Tyler sat near the window with his chin resting on one hand, staring toward the front of the classroom.
Or at least that was what it looked like.
In reality, he was only pretending to listen.
Mr. Parker stood before the whiteboard explaining another mathematics revision problem while most of Class 1-A copied notes with varying levels of enthusiasm.
Only two weeks remained before final examinations.
The realization alone was enough to make all students nervous.
Tyler slowly turned his head and corrected himself.
Most students.
Not all.
His eyes drifted toward the back row.
Danny Pierce was currently drawing something inside his notebook that definitely wasn't mathematics.
Beside him, Miles Crowe wasn't even pretending anymore. His notebook remained completely closed while he stared out the window looking like a prisoner counting his remaining days.
Some things never changed.
More than a month had passed since Vanessa left the Brown household.
A month filled with school, homework, club activities, and surprisingly little drama.
For the first time in a long while, life felt stable.
At least for now.
Mr. Parker finished writing another equation before turning back toward the class.
"Alright."
Several students immediately looked up.
The teacher adjusted his glasses and placed the marker down.
"Our mathematics revision is almost complete."
A few relieved sighs spread across the room.
Mr. Parker immediately pointed toward them.
"Don't celebrate yet."
The relief vanished.
"I said almost."
A wave of laughter followed.
Mr. Parker smiled slightly before continuing.
"As for science, we'll spend the remaining two weeks reviewing important topics and solving previous examination papers."
Several students groaned.
Danny dropped his head onto the desk dramatically.
"I've suffered enough."
"No," Mr. Parker replied immediately. "You haven't suffered nearly enough."
The classroom burst into laughter.
Even Danny couldn't argue.
Mr. Parker folded his arms.
"If any of you have questions regarding mathematics or science, come to me."
He glanced around the room.
"That includes after school."
A student near the front raised her hand.
"What if we have club activities?"
"Then skip them."
The entire classroom gasped.
Mr. Parker nodded confidently.
"Education before hobbies."
Several club members immediately looked betrayed.
From the Literature Club section, Eris looked personally attacked.
Mr. Parker noticed.
"I'm looking at some of you specifically."
Eris sighed.
Tyler smirked.
The teacher continued.
"If you're struggling, ask for help."
His tone became more serious.
"Final examinations aren't something you should take lightly."
Then his eyes moved toward Danny.
"And definitely don't follow Danny's study methods."
Danny pointed at himself with a confused expression. "What study methods?" he asked.
"Exactly," Mr. Parker replied without missing a beat.
Another round of laughter swept through the classroom, and even Danny couldn't help smiling at the response. Before anyone could continue the joke, the bell rang loudly throughout the building, signaling the end of the lesson. The effect was immediate. Students began packing their belongings, notebooks snapped shut, pens disappeared into pencil cases, and the tired atmosphere of revision was replaced by the excitement of freedom.
Mr. Parker gathered his papers from the desk and headed toward the door. Before leaving, he glanced back at the class and said, "Remember what I said about preparing for your exams."
Nobody responded, which told him everything he needed to know.
The teacher let out a resigned sigh. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, sir," the class replied together.
A moment later, he disappeared into the hallway, and the orderly classroom atmosphere vanished almost instantly. Conversations erupted across the room as students relaxed now that the lesson was over.
Chris stretched his arms above his head and leaned back in his chair. "Finally. I thought that class was never going to end."
Turning toward Kai and Noah, he grinned and asked, "So, are you guys coming to the playground today?"
Kai raised an eyebrow. "To do what exactly?"
Chris shrugged casually. "I don't know yet. We'll figure something out when we get there."
"I'm in," Noah said immediately.
Chris pointed at him with approval. "See? A man of culture."
Noah laughed before looking toward Amaya. "What about you? Are you coming too?"
Amaya blinked in surprise when he realized everyone was looking at him. "Me?"
"Yeah, you."
He hesitated for a moment before answering quietly. "If you guys don't mind having me there."
