Friday Morning – Class 1-A
By the time I walked in, the board was already covered.
A hand-drawn beach scene in the corner.
A sketched forest path on the left.
A cartoon hot spring with floating rubber ducks smack in the middle.
Above it all, in massive glitter-pen script:
SCHOOL TRIP PROPOSALS – VOTE TODAY
Sofia stood beside it like a proud auctioneer.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she announced. "Prepare to throw logic and decency into the ocean. Because we're voting—Class 1-A style."
Emma sighed so hard she almost deflated.
"I made a real presentation," she muttered, flipping open her laptop.
The Pitches Begin
Emma walked up first.
She cleared her throat.
"Option One: A historic mountain village with hot spring access. Rich cultural heritage, low-cost group accommodations, and direct tie-ins to our upcoming midterm units."
Everyone blinked.
Sofia fake-yawned.
"Did you say midterms on purpose? Why not just vote for detention?"
Noah stood.
"I present Option Two: The Haunted Beach Resort."
Everyone stared.
He held up a badly printed flyer with a scribbled ghost and a sun wearing sunglasses.
"Sunburn and screaming. You're welcome."
Emma: "That place was condemned last year."
Sofia: "Which makes it perfect."
Tyler's Turn
"Option Three! Beach. Full stop."
"That's not a full pitch," Emma snapped.
"It's emotionally resonant," he argued. "Sun. Sand. Swimsuits."
Sofia clapped dramatically. "I second the motion."
Amaya looked like she wanted to sink into her chair and disappear.
Miles added dryly from the back, "I vote for anywhere that isn't a public theatre performance."
Luna quietly pinned a sketch to the wall: a peaceful lakeside temple with falling cherry blossoms.
No one argued with her.
Everyone just kind of… nodded.
Jay in the Middle
Somehow, all the eyes turned to me.
Again.
Sofia: "Jay, you're the people's voice. What say you?"
Emma: "You promised to be neutral."
Tyler: "You said you wanted whatever made everyone happy!"
Noah: "Haunted. Beach. Say it, Jay."
I held up both hands.
"I'm just a humble citizen."
"Liar," Sofia whispered.
Emma narrowed her eyes. "You better not swing this vote."
Amaya leaned forward. "I'll vote with you," she said softly.
That didn't help.
That made it worse.
Voting Time – Tension Peaking
Each student was handed a slip of paper.
One vote.
One location.
Sofia passed hers in with a wink.
Emma sealed hers in an envelope.
Noah folded his into a paper airplane.
Tyler tossed his like it was a lottery ticket.
Amaya stared at hers for a full minute before quietly writing something and folding it into a neat square.
I hadn't voted yet.
Mr. Brooks walked by, holding the ballot box.
"No pressure," he said, sipping his coffee. "It's only your entire weekend we're talking about."
Lunch – Results Pending
The ballot box sat on the teacher's desk like a glowing artifact of doom.
No one touched it.
Not even Sofia.
Emma paced like she was on trial.
Amaya sketched distractedly, erasing more than she drew.
Tyler bounced his leg like he had to pee.
I leaned back, watching them all.
For once?
I didn't feel like I had to fix anything.
Just… watch it happen.
And wait.
After School – The Announcement
Mr. Brooks stood at the front, reading the final tally like he was announcing national elections.
"Winning location," he said, tapping the paper.
"By three votes…"
He paused.
Noah whispered, "Say haunted."
Brooks smirked.
"…Hot spring mountain village. Emma's proposal."
The class erupted.
Tyler: "YES—still get swimsuits!"
Sofia: "Tragic. I already ordered beach sarongs."
Emma: "Order cancelled."
Noah: "Rigged."
Luna smiled softly and erased her drawing.
Amaya clapped once, small and happy.
And me?
I just let out a quiet laugh.
Because this?
This was about to get wild.