were a blur of SAT p

d all the study groups, my desk

loudly to anyone who would

Olivia would say, her eyes gleaming. She imagin

r at parties, shopping, alwa

er, you know?" she' d sigh dr

s relying on

y high-scoring practice tes

rew with every "

my dedication. They didn' t have money for expensive tutors,

formance, ev

Late at night, after everyone was as

scripts. Polishing my old ideas, gene

to an end, but not t

f the exa

, quiet hall, the

ment of my first life' s abysmal sco

he failure w

d the b

he passages, then methodically filled in the

new the answers, but I car

oherent piece about the importance

lmost li

anded in my paper w

ht up with

u nailed it!" she chirped, al

exhaustion. "But I think I did ok

squeezed my arm. "I, on the

flawless.

ady counting

witch was as