Cheat by Kristin Butcher Read Free Book Online Page A

Jack and Sean both crooks? Did they know about each other? Were they part of the same scam?
    I couldn’t figure it out. If they were working together, why hadn’t Sean taken a picture of the answer key before Jack made the switch? And why had Jack switched answer keys anyway? During the walk home, I kept trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but nothing seemed to fit.
    As I turned onto my street, I slowed down, which was really stupid, considering it was pouring rain. I hardly noticed. I was more worried about facing my brother than I was about getting soaked.
    What was I going to do? Was I going to tell him that I’d seen him in Mr. Draper’s classroom? Was I going to demand an explanation? Would I threaten to turn him in? What if he refused to confess, even when I confronted him with the facts?
    I had no idea what I was going to do. Maybe nothing—at least not right away. I needed time to think. I’d seen Jack in Draper’s office, but he hadn’t seen me. He had no idea I was on to him. If I could hide my feelings, he wouldn’t suspect a thing. I’m not very good at stifling my emotions, so it would take a miracle to pull that one off. My best bet was to avoid Jack altogether.
    I didn’t get the chance. He was waiting for me in the upstairs hallway. He was slouched in the doorway to his bedroom, and he looked like he’d aged ten years since I’d last seen him.
    â€œI need to talk to you,” he said.
    â€œAbout what?” I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.
    He pushed himself away from the wall and walked into his room. “I think you know.”

Chapter Twelve
    My brain screamed No!
    I wasn’t ready to face Jack. But my body followed him anyway.
    I hadn’t even closed the door before he started in on me.
    â€œI’m going to ask you one more time, Laurel. Don’t write this article. I asked you before—for Sean. Now I’m asking you for me.”
    Suddenly I was laughing. But it wasn’t a boy-did-that-ever-tickle-my-funny- bone laugh. It was the kind of laugh you would expect to roll out of a person who was about to become an ax murderer. I was definitely losing it. The look on Jack’s face confirmed it.
    He frowned and—yes—he actually took a step backward. “What’s the matter with you?”
    That brought me back to my senses. “What’s the matter with me ?” I repeated in amazement. “The more accurate question is, what’s the matter with you ?”
    â€œWhat are you talking about? I’m not the one cackling my head off like a crazy person.”
    â€œAnd I’m not the one up to my eyebrows in a cheating scam!” I shot back.
    There. I’d said it. The color drained from Jack’s face. I could tell my words had hit home. I wished I could take them back.
    â€œI saw you in Draper’s office today,” I said. It wasn’t an accusation—just a fact. “I saw you switch the answer keys.”
    I wanted him to deny it, but he just slumped onto the bed and stared at the rug. “It’s complicated.”
    I didn’t say anything.
    He reached over to his desk and picked up a large brown envelope. No doubt it was the one he’d had in Mr. Draper’s office. He placed it on the bed beside him.
    Then he looked at me. “All I ask is that you hear me out. After that, you can do whatever you want.”
    I nodded.
    â€œOkay,” he said. “You were right about Sean. He is selling cheat sheets. But it didn’t start out that way,” he added. “Sean’s a good guy, but he’s not a great student, especially not in math. Believe me, I know what I’m talking about. I’ve studied with him. For Sean, math is a foreign language. He just doesn’t get it.”
    â€œThat doesn’t make it okay for him to cheat.”
    Jack scowled at me. “You said you’d listen.”
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œAt the