He Stole My Sat Score For Her

Synopsis

The SAT practice test had just ended when a beggar outside the school gate pointed straight at me and said, "Zero." I let out a small laugh. "Yeah, right. The top SAT scorer in the state isn't getting a zero." He gave me a long, knowing look. "The top scorer is your best friend. You're the one with zero." I chuckled and shook my head. That was impossible. I'd always been number one. Just as I turned to leave, he nodded toward the bracelet on my wrist. "A charm that swaps luck for scores," he said. "When she turns in a blank test, your score drops to zero." I froze. My best friend had given me this friendship bracelet not long ago. I'd told her it got in the way when I wrote, but she'd insisted I wear it. No matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't come off. Lately, my grades had been slipping, while hers kept climbing. She'd been top of the class three times in a row. I swallowed. "So what do I do?" "Give it to someone close to you," the man said quietly. "Only someone who truly cares about you can share the weight of your fate." He lifted his hand and pointed to the boy waiting a few steps away. "Him, right?" I turned. Standing not far from me was my childhood sweetheart, waiting with a soft smile.