Shadowing Practice: I'm A Secret Genius: Not By Choice - Learn English Speaking with Video

Hi, my name is Abigail.

Two years ago, I got into a car accident that left me bedridden, so I missed the SAT.

Now that I've recovered, I'm finally taking it.

But instead of a normal testing room, I get stuck with a bunch of crazy retakers, and they're about to change my life forever.

The proctor was an old lady with a little tube in her throat, so every word came out in this weird, squeaky voice.

Alright everyone, my name is Mrs. Fox,

and I'm only going to say this once because I don't repeat myself.

If I catch anyone cheating or looking at somebody else's paper,

lord help me, I'll make sure they fail so hard my face haunts their nightmares for the rest of their lives.

Got it?

I gulped, already nervous, while the girl sitting at the desk next to mine scoffed.

She had a bandage wrapped around her head like she'd been in some kind of accident.

But she still managed to look terrifying.

When she noticed me looking, she gave me the nastiest look ever.

Her name was Haley.

I quickly looked away to avoid her.

But right then, a tall, cute-looking boy knocked on the door.

He looked about a year older than me.

His name was Tom.

I'm so, so sorry I'm late, ma'am.

Please let me in.

Mrs. Fox looked him up and down, then gave an annoyed little wave for him to come in.

He took the seat right behind me.

That's when Haley started whisper-arguing with him.

I quickly figured out they were boyfriend and girlfriend, except apparently she had dumped him on the way there over some random argument.

Then Haley caught me listening and raised an eyebrow.

Want some popcorn?

Just then, Mrs. Fox started passing out the exam papers, when a nerdy looking girl with huge glasses suddenly freaked out.

Oh my god, oh my god, this section wasn't in the study guide.

How could you, how could you include this?

This isn't right!

Her name was Esme, and she was the kind of genius who had skipped a few grades, which made her the youngest one here.

So what do you want me to do?

Cry about it?

Do you know how to solve it or not?

Yes, I studied it.

I memorized the book from cover to cover and I'm just stating a fact!

This is a mistake!

Well, here's another fact for you.

I can kick you out if you don't shut it!

Now everyone flip your papers over and start writing!

We all started writing, and honestly, the questions felt impossible because I couldn't stop feeling nervous.

I had to pass, not just for me, but for my little sister, Sally.

After we lost our parents, the two of us had to move in with our aunt and her jerk husband.

And if I passed, I could finally study something, get a real job, and make enough money to move out with Sally.

But five minutes in, we all heard whispering.

It was coming from Haley.

At first, I thought she was talking to herself.

Then I realized she had a tiny earpiece hidden under the bandage wrapped around her head.

She was so focused on cheating that she didn't even notice Mrs. Fox standing right over her.

Mrs. Fox tapped her foot and held out her hand.

Haley slowly took out the earpiece and dropped it into her palm, looking totally defeated.

Then Mrs. Fox put the earpiece up to her own ear.

We could all hear the person on the other end yelling, Give it back to her, you psycho old lady!

She paid me for those answers!

Apparently, Haley had paid someone to feed her the answers during the exam.

And judging by the way they were yelling at Mrs. Fox, they already knew her from other students who had tried the same thing.

But Mrs. Fox didn't back down.

She just kept arguing and yelling until suddenly she started coughing hard.

Then she clutched her chest, stumbled backwards, and started waving her hand like she was trying to say something.

The whole room froze.

Mrs. Fox's eyes went wide.

She took one deep, shaky breath and whispered, I should've retired in 1998.

Then she collapsed to the floor.

For a second, nobody moved.

Then, we all rushed over and gathered around her.

Do you think she's dead?

You killed her, Hayley!

How is that my fault?

She's the one who started screaming at a stranger through an earpiece.

Esme leaned down, checked Mrs. Fox's breathing, and gasped.

Oh my god, oh my god, she's dead, she's actually dead, we have to report this immediately!

Then she jumped up and ran toward the door.

But before she could leave, a short, muscular guy grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

Let go of me, Mrs. Fox is dead!

