Chapter 6 - Brayden TalksBrayden disappeared from school for four days.
On Friday afternoon, Cameron saw him outside a convenience store.
Brayden tried to walk away.
“Brayden.”
He stopped.
Cameron stayed several feet away.
“I’m not going to touch you.”
Brayden turned.
“I know.”
“You told Tessa somebody gave you the answers.”
Brayden shoved his hands into his pockets.
“I was mad.”
“Was it true?”
No answer.
Cameron waited.
Brayden looked exhausted.
Without his classroom audience and his mother behind him, he seemed younger.
“I didn’t ask for them.”
“What?”
“My mom gave me the paper.”
Cameron stared.
“You said somebody else—”
“She got it from Vance.”
There it was.
“Why?”
Brayden laughed bitterly.
“You think I know everything?”
“You used it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she told me to.”
“You could have said no.”
Brayden’s eyes hardened.
“You don’t know my mom.”
Cameron touched his cheek unconsciously.
“I know enough.”
Brayden noticed.
His anger disappeared.
“My dad says I ruined everything.”
“Your dad sells fake tablets.”
“They’re not fake.”
“Whatever.”
Brayden looked toward the road.
“My mom needed my scores.”
“Why?”
“Scholarship.”
“What scholarship?”
“Westbridge Scholars.”
Cameron knew it.
Every year, the district recognized its top eighth-grade academic performers.
The award came with a $10,000 private scholarship funded by the Westbridge Education Foundation.
Brayden continued.
“Mom said if I won, nobody could say she only got promoted because of Dad’s donations.”
“Promoted to what?”
“Department chair.”
Cameron stared.
This wasn’t only money.
It was status.
Mrs. Donovan needed a star son.
Eric Donovan needed district relationships.
Vance needed benchmark results.
Aaron needed contracts.
Everyone wanted something.
Brayden whispered:
“She said everyone bends rules.”
“Did she give you my phone?”
“Yes.”
“To delete the video?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“You played a game first.”
Brayden looked embarrassed.
“Yeah.”
Cameron almost laughed.
The entire cover-up had cracked because Brayden wanted to finish a racing game.
“Why are you telling me now?”
Brayden looked at him.
“Because they’re blaming me.”
“Who?”
“My parents.”
Cameron said nothing.
“Dad says if I hadn’t been stupid with your phone, none of this happens.”
“That’s not true.”
Brayden looked surprised.
Cameron continued.
“You cheated.”
“Yeah.”
“You used my phone.”
“Yeah.”
“But your parents made their choices before that.”
Brayden swallowed.
Nobody had apparently told him that.
Then he pulled something from his backpack.
A folded photocopy.
“I kept this.”
Cameron did not take it immediately.
“What is it?”
“The answer sheet.”
“You gave it to Vance.”
“A copy.”
Cameron’s heart started pounding.
Brayden held it out.
At the bottom was a small footer.
DISTRICT ASSESSMENT OFFICE — SECURE DRAFT.
And a handwritten note:
N.V. — FINAL VERSION. DESTROY AFTER USE.
Cameron stared.
“N.V.”
May you like
Brayden nodded.
“Nolan Vance.”
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