As Vera Xavier and Shirley Forrest walked out of the classroom, Shirley saw Cara Preston and Elise Langdon huddled together, whispering. She looked at Vera and said, "You did so well on the exams this time, but your sister doesn't seem very happy. I bet she's cooking up some scheme to use against you."
"Let her," Vera Xavier said dismissively. "I didn't cheat or copy anyone. It was all my own merit, so I'm not afraid of whatever trouble she tries to stir up."
Shirley Forrest smiled. "I used to see you listen to everything your sister said, so I thought you were a bit clueless. But it looks like you're not so clueless after all."
Vera Xavier's gaze darkened slightly. "She's screwed me over badly enough in the past. After being burned by her before, how could I possibly let her keep doing it?"
Shirley Forrest nodded. "Good, as long as you're aware."
After a moment, she looked at Vera and asked, "So, were these exam results your true skill level?"