Well, well, when the fox is away, the mice will play.

We all looked confused.

It means, geniuses, we move her out of the way, finish the exam together, then report it.

Understood?

I had noticed him earlier.

His name was Hunter, and he was from juvenile detention.

His wrist had been handcuffed to the desk, but somehow he had gotten himself free.

Now, he was standing there like he owned the room.

But that's unethical.

Hunter stepped so close to me that our foreheads almost touched.

Do I look like I care?

We all looked at each other while Esme kept protesting.

Does anyone here know how to answer all the questions besides this little genius?

Nobody said a word.

Apparently, we were all struggling.

My handwriting's real pretty if that counts.

Then she batted her eyelashes at Hunter.

She was obviously flirting.

And the worst part was, he didn't seem to hate it.

He even winked back before suddenly remembering he was supposed to be terrifying.

Ugh, great.

I was about two seconds away from making Esme disappear too, but now we actually need her.

Everyone stared at him in horror, but he just rolled his eyes.

Relax, I'm joking.

100

Mostly.

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Then he pointed at Tom.

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Hey, skyscraper, help me move, Mrs. Fox.

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Then we're finishing this stupid exam.

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Haley actually liked the idea and shoved Tom forward to help.

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Then I realized most of the room was starting to side with Hunter.

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I kept thinking about Sally back home, hoping her aunt's husband was in one of his ignore-us moods.

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And for one stupid second, I let myself believe we could just get the answers, pass the test, and walk away like nothing happened.

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Oh, how wrong I was.

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After moving Mrs. Fox out of the way, I knelt beside her and noticed her chest rising and falling.

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She was breathing.

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I was about to call everyone over, but Mrs. Fox suddenly squeezed my hand.

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I looked at her in horror.

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Then she shook her head and pressed a finger to her lips, like she was telling me not to say a word.

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She was alive, but for some reason, She didn't want anyone to know. But why?

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I was so shocked, I had no idea what to do.

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Then I heard Hunter calling my name.

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We all grabbed our papers and gathered around Esme.

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She sat there with her arms crossed, turning her head away like a dramatic little kid.

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Cheating is illegal, unethical, and statistically one of the dumbest group decisions you could make in a room with a corpse.

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We all started begging her, but she wouldn't budge.

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Even when people started offering her bribes, she still refused.

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I have an Instagram page with 300,000 followers.

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I can mention you in one of my stories and boom, you'll be famous.

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I do stand up at a coffee shop downtown.

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I can get you free coffee and pastries for the rest of the school year.

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My uncle is rich and he'll pay for your entire education.

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Then it was my turn and everyone looked at me like I was supposed to offer something.

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Even Esme looked at me waiting.

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Um, I have a McDonald's coupon for free small fries, but only if you buy a burger.

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Wow, people are poor like this in real life.

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I thought that was just something they did for reviews.

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But then, Esme's face softened for half a second before she quickly looked away like it never happened.

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Hunter groaned and started looking around the room.

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Ugh, fine.

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If Little Miss Smarty Pants won't help, we'll make sure she doesn't go anywhere until she changes her mind.

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Hunter grabbed a bunch of loose charger cords from someone's backpack, clearly trying to tie Esme up.

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But they were too short.

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Then he looked at Tom.

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You, Ostrich, got anything useful on you?

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I mean, I have these compression socks.

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Tom then took off one of the longest, ugliest socks I had ever seen.

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And the second it came off, the whole room gagged.

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Dude, have you been wearing that thing since quarantine?

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I walk a lot, okay?

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Hunter snatched the sock from him, but when he flipped it inside out, a bunch of tiny folded paper spilled onto the floor.

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The room went silent.

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Tom froze, and Haley slowly smiled.

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Wow, at least I used my actual head to cheat.

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You used your sweaty feet?

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I picked up one of the tiny papers and squinted at it.

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Tom, this is 11th grade biology, and this one says the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

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It felt important, alright?

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We were all stuck between gagging from the sock and being disappointed that Tom's cheat notes were useless.

