Green Meadow High had never been this loud. The usually serene courtyard was bursting with colour, noise, and energy. Banners flapped in the breeze. A DJ spun upbeat music from the student stage. Balloons floated past a crowd of new students excited for their first real taste of high school life.
It was Freshers' Week the one time of year when even the shyest students could shine… and when enemies turned into allies.
Alice, however, wasn't interested in parties.
She stood by the smoothie stand with her arms folded, scanning the crowd. Liliana hadn't been seen since her exposure. Rumour had it she left the city for "a mental health break" which was just rich, considering the damage she had done.
"Alice!"
Kira rushed over in a bright orange sash labeled Student Welcome Coordinator. "You're seriously not helping? It's literally in the name Welcome Week."
Alice rolled her eyes. "I'm not exactly in the mood to welcome anyone."
Kira blinked. "Still mad at Japheth?" Alice said nothing.
Kira sighed. "Look, he messed up, but you two were good friends before all this. You really think he believed that rubbish Liliana edited?"
"I don't know what to think," Alice muttered. "He cut me off, Kira. No questions. No benefit of the doubt. Just… silence." Before Kira could respond, a nervous voice interrupted them.
"Alice… hey." Japheth.
He stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, his green Meadow blazer unbuttoned and eyes full of regret. For once, he didn't look composed. He looked like he hadn't slept.
Alice stared at him, arms still folded.
"I wanted to talk," he said slowly. "Actually, I've been meaning to say something for weeks. I just… didn't know how to start."
"Start with 'I'm sorry'," she said sharply.
He nodded. "I'm sorry, Alice. For everything. I should've known better than to believe Liliana. I should've come to you. I just… I panicked."
Alice was quiet.
He took a breath. "You were one of my friends, and I let something ugly ruin that. I don't expect you to trust me right away. But I just wanted to say I miss my friend. A lot."
The tension lingered like mist.
Kira nudged Alice gently. "Say something."
Finally, Alice sighed. "You were a real jerk."
"I know."
"A dumb jerk."
He smiled slightly. "Still know. "And I'm still mad." I deserve it."
She stared at him. Then, surprisingly, she cracked a small smile. "But… I miss my friend too." He looked up, hopeful.
"Let's start over," Alice said. "Clean slate. But no more drama. If you ever doubt me again, I'll have Kira lock you in the school store room with the rats." Kira cackled. "I will do it."
Japheth laughed, a weight visibly lifting from his shoulders. "Deal." They exchanged a quick fist bump, and the mood lightened instantly. The music got louder. Students danced on the lawn. Someone fired a confetti cannon.
It was chaos and exactly what Green Meadow needed.
Alice flopped onto the couch beside Kira, who was downing her third energy drink.
"So," Kira smirked. "You and Japheth… friends now?"Just friends," Alice said quickly, holding up a finger. "No romantic fantasies. We're not going down that road."
"Mhm," Kira hummed, unconvinced. "Sure. But if it did happen, it would be cute."
Alice threw a pillow at her. They both laughed, the weight of the past few weeks finally beginning to fade.
Freshers' Week had brought more than just noise it had brought healing. And the year had only just begun.