Double Take

*other people's names and scores have been changed to protect privacy*

So last night was our first EMT test (covering the first four chapters). I was extremely nervous, not having a clue as to what to expect. We took the test on four different scantrons, turned them in by chapter, and had a good half hour to sit around in agony (AKA break) before starting the lab part of class (taking vital signs). The tests came back in the room and sat tauntingly on the corner of the desk with the promise that we'd find out our scores right before we left for the night.
On another break I asked the instructor leading the lab (Eric) why my resting heart rate first thing in the morning could be as low as 54 but the one I took in class (after the test) was 78. He said he doubted that my numbers were right, but that stress could influence heart rate a lot.
I said, "Could apprehension over a test be enough stress to raise it that much?"
He looked doubtful, but Murray, the other instructor who had graded the tests, pointed down at a column of numbers he'd written and tapped a circled 91 with his finger saying, "That's her score."
Eric looked down at the number and nodded back at me. "Yes, that may have done it."

***

At the end of the night, the class started packing up our stuff and putting back stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs while Murray started reading off our test scores by number. (Each person in the class has a number so this allowed us to find out what we'd gotten without the rest of the class being able to link scores to person.) "1. 72, 2. 83, 3. 68, 4. 75..." I listened, gathering my things and waiting to hear number 11 just for added confirmation even though I'd seen the score earlier. "9. 58, 10. 77, 11. 75, 12. "
My breath caught, the muscles in my jaw briefly flinching as I willed myself not to give myself away. I slid my notebook into my backpack. Maybe he was reading off the scores for each individual test instead of the average I'd seen earlier. "Oh! Wait, sorry. Number eleven, 91. 12. 78..." I exhaled and reached for my textbook. When all the scores had been read, Murray passed out blank scantrons for the next three chapter quizzes. I swung my backpack on and took the pack of sheets he offered. He grinned, asking, "So, did I scare you when I read the wrong score?"
"Yes!"

Glad the first test is over. Hope the rest of the tests go as well! :)