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Just then, a boy who had been watching through a little window in the door screamed, The principal's coming!

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We all panicked.

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I have an idea.

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Everyone rushed back to their seats.

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Tom and I quickly propped Mrs. Fox up in her chair.

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I slipped my hand inside her jacket to control one arm, while Tom stood behind her and held her head up.

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I whispered into Mrs. Fox's ear, I'm sorry.

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The principal stopped outside the classroom door and looked through the window.

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Everything okay in here, Mrs. Fox?

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Tom made Mrs. Fox nod, and I gave the thumbs up with my hand.

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But of course, Esme couldn't control herself.

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Maybe we should come in and check on her.

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Hunter shot her a look and punched his fist into his palm.

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Esme immediately shut up.

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The principal squinted at Mrs. Fox.

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You alright, Mrs. Fox?

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You look beat.

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Is that tube giving you trouble again?

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Want me to call the nurse or should I just smack it a little?

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Hehehehehe Tom quickly shook Mrs. Fox's head.

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The principal seemed convinced and started walking away.

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Well, I'm just a phone call away if you need me.

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Then he left.

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That's when we all remembered Mrs. Fox had a phone and we could use it to look up the answers.

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Tom searched Mrs. Fox's pockets and found an ancient Nokia phone.

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So much for looking up the answers.

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We all looked defeated until Tom suddenly remembered Haley's cheating guy.

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Wait, Haley, give me the number of the guy you hired.

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Um, how am I supposed to remember that?

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I don't know, check your hands, your ankles, the bottom of your shoes, you know, all the places you hide guys' numbers from me.

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Oh, so now we're sharing secrets?

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That's great.

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Why don't we tell everyone how you're a failed comedian and I'm the one who pays for everything.

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Yeah, man, how come you haven't said one funny thing since we got here?

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Because it's not exactly the time or place?

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A comedian is a comedian.

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Time and place shouldn't matter.

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Okay then, you're still a criminal, so I guess that checks out.

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Hunter's face changed.

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He looked like he was about to swing at Tom, but I quickly stepped between them.

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That's when I noticed a number written on Hailey's leg, half hidden under her knee sock.

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I crouched down, pulling her sock lower.

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And there it was!

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The number we needed!

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Wow, a sock secret that actually helps.

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Take notes, Tom.

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Wait, it's missing the last digit.

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Apparently, the last number had rubbed off.

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So we had no choice but to call the number over and over, changing the final digit each time.

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We tried seven times.

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On the seventh call, a little kid answered and whispered, Mommy, I peed in the drawer again.

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Then the phone died.

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Great.

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Just great.

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Just then, Hayley noticed Esme sneaking toward the door.

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She was about an inch away from opening it, when suddenly, a pocket knife flew across the room and stabbed into the door, inches from her hand.

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Next one lands closer.

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Esme froze, then slowly looked around, panicking.

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Oh my god, oh my god, he's insane!

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Hunter scanned the room, then looked straight at me.

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You, coupon girl.

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You seem like the most rational moron in here.

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Take little Einstein and sit in the corner with her.

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You've got three minutes to talk some sense into her.

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If you fail, I handle it my way.

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I dragged Esme to the back corner, while everyone stared at me with pleading eyes, silently begging me to convince her.

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I know cheating is bad, but sometimes people do the wrong thing for the right reason.

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And what good reason is there for a bunch of lazy idiots to pass this easily while I studied my butt off?

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And by the way, I know you Abigail.

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You're the girl who got into that car accident and was in a coma for months.

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My stomach dropped.

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I know that because I'm interested in car accidents and tragic events.

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Yes, I know that's a weird hobby.

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Anyway, I followed your case and I heard a bunch of rumors around town.

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But there's one thing I know for sure.

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You're not less smart than me.

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You might even be smarter.

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So why are you acting like this?

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For a second, I was too stunned to speak.

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She knew all along?

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Then why didn't you tell everyone?

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Because I do the right thing for the right reason, Abby!

