Chapter 16: Test Day Jitters

The next morning, Ashley woke up and dragged herself out of bed. "Hey, Erica," she said, her voice groggy from sleep. Erica was already up and about, handing Ashley a bagel. "Good luck today," she said, smiling. Ashley smiled back, taking a bite of the bagel. She washed it down with a glass of water and then took her bipolar meds, which Erica had left on the table. She got dressed and combed her short, blue hair, feeling a sense of determination. Today was the day of the test, and she was going to pass it. As she walked to school, Ashley felt a sense of confidence. She had studied hard with Erica, and she was ready for this. But when she arrived at school, her confidence began to wane. She rummaged through her backpack, her heart sinking as she realised she had forgotten her test slip. "Fuck," she muttered to herself. She had been so careful to prepare everything else, but this one small piece of paper had slipped her mind. Ashley ran to the principal's office, hoping against hope that he would believe her. She burst through the door, out of breath. "Mr. Johnson, I forgot my test slip," she said, trying to explain. The principal looked up from his desk, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. "Okay, Ashley. Let me see your ID and your schedule. I'll have to verify that you're actually supposed to be taking the test." Ashley nodded, relieved that he wasn't sending her away outright. She produced her ID and schedule, and the principal checked them against his records. After a few moments, he nodded. "Alright, I'll give you a spare slip. But next time, make sure to double-check that you have everything you need." Ashley breathed a sigh of relief as she took the slip from him. She thanked him and hurried to the test room, hoping that she would be able to calm down and focus on the test. As she took her seat, she felt a sense of trepidation. She had studied hard, but she was still worried that she wouldn't do well. The test began, and Ashley took a deep breath. She was going to do her best, and she was going to pass. She glanced around the room, seeing her classmates all focused on their work. She felt a sense of solidarity with them, and she began to feel more at ease. As she worked through the questions, Ashley felt her confidence growing. She was going to get through this, and she was going to celebrate in style. The thought of a tattoo still lingered in her mind, but for now, she just focused on the test. She was determined to pass, no matter what.