Tuesday Morning – Class 1-A
The bulletin board had grown teeth overnight.
Papers crisscrossed the cork surface like battlefield banners—maps of beaches, temple flyers, hand-drawn charts, and one suspiciously well-rendered manga-style sketch of me in swim trunks labelled:
"Vote Beach: For the View"
Sofia's doing.
Probably.
"Is this a campaign or a thirst trap?" Emma asked, peeling it off with two fingers.
"Why can't it be both?" Sofia replied, grinning over her coffee can.
Tyler wandered in, immediately yelling, "BEACH BOYS ASSEMBLE."
Amaya came in quietly after, hugging her bag close, and sat in her usual spot without a word.
Something felt… off.
Tension Between the Girls
It started subtle.
Emma was snappier than usual. Her planner pages got crumpled.
Sofia interrupted her at least three times during morning announcements, all with "cute ideas" for the trip.
Amaya kept looking between them, clearly torn, occasionally fiddling with her pencil like it was a nervous tic.
Then during group project prep—
I passed Emma a folder.
She said thanks without looking at me.
Weird.
I passed Sofia a set of props for the skit rehearsal.
She leaned in. "Such a good prince," she whispered playfully. "I'd crown you anytime."
I turned, only to catch Amaya's gaze.
She looked down immediately.
Even weirder.
Break Time – Tyler the Instigator
Tyler flopped into the seat next to me. "So, uh… you feel that too, right?"
"The cold air between Emma and Sofia?"
"No, the flames. That's not ice. That's scorch marks."
"And Amaya?"
"She's… not in the fight. But she's watching. Like a quiet ninja mom."
Noah popped up. "I give it three more hours before someone flips a desk."
"I vote Sofia."
"I vote Emma," Tyler countered.
"Why do I feel like I'm the prize in a gladiator match?" I muttered.
"You are," both said in unison.
The Blow-Up – Just Before Lunch
It started when Emma announced the final trip vote form submission deadline.
"Be sure to list pros, cost considerations, group capacity—"
Sofia yawned, loud. "Or we just go where Jay looks hottest."
Emma slammed her clipboard on the desk.
"You don't get to treat every serious conversation like a fashion show."
"And you don't get to control everyone just because you memorized the school's event policy," Sofia shot back.
"I'm trying to keep things organized—"
"You're trying to own him."
The silence hit like a punch.
Emma blinked.
I froze.
Amaya's pencil snapped.
Sofia looked like she realized what she'd just said.
Emma took a breath.
But instead of screaming… she walked out.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Deadly.
Lunchtime – Fragmented Table
We didn't sit together.
Emma ate with the council kids.
Sofia sat near the window, legs crossed, sunglasses on indoors like she was shielding herself from guilt.
Amaya sat across from me, quietly picking at her lunch.
Tyler offered me half a sandwich.
I wasn't hungry.
After School – Rooftop Scene with Amaya
She followed me to the roof, where I'd gone to escape the noise.
I sat down.
She sat next to me.
Wind blew softly between us.
Neither of us spoke for a while.
Then—
"I hate it when you get caught in the middle," Amaya said.
I glanced at her.
She wasn't looking at me—just at the clouds.
"But you always do," she added. "Because you're good."
I said nothing.
I didn't need to.
Her hand brushed mine again.
She didn't pull away.
Evening – Chat Notification
Sofia: …I messed up.
Emma: Not discussing this via text.
Noah: y'all okay?
Miles: next time just arm wrestle for him
Tyler: bro
Amaya: maybe… we just need to be honest. all of us.
I stared at the screen.
Then set my phone down.
Tomorrow… was going to be heavy.