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Look, then you probably know about my family situation too.

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I'm stressed, I'm nervous, and I can't think clearly.

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I need to pass for Sally.

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You know her.

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She was in your class once.

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Come on, Essie.

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Esme stared at me for a long moment.

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Her eyes started to tear up, and I was just about to thank her when she spoke first.

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I'm sorry, Abigail.

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I can't help you.

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You're the genius one here.

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Figure it out.

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Ugh.

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I have never hated being a genius more than I do right now.

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I didn't realize how loudly I'd said it until I slowly turned around and found everyone staring at me.

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Oh, Jesus Christ.

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For one stupid second, I thought Hunter was about to force me to answer the whole exam right there.

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Somehow, what he did next was even worse.

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He made everyone form a circle like we were in some kind of group therapy session.

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Today, we gather to share why we need to pass this exam, so Abigail can stop panicking and start answering.

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Since Tom is a comedian, I'm assuming he doesn't have real problems.

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So Haley, sugar, come on, the mic is yours.

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Thank you, sweetie.

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Well, sometimes I put on really expensive concealer and my under eyes still look gray.

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And honestly, that can ruin my entire day.

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What does that have to do with- you know what?

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Forget it.

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Thank you for sharing.

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Esme, you're up.

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Well, this.

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All of this.

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Everyone counting on me.

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Everyone expecting so much from me.

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Just like my parents who threw me into advanced classes

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and competitions like I was just some tool to make their dreams come true.

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What about me, Mom?

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Do you ever wonder if I'm happy, Dad? Do you? Do you?

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The whole room went silent.

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Jeez.

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Ahem, well, you might think I'm tough because of how I look, and I am, but I get stressed too.

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I got sent to Juvie for a few tiny unarmed robberies, and now I've been digging an escape tunnel through my cell floor with an old dusty spoon.

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My two prison buddies are digging right now, but they don't get along.

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They could kill each other any second, so yeah, I really need to pass.

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Aw, poor thing.

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Then she started patting his shoulder.

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Wait, what does any of that have to do with the SAT?

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No offense, but if your logic is as slow as that spoon, no wonder you're still in jail.

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Oh, so now you're trying to be funny, Burj Khalifa?

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Why do you keep insulting my looks?

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Or are you just insecure about being short and taking it out on attractive tall guys like me?

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Hailey scoffed while Hunter's face went red.

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He stood up, looking ready to knock Tom out.

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But I couldn't handle any more chaos, so I blurted the first thing that came to mind.

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I have to pee.

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Like, aggressively.

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Right now.

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Hunter looked annoyed.

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Then he said he was coming with me

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because apparently he didn't trust my stress attack and thought I might run away or report them.

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I don't think that's a good idea, Hunter.

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People might recognize you in those clothes.

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Plus, Esme needs serious guarding.

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Maybe send Tom with her instead.

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He'll make sure she doesn't do anything stupid.

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Especially since he's the one who needs to pass this exam the most.

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His dad gave him an ultimatum.

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If he doesn't pass, he gets kicked out.

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Hunter looked convinced for a second.

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No, I'm not going.

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Also, I'm very tall and memorable, remember?

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People are definitely going to notice me going to the bathroom with her.

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Then switch clothes with her.

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Take Esme's glasses and Hailey's extensions.

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Disguise yourself.

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I don't know what level of desperate you people are on, but I'm not putting on extensions and pretending to be her.

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Tom kept protesting, but Hunter and everyone else weren't having it.

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So they circled a few desks around us for cover and Tom and I switched clothes.

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If I looked ridiculous in his oversized clothes, Tom looked hilarious in mine.

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Dude, I bet this is the first time you've made anyone laugh without even trying.

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Tom and I tiptoed out of the classroom.

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When we got to the girls' bathroom, every stall was clothed, so we had no choice but to sneak into the boys' bathroom instead.

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Looking like the weirdest girls alive, Tom squeezed into a stall with me and immediately started begging.

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Please, I just want to get out of this insane place.

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Just give me the answers now.

