Chapter 12

It wasn't good that I had been suspended. Right now, I didn't know how my fate was going to turn out. Whether I would advance to second year or repeat first year depended on whether I could prove my innocence or perhaps find a witness. No one was going to step up for me when I was just an average student. My clumsiness ended up affecting Alicia, which I deeply regret. I should have trusted my instincts when Isabella came to get me. She's a terrible person, and I'm not going to lie, I despise her.

A day quickly passed, leaving only four days before school would be out. "What's bothering you so much today?" Miles asked as we sat at the dining table, eating our food. "You sure know how to get on my nerves. You're not helping at all, and you know that. Just leave me alone, okay? I'm basically trying to figure out how to prove that I didn't steal the examination papers or even peek at them. I worked hard for this, but no one seems to believe me."

My eyes welled up with tears, and I quickly wiped away the single tear that had rolled down my cheek. "I'm sorry, Millie, but we're here to support you. I'm also participating in the investigation. You should know that as your big brother, I've got your back all the time." I nodded, and Miles pulled me into a hug, which I gladly accepted. "Well, honey, it looks like the kids are getting along quite well these days," my father said, looking at my mother with a look of deep affection, as if he could never get enough of her. Their relationship was truly something I admired.

"That's what siblings do," Miles said with a casual shrug. "Aren't you going to be late for school today?" I chimed in, and Miles smirked. "Well, since you guys are rushing me, I guess I better get going." He gave me a quick peck on the cheek and headed towards the door, grabbing his school bag. "Miles, catch!" I tossed him an apple, and he caught it effortlessly, sending me a wink before he left.

"Get ready, Millie, we're going for a girl's day out," my mother announced with a wink. "But I don't want to," I whined, stomping my foot as I headed upstairs. I opted for baggy jeans and a black t-shirt, tying my hair up into a ponytail. Today, I decided not to wear my glasses. I hurried downstairs, and my mom was already dressed in a summer dress and wearing shades.

"You look beautiful, Mom," I complimented her with a smile. "Grab the basket; we're going for a picnic, Millie." I stood there, taken aback. "Seriously, Mom?" I pouted. I wasn't in the mood for a picnic in this scorching weather.

Once we reached the park, we spread out the blanket on the grass. Mom arranged the snacks, and I grabbed a book she had brought along, adjusting my cap to shield myself from the blazing sun. The weather was sweltering, but the tree provided some much-needed shade. "I used to go on picnics a lot when I was your age, with my friends or sometimes your grandparents. I met your dad while we were having a picnic once. It was love at first sight. We exchanged contacts, and the rest is history," my mother said, a nostalgic glint in her eyes. "It sounds like it was an exciting time for you, Mom," I said, snapping my fingers in front of her face as she seemed lost in her memories.

"Oh, my apologies. I was lost in thought about that day. What were you saying, dear?" My mother said, popping a cherry into her mouth. I sighed and gazed up at the bright sky. "I was asking if it was an exciting time for you, too," I repeated. "Yeah, yeah, it certainly was, my dear. Picnics bring back a lot of fond memories and are a wonderful way to relax. We'll soon find evidence for your case. Miles and his friends are working on it. I'm confident we'll have good news soon," my mother reassured me, and I nodded in appreciation.

We arrived home a while later, and Mom insisted that I take a nap while she prepared lunch. I lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep. “Lunch is ready, Millie. Come downstairs," Mom called, and I quickly got up and rushed down the stairs, taking a seat next to my mother. We ate in silence, and afterward, I offered to wash the dishes to give Mom a chance to rest. Miles joined us later and informed us that there hadn't been any progress. Unfortunately, there were no CCTV cameras in the office, and since I was caught red-handed, it seemed like I was automatically assumed guilty.

Later in the evening, I grabbed my iPad and started watching my favorite series on it when I received a notification on my phone. I paused the show and grabbed my phone to see who messaged me. It was Alicia, and her message read, “You need to come to school tomorrow at all costs." I dialed her number, and she answered on the first ring. “What's going on?" I asked, still confused.

“You won't believe what happened. Miss Daniella contacted my parents since they couldn't get in touch with you. We're supposed to go to school tomorrow," Alicia explained in a hurry. “But how did they find out I was framed?" I couldn't help but ask. “Cody helped us, and there's a rumor going around that he and Isabella broke up yesterday. I'm so excited!" Alicia exclaimed, and I couldn't help but giggle.

“That's great, but I still wonder why Cody offered to help. He's not the type to do things for free. We should still be cautious around him." “I think he was kind of forced to come forward since he was there and recorded everything," Alicia explained quickly. “I didn't realize that. Anyway, good night Alicia. See you in class tomorrow."

I hung up and hurried downstairs to share the good news with my brother and parents. Miles was smiling, and it looked like he might have had something to do with it. “What did you do, Miles?" I asked, and he smirked, motioning for me to follow him. I knew whatever he was about to say might not please my parents and could lead to me being grounded.

I followed him to his room. “I might have given him a few punches to the nose and possibly scared Isabella with the help of my friends. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. Remember, you can always count on me when you're in trouble," Miles said while flexing his muscles. “Just be ready for me to call on you." I laughed. “You'd better not try that with me," I added with a smile, giving him a hug. “Thanks, Miles. I owe you one."

He was silent for a moment, then he ruffled my hair and opened the door for me to leave. One thing I knew about Miles was that he was skilled at hiding his emotions. Sometimes, help comes from the most unexpected places – in this case, from both Miles and Cody. I never would have imagined that they would play such important roles in my life.

The next day arrived quickly, and upon reaching school, I was told that I was needed in the principal's office. Reluctantly, I made my way there and knocked on the door. Principal Geraldine welcomed me inside, and I saw that Miss Daniella, Alicia, Cody, and Isabella were already present.

“Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry for what happened," Principal Geraldine said, her voice full of sympathy as she gently held my face. I nodded, indicating my understanding. “Isabella and Cody owe you an apology," she continued. I looked toward them, and both Isabella and Cody chorused, “We're sorry." I nodded again, accepting their apology. “I've already forgiven you guys, and Cody, thank you for telling the truth. It means a lot to me," I said with a smile, and he responded with a smirk.

“We'll make sure they receive appropriate punishment. Isabella and Cody will be on detention until school officially ends. The rest of you can go back to class." I nodded and quickly pulled Alicia out of the room.

“Do you think Isabella will make a comeback?" Alicia asked once we were back in the hallway. “She's quite the troublemaker, and I think the punishment is well-deserved. But as for Cody, I'm not sure why he's being punished. Though he was involved, I don't think he should face the same consequences." “Someone's feeling sympathetic toward their crush," Alicia teased, and I couldn't help but giggle.

..... Today marked the official end of first year. The results were posted on the notice board, and I was surprised to see that I had ranked first in the class. Alicia followed closely behind in second place, while Manuel took the third spot. I was even more surprised to find Cody in fourth place. It just goes to show that appearances can be deceiving!