I write my name at the top of the test paper and open it up. It’s a long test—it’s supposed to last for the entire class. It has most of the things that we’ve studied this whole year. Still, it’s not difficult. The last thing I studied yesterday—ecology—is the first thing on the exam. And it’s just definitions, which is easy. It’s just having to memorize a bunch of stuff.
I’m scribbling down what a biosphere is when I feel a slight nudge on my ribs. I look up, but everybody’s head is bent down over their own test. Even Aisling—who is the only person who could have nudged me—is staring down at her test with furrowed eyebrows. Maybe it was a mistake?
I’m about to go back to my test when Aisling slides a note across the narrow space between us.
Let me take a peek?
I can only stare at the words for a moment. I should have known this was why Aisling decided to sit right next to me in class today. Why she has been so friendly. Maybe why she agreed to hang out with me on Saturday, and probably why she invited me to sit with them at lunch.
If I let her take a look at my test, if I let her cheat, does that mean I’m good in her books? Does that mean we’re friends? Or friendly enough for her to tell people that they should vote for me for Head Girl? Even if she doesn’t, isn’t the association already going to be much more than I’d ever get without her? People have already started treating me differently, just because I’m “dating” Hani. Who knows how things will change if I’m dating Hani and I’m friends with Aisling and Deirdre?
It’s not like letting her cheat on the test actually has any effect on me. She’s the one looking, and she’s the one who’s going to struggle when it comes to her Leaving Cert. Really, she’s just hurting herself, and I’m just doing what needs to be done in order to make sure the school has the best Head Girl.
Before I can think about it for too long, I lean back in my seat and push my test paper a little closer to Aisling. So it’s easy enough for her to make out what I’ve written. All she has to do is look over. I finish the test definitions like that, and ignore the look of satisfaction and delight on Aisling’s face.
“How’d you do?” Hani asks when she comes over to collect our test papers at the end of class. She barely glances at me.
“Pretty good, I think.” Aisling slings an arm over my shoulder as she says this. Like we’ve been best friends our whole lives. “I actually studied this weekend, so … I think I’ll do pretty good.”
Hani looks slightly confused, but she just nods her head. “Ishita?”
I shrug. “Yeah … okay. Probably. You?”
“Yeah. Okay, probably.” She grabs our test papers and passes them to Ms. Taylor.
Later that day, when I join the three of them for lunch in our base classroom, Hani is sitting facing the wall, with Deirdre beside her and Aisling opposite her. Conveniently, this is the only position where it’s impossible for me to sit beside her. If the others think this is strange, they don’t mention it. They just look happy to see me. I’ve never seen my classmates happy to see me before. A strange feeling surges through my chest at their expressions. I’m not sure if I like it or hate it.
“We should totally do something again this weekend,” Aisling says as we tuck into our lunch. “Like … we could go to a movie. What’s on the cinema?”
“Um …” Deirdre pulls out her phone and tinkers around on it for a moment. “Well … there’s like a bunch of superhero movies, obviously. There’s a new Pixar but it looks kind of bad. There’s another Disney remake and … basically nothing interesting.”
“So … not the cinema,” Aisling says. “Suggestions, Ishita? What do you like doing in your free time?”
“Um … studying?” I say.
Aisling and Deirdre burst into a fit of giggles like I’ve told a joke. Even Hani’s lips twitch like she’s trying very hard not to smile.
“Okay, we’re definitely not doing that,” Aisling says.
“Maybe Humaira has some suggestions?” I shoot her a look, and she finally looks up to meet my eyes. I still can’t read her expression. Usually, Hani is like an open book. Anger, frustration, happiness … all of that is written on her face clear as day. Now, though, it’s like she’s closed up the book for me, and I don’t know how to get her to open up once more.
“I don’t know,” Hani says. “Maybe we should just play it by ear.”