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I brought my exam paper with me.

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I'll go back, write them down, and leave.

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I'll do it on one condition.

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You have to like and subscribe to MSA.

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I already did, Abigail.

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And you guys should too, because what I'm about to tell you is crazy, even for MSA.

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He looked really desperate, and for once, he wasn't trying to be funny.

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Hayley was the one who made me hide those cheat notes in my socks, and now she's been humiliating me all day after everything I did for her.

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Even her page with those 300,000 followers, I helped with that.

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I paid for fake followers with money from my early inheritance.

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I gave her everything, and it's still never enough.

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She's greedy, manipulative, and she knows exactly how to make me feel worthless.

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So why didn't you leave her sooner?

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Tom looked down.

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Because she's pregnant, and I'm not the kind of guy who dumps his girlfriend when things get hard.

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But after today, choosing some criminal over me and making fun of me in front of everyone?

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That's a new low.

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I thought I could wait until she got into college, but I can't do this anymore.

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I looked at Tom.

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He seemed sincere.

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And honestly, I had no reason not to believe him.

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Then why risk cheating on the SAT?

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I did study, just not enough.

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I've been working long shifts trying to save up in case my dad actually kicks me out.

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For a second, I just stared at him.

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Maybe helping him was wrong, but he didn't seem lazy.

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He seemed trapped.

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So I took the exam paper from him and started writing the answers to the first question.

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But then my hand stopped.

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Maybe it's too tight in here.

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I'll wait outside, but don't take long.

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They might get suspicious.

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Also, this is easily the least romantic bathroom stall moment of my life.

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He slipped out of the stall, leaving me alone with the test.

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I looked down at the next question.

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It was an old poem called The Road Not Taken, about someone standing between two paths, knowing one choice could change everything.

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The question asked what the roads represented, and just like that, my chest tightened, because I wasn't just choosing answers anymore.

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I was choosing who I wanted to become.

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Suddenly, the bathroom felt too small, the paper felt too heavy, and I couldn't breathe.

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And so I left the stall.

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Tom looked disappointed, but he didn't push it.

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He just gave me a small smile, nodded, and we left together.

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When Tom and I got back, the room was already falling apart.

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Hunter and Hayley were about to beat some guy up.

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He was hitting on me.

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Can you believe that?

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Doesn't he know my new boyfriend is a real man who protects me?

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She said it while giving Tom the nastiest side-eye.

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The guy Hunter was holding somehow managed to break free, And before anyone could stop him, he ran straight for the door.

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I'm reporting all of you, you losers!

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And just like that, he was gone.

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We all stared at each other, panicking.

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Well, finally!

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Now I can write in peace.

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We all looked defeated.

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Then Hayley suddenly pointed at the window.

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Wait, this is only the second floor, and there's a lawn right below us.

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Come on, Hunter.

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Let's jump and run away together.

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Hunter actually looked convinced.

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He grabbed her hands like they were about to escape into the sunset.

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But Tom stepped in front of her.

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Haley, are you insane?

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What about the baby?

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What baby?

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You believed that?

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I only said I was pregnant so you'd stay long enough to help me pass.

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But you couldn't even do that because you're useless, like usual.

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Tom looked crushed for a second.

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Then he smirked.

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Then go ahead, jump.

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And I hope one day someone makes you feel as small as you made me feel.

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That actually shut her up.

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For one second.

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Then Hailey's face twisted like she needed someone else to hurt.

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She turned to me.

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This is literally your fault.

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If you weren't freaking out every five seconds, we'd be done by now.

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Before I could answer, Hailey lunged forward like she was about to shove me.

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But Esme jumped in front of me at the last second, and Hailey's hands slammed into her instead.

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She stumbled back and fell, her glasses nearly flying off her face.

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Essie, are you okay?

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I'm fine.

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But wow, for someone with fake followers, you're really committed to having real enemies, Hailey.

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Haley scoffed, flipped her hair, and marched toward the window.

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But Hunter suddenly seemed to remember he wasn't in a cartoon and quietly went back to his seat.

