Elaine had totally forgotten that today was their first C.A test. She sat staring at the sheets of question paper blankly, not knowing where to start or where to stop. Ever since the spirit possession, she had lost track of almost everything happening in her life and classes and right now, she was in deep trouble, as she hadn't been able to pay attention in class, neither had she gone through her notes.
Kyle watched her for a long time, even as he scribbled steadily across his own answer sheet. She hadn't even started, just staring at the script like answers would drop from the ceiling. She couldn't bring herself to ask for help either, not with the teacher prowling the aisles, eyes sharp, making sure no one broke the rules.
Kyle wrote a note to her on the top side of his paper, sliding it slightly to her. " Are you alright?" She gave him a faint nod, but her eyes still stayed blankly on the paper. Behind her, Allan and Gwen's scripts were already filling up fast.
She stayed like that for what felt like forever, the pressure mounting with every tick of the clock, her script still empty, she closed her eyes and leaned her head slightly on the side as she felt tears stung at the corner of her eyes at the thought of failing this way. Allan finally dropped his pen and leaned back, his eyes locked onto her back. Even without touching her, he could feel her emotions as his phantom's mark connected them, he had been feeling her disturbed and stressed emotions since the test began, he had tried to ignore, but he wouldn't be able to write in peace. He quietly, stretched his leg forward under the table until it tapped on her own leg.
Elaine glanced back, confused. She turned again when he tapped her chair a second time. This time, he signaled for her to stretch out her wrist, she raised her eyebrows in question, but he didn't answer, just stared at her before she nervously stretched out her hand behind her, with her body still facing forward so the invigilator wouldn't notice.
Allan's hand brushed against her wrist, his phantom mark glowing faintly as he reached into her mind, nudging her memories just enough for her to recall what she needed. Almost instantly, she bent over her paper, her hand moving as if it finally knew what to do. Soon, she was writing, answers flowing across the page while he kept her steady, still holding her hand behind her.
When the invigilator passed by their row, Elaine quickly released her wrist from his grasp placing her hand back where it belonged. By then, her script was half-filled, the words spilling onto the page like they had always been there. Kyke frowned, confused one moment she'd been frozen, and the next, she suddenly began filling all the multiple blank spaces.
Elaine worked furiously until she was almost done, Allan quietly supporting her until the last answer was scribbled down. Some students had already begun submitting when she turned slightly, whispering a soft, shaky, "Thank you, I really really appreciate" which he really didn't react to.
"I-"
The invigilator's voice cut through the room. "Mr. Demetriou and Miss Randolph, Stand up."
Every head turned. Elaine's chest clenched—this again. She had gone through the same humiliation on her first day in class, and now, on her first test. Still, she rose, a little more confident since she had already finished her paper.
"Have you both forgotten the rules?" the invigilator asked sternly, her eyes sharp.
They said nothing.
"I suppose you're done," she went on. "So instead of keeping silent during a CA test, you'd rather chit-chat?" Her shoes clicked briskly against the floor as she strode toward them. She snatched their scripts with a mocking smile, ready to help them submit before they were done but then stopped.
Both scripts were full.
Her face darkened with rage as she caught sight of Allan's smirk, Subtle, but mocking, like a slap to her pride.
Allan raised his voice so the whole class could hear. "We are already done, as you can see. And you're going to rip our scripts just to vent your anger, aren't you?"
Gasps rippled through the room. The tension thickened.
"Both of you, out!" the invigilator snapped, her fury trembling at the edges of her voice.
Allan stood calmly, his expression unshaken, and walked to the door without looking back. Elaine followed, her lips parting just enough to whisper a faint apology as she trailed behind him.
The class stayed frozen in silence long after the door shut, the invigilator's rage still burning in the air.