The new ranking of the star section was a shock to everyone because they thought only one between Atlas and Theo could get in. Others even thought neither of them could enter. However, since the rank one was leaving the school, one of them would surely get in.
Shortly after, the news that Finn deliberately scored low on the final exam was because he didn't want to be in the star section anymore. With this, everyone believed Theo got in by luck or mercy. Theo's score was, after all, very far from the ninth place.
As for Penny, she didn't care about all of this at all.
Instead, she focused on rearranging her thoughts. Which explained why she locked herself in her room as soon as she came home.
"This is not okay," she told herself, shaking her head. "I thought I've been living carelessly, but I'm living more carelessly than I thought."
Someone ask me sometime ago where were Penny's parents back when they were adult. I couldn't reply because I was writing and when I tried looking at the comment again, I couldn't find it.
So to answer that question, read the first chapter. :D It was mention during Penny and Atlas conversation. ^^