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Then, out of nowhere, we heard a familiar squeaky voice behind us.

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What do you idiots think you're doing?

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We all turned around.

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Mrs. Fox was standing there completely fine.

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Everyone screamed while I just gave her a questioning look.

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Mrs. Fox immediately looked away, like she hadn't just been playing dead for two hours.

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Then, like our bodies had been trained by fear, everyone rushed back to their seats.

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Everyone except Haley, who was still standing by the window with one leg halfway over the ledge.

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Even Hunter sat down and handcuffed himself to the desk again.

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Oh my god, oh my god, you're alive!

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Why wouldn't I be?

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I was resting my eyes for one minute, and this is how you kids act?

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Then she pointed straight at Haley.

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You, airpiece, fake pregnancy, window escape, disqualified.

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That feels personal.

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It is.

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Then Mrs. Fox picked up the classroom phone.

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Security!

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Room 214.

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I've got a cheater trying to escape through a window.

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Mrs. Fox pointed at Hunter next.

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And you, juvenile detention boy, back to wherever they lost you from.

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You can't prove anything!

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Mrs. Fox looked at the pocket knife, still stuck in the door.

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I saw that thing in your sleeve when you walked in.

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I was waiting to see if you were stupid enough to use it. And...

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Congratulations.

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A minute later, two security guards showed up.

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One escorted Hayley out while she screamed and flailed like a reality show contestant, and the other grabbed Hunter,

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who suddenly looked way less confident.

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Don't worry, babe.

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I'll wait for you!

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Please don't.

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Hunter twisted around to glare at us.

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This isn't over!

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I know all your faces!

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Good luck with the spoon.

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Oh, low blow, Skyscraper!

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Then he disappeared down the hall, still yelling.

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A few tense minutes passed before the principal rushed in with the boy who had run out to report us.

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The second the boy saw Mrs. Fox standing there, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

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I swear, she was dead when I left!

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Why does everyone keep saying that?

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I'm clearly not done suffering.

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The principal looked furious.

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Back to your seat, boy.

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I don't know what kind of prank this is, but making a false report during an exam is not funny.

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The boy looked speechless and walked back to his seat in shame.

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Everyone, you have 30 minutes before the exam is over.

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Then she pulled out her iPhone and started playing on it like nothing had happened.

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We all stared at it.

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So she had a smartphone this whole time?

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And we had wasted 10 minutes with a dead Nokia!

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I looked at Tom, then Esme.

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Somehow, the three of us shared a quiet laugh.

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I tried to solve the exam, but another five minutes went by, and still nothing.

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Then suddenly, the door burst open.

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It was Sally.

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The principal ran in right behind her.

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I tried to stop her, but she was too fast.

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I stared at Sally.

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She looked exhausted, and her eyes were puffy from crying.

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I knew immediately.

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Our aunt's husband had hurt her again.

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Please, Abby, pass this exam.

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Let's start a new life.

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I started to tear up.

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I looked at Tom.

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He gave me a small, encouraging smile.

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Then I looked at Esme, and she nodded like she already knew I could do it.

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I picked up my pencil and looked back at the questions.

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And for the first time all day, they started to make sense.

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So I started writing.

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A while later, the exam was over.

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And somehow, I'd answered every single question.

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Esme had finished too, and she looked absolutely ecstatic.

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Well, I answered a few questions, so fingers crossed.

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I smiled at him.

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Yeah, keep hoping.

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You kids thought I was just some old lady and cheating would be easy, huh?

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Ho ho, jokes on you!

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And if you learned anything in my classroom today, it's that cheaters never win.

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Mrs. Fox collected everyone's papers one by one.

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When she got to mine, she stopped.

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Then she lowered her voice.

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I knew your mother.

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She was my student a long time ago.

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Brightest girl I ever taught.

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I also know about the accident, and Sally, and that husband.

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How do you...

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I'm old, and I live in a small town.

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I know everything.

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I've been doing this job for 40 years.

