The cafeteria sounded like a pep rally long before the meeting even started. Chairs scraped against the floor, voices overlapped in bursts of laughter, and someone kept dribbling a basketball against the wall even though it wasn't that kind of event.
Rey stepped inside with Michael and Carlos, weaving between tables until they found a spot near the back.
"You sure you're not gonna run for Bash King?" Carlos asked as he slumped into his seat.
Rey gave him a look. "Do I look like I own a crown?"
"Exactly," Carlos shot back. "That's why you'd win. Mystery, bro."
Michael grinned. "Nah, we all know who the real queen's gonna be." He tilted his head toward the front where Aaliyah was helping the committee arrange decorations.
She was laughing at something one of the organizers said, tying bright ribbon around a stack of invitations. When she spotted Rey, her smile widened just enough to make Michael nudge him in the ribs.
---
The meeting kicked off with Ms. Turner, the student council advisor, running through the checklist: venue, decorations, refreshments, music. A debate broke out about whether to have a live DJ or just use a playlist.
Aaliyah raised her hand. "We should get a DJ. You can't trust a playlist to know when the mood shifts."
Rey, without thinking, said, "She's right."
Several heads turned toward him, and Aaliyah gave him a knowing smile.
---
Half an hour later, the committee split into smaller groups to tackle tasks. Rey ended up with Aaliyah and two other students in charge of helping design the event banners.
They sat at a corner table with markers, scissors, and rolls of colored paper. Aaliyah leaned over, sketching out a bold letter "B" for Bash, her sleeve brushing Rey's arm.
"You good at this kind of thing?" she asked without looking up.
"Better than I am at slow dancing," Rey said.
She laughed softly. "Guess we'll find out soon enough."
---
In the middle of cutting ribbon, Rey noticed movement by the far door. A student — hood up, head down — stepped inside for a few seconds, scanning the room. The hooded figure didn't speak to anyone, didn't sit down. Just stood there.
When Rey looked directly at them, they turned and walked out.
Michael came over, holding a slice of pizza from who-knows-where. "Man, you're really locked in. That serious about banners?"
"Something like that," Rey murmured.
---
By the time the meeting wrapped up, the sun outside had slipped into early evening. Students spilled out of the cafeteria in noisy clumps, some still talking about playlists, others arguing over the best snack table layout.
Aaliyah walked with Rey toward the gates.
"Friday's gonna be good," she said. "Better if you're there."
He smirked. "You recruiting me?"
"Something like that." Her eyes lingered for a second before she turned toward the track field. "See you tomorrow, champ."
---
Michael jogged up beside him as she left. "You two are ridiculous. Just get it over with already."
Carlos joined them, shoving his hands in his hoodie pocket. "Or keep dragging it out. Gives me something to laugh at."
Rey shook his head with a small grin, but his thoughts drifted back to the hooded figure.
For the second time that week… someone had been watching.