The Cheater Read Online Free PDF Page B

downstairs and into the study. “Carter?” she said. “Did I hear your father’s car pull out?”
    Carter nodded. “He said he had an errand to do.”
    â€œThat’s funny,” Mrs. Phillips said, shrugging slightly. She seemed to focus on her daughter’s face now. “And what are you doing, just standing in the middle of the room with that strange expression? Has something happened?”
    â€œWell, yes. Daddy called the testing service to find out what my math score was.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œIt’s seven hundred thirty.”
    Mrs. Phillips crossed the room and hugged Carter. “That’s wonderful, dear! Your father must be so happy. Isn’t it wonderful?”
    â€œIt’s great.”
    â€œCarter, we should celebrate! Why don’t you look happier about this? You look sort of numb.”
    Carter gave her mother a kiss and said, “It just hasn’t sunk in yet, that’s all. I can’t believe it’s really true.”
    â€œWell, it
is
true. It’s terrific news.” She pulled away from Carter now and started poking through her purse.
    â€œI wish I could stay and celebrate with you,” she said. “But I’ve got to run out and look at flower arrangements for the Spring Fling.” She gave Carter a kiss and added, “See you at dinner, dear.”
    Mrs. Phillips left. Carter wandered into the hallway, not sure what to do with herself. She sat down on the bottom step of the carpeted staircase.
    It worked, she thought. The whole plan worked out perfectly. I got what I wanted. Nothing bad happened.
    So why don’t I feel happy?
    She had no idea how much time had passed before she heard her father’s Mercedes pull into the driveway. A minute later he came into the house, all smiles.
    In his hand he held a tiny package, wrapped in robin’s egg blue paper and tied with a thin white ribbon.
    He held the package out to Carter, who was still sitting on the stairs. She looked at him in surprise.
    â€œThis is for you, Carter,” said Judge Phillips. “To celebrate the fruits of all your hard work.”
    He gave her the package, then kissed her on the forehead. “I’m so proud of you.”
    Carter opened the package. Inside was a pair of sparkling diamond earrings.
    Her stomach dropped to the floor. They were beautiful. No, they were gorgeous. But she knew she didn’t deserve them. She couldn’t help but think of what she had done to get those earrings.
    Cheater. Cheater.
    The word repeated in her mind.
    She tried to smile brightly at her father, hiding her guilty feelings. “Daddy,” she said, “they’re beautiful. Really beautiful. You shouldn’t have done this.”
    â€œPut them on, Carter,” said her father. “I want to see how they look.”
    Dutifully she put on the earrings. Her father beamed and kissed her again.
    â€œBrilliant diamonds for a brilliant girl. Now, I have some work to do in my study, but I’ll see you at dinner.”
    Still grinning, he went into his study and closed the door.
    Carter stood and made her way upstairs to her bedroom. She stood before her dresser, staring at herself in the mirror. The diamond earrings seemed to give off a glare. She cringed.
    Her father’s words echoed through her mind. “Brilliant diamonds for a brilliant girl.”
    I’m not a brilliant girl, she thought. I’m a cheater.
    And Daddy must never find out.

    Dan met Carter at her locker after school the next day. Carter knew she had to talk to him—to break their date for Friday night—but she dreaded doing it. Worse, she had no idea what to say. She had avoided Dan all day. Now he’d finally caught up with her.
    â€œWant to go to the mall?” he asked her. “Just hang out, look around.”
    â€œSure,” said Carter. At least the mall would provide some distractions. “Let’s go.”

    They