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I know what a smart kid looks like when they're drowning in their own head.

500

So I gave you something else to focus on.

501

That was either the kindest or most unhinged thing anyone has ever done for me.

502

So.. thank you, Mrs. Fox.

503

Mrs. Fox quickly looked around to make sure no one had heard us.

504

Then she gave me the tiniest warm smile.

505

Honestly, I didn't even know her face could do that.

506

Now everybody get out!

507

I need my noon nap.

508

Feels like I haven't slept in a week.

509

I handed her my exam paper, then walked out to my sister.

510

I held Sally's hand, and together, we left with the biggest smiles on our faces.

511

For the first time in a long time, the future actually felt possible.

512

When everything falls into pieces And you have wasted every teardrop Everything for no good reason

513

You don't have to struggle harder

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “I'm A Secret Genius: Not By Choice”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: looked, Tom, Mrs, fox, Hunter. This video has 513 sentences and 4826 words to shadow. The speech runs for 29:37. The speaker talks at a natural 163 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
examination noun	/ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/	The act of examining.
cheat verb	/ˈt͡ʃiːt/	To violate rules in order to gain, or attempt to gain, advantage from a situation.
sock noun	/sɑk/	A knitted or woven covering for the foot.
stare verb	/stɛɚ/	To look fixedly (at something).
stall noun	/stɔːl/	A compartment for a single animal in a stable or cattle shed.
earpiece noun	/ˈɪɹpiːs/	A speaker placed inside or held near to the ear.
follower noun	/ˈfɒləʊə(ɹ)/	One who follows, comes after another.
yell verb	/jɛl/	To shout; holler; make a loud sound with the voice, especially to express intense emotions such as anger or excitement.
comedian noun	/kəˈmiː.di.ən/	An entertainer who performs in a humorous manner, especially by telling jokes.
scream verb	/skɹiːm/	To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, sharp outcry, or shrill, loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain; to screech, to shriek.
classroom noun	/ˈklɑːsɹʊm/	A room, often in a school, where classes take place.
convince verb	/kənˈvɪns/	To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence.
scoff verb	/skɔːf/	To jeer; to laugh with contempt and derision.
whisper verb	/ˈ(h)wɪspɚ/	To speak softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration of the…
spoon noun	/spuːn/	An implement for eating or serving; a scooped utensil whose long handle is straight, in contrast to a ladle.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
pick up verb		To lift; to grasp and raise.
look around verb		To inspect a building or area.
look away verb		To ignore something; to pretend not to have seen or noticed something; to avoid dealing with something.
look up verb	/ˌlʊk ˈʌp/	To have better prospects.
run away verb		To flee by running.
tear up verb	/ˈtɛəɹ ˈʌp/	To tear into pieces.
turn around verb		To physically rotate (usually around a vertical axis) for a half turn (180 degrees), a whole turn (360 degrees), or an indefinite amount.
wrap around verb		To move (text or other content) to the beginning of the next line when unable to fit it at the end of the current line.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

How could you, how could you include this?
Do you know how to solve it or not?
Then why didn't you tell everyone?
Also, I'm very tall and memorable, remember?
What do you idiots think you're doing?

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on	I've been digging · I've been working · I've been doing
Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result	If Little Miss Smarty Pants won't help
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	I've recovered · haven't said · have never hated
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing	students who had · one who started · one who pays

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 115 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: gather /ˈɡæðɚ/, breathe /bɹiːð/, unethical /ʌnˈɛθɪkəl/, seventh /ˈsɛvənθ/, throat /ˈθɹoʊt/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, detention /dɪˈtɛnʃn̩/, shake /ˈʃeɪk/, rational /ˈɹæʃ(ə)nəl/, suspicious /səˈspɪʃ.əs/
Long words — get the stress right: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, comedian /kəˈmiː.di.ən/, unethical /ʌnˈɛθɪkəl/, biology /baɪˈɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/, hilarious /hɪˈlɛə.ɹi.əs/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like examination, cheat, sock.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Sentences worth repeating

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?