

“Looks like our little honor student is getting a demerit now. No more perfect–record princess!”

“Enough!”

Quentin shot up from his seat and walked over to my desk.

[It’s okay, Rachel.]

[A disciplinary mark doesn’t matter. We’re going abroad for college anyway. It won’t affect anything here.]

He was comforting me again. Just like he always did after Anna messed with me.

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و احد السياسات

Chapter 2

Before, I would’ve been touched.

I would’ve told him to let it go, just to avoid conflict with Ann.

But now I know–it was all just part of their game.

I nodded mechanically.

The next two days of exams passed without incident.

Until the afternoon after the last exam, when I asked Quentin:

[Do you still want to go to college with me?]

Quentin froze. [Of course. That’s our promise.]

He answered so fast and certain. I couldn’t see a single trace of hesitation or deceit.

I nodded, then turned and went to the homeroom office.

Inside, I asked her for the college application form and wrote down two universities in California.

[Aren’t you going abroad with Quentin?]

I shook my head. [Not anymore.]

Quentin and I–we’re not on the same path anymore.

He’d fallen for the pretty, vivacious Anna – someone so unlike me

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, his heart had already changed.

Maybe it changed the day she confessed to him in front of everyone.

Around the corner, I heard Anna’s playful voice.

“Come shopping with me today!”

“Stop worrying about that disabled bitch, okay?”

The footsteps faded. And I finally stepped out.

Before I could react, a bag was yanked over my head.

“Mmph!”

I was dragged into a damp, filthy place. Anna’s voice rang in my ears.

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Phapes 1

“Tiit het! She can’t hear us and that mute can’t call for hel

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