Chris immediately stood up and pointed dramatically toward the classroom door. "Alright, then it's settled. We're going all out today."
"Oh really?"
The familiar voice made Chris freeze. He slowly turned around and found Tyler standing beside his desk with his school bag already slung over one shoulder.
"What?" Chris asked cautiously.
Tyler adjusted the strap of his bag and replied, "If you're planning to go all out today, what exactly are you planning to do during the exams?"
Several nearby students burst into laughter.
Chris looked offended. "It's going to be easy."
"Famous last words," Tyler replied.
The laughter only grew louder.
Chris pointed accusingly at him. "Do you seriously think we can't handle the exams?"
Tyler shrugged. "We can."
Then he pointed directly at Chris.
"You can't."
Chris placed a hand over his chest as though he had been personally wounded. "That's personal."
"It isn't."
"It absolutely is."
Tyler smirked. "If you keep acting like this, do you really think you're getting into Darsen High?"
Chris immediately straightened up and pointed proudly at himself. "Excuse me, but did you forget that Darsen High and Central Academy are basically siblings? Students from here practically have a shortcut."
Tyler paused.
Unfortunately, Chris wasn't entirely wrong. Central Academy students did receive preference during admissions.
With a sigh, Tyler finally said, "Fine."
Chris's grin widened instantly. "See? Even Tyler can be defeated if you understand him."
Aria shook her head. "You're celebrating way too early, and you're definitely celebrating against the wrong person."
Without warning, Tyler wrapped an arm around Chris's shoulder.
"Come on," he said.
Chris blinked. "Come on where?"
"We really should play something today."
Tyler smiled.
It was the kind of smile that immediately made people suspicious.
"We're going all out today."
Chris's expression changed at once. "I don't like the way that sounds."
Tyler laughed.
A second later, Chris laughed too, and whatever challenge had been forming between them disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
Nearby, Eris had been watching the entire exchange with visible disappointment.
"You guys are idiots."
Chris immediately pointed at her. "Look who's talking."
Eris frowned.
"Says the head of the Bookworm Club."
She nearly facepalmed. "For the last time, it's called the Literature Club."
Chris nodded confidently. "Exactly."
"That's not exactly."
"It is."
Eris groaned and turned toward Tyler. "You're part of the club too. Say something."
Tyler shrugged. "Nobody calls me a bookworm."
Eris stared at him in disbelief. "Not you too."
She dramatically pointed toward the ceiling. "Who is supposed to take my side around here?"
The group burst into laughter again.
"You guys should stop bullying my friend."
Everyone turned toward the new voice.
Clara had arrived.
Eris immediately looked relieved. "At least someone here is reasonable."
Clara smiled as she joined the group. "Exams are almost here. Are all of you prepared?"
"Mostly," Aria answered first.
Then she pointed directly at Chris and Noah.
"Except those two."
Chris gasped dramatically.
Noah gasped even louder.
"What do you mean, those two?" Noah protested.
Chris immediately pointed toward Kai. "He's with us."
Kai shook his head. "No, I'm not. My preparation is already finished."
Aria crossed her arms. "See?"
Chris looked betrayed.
Noah looked devastated.
Both of them turned toward Amaya as if searching for support.
"What about you?" Noah asked hopefully.
Amaya answered quietly, "I only have mathematics and literature left to review."
The betrayal somehow became even worse.
Chris looked ready to cry.
Noah looked ready to join him.
Eventually, both of them turned toward Tyler.
Then they immediately lost hope.
Chris sighed. "There's no point asking him."
Unexpectedly, Tyler spoke up.
"Actually, I haven't even started preparing."
Everyone looked at him.
Noah's eyes lit up instantly. He pointed triumphantly toward Aria.
"See? There are three of us now."
Eris immediately ruined his celebration.
"He spends half his free time reading high standards class books," she said while folding her arms. "Do you honestly think he needs preparation?"
Noah's excitement vanished.
"That's not fair."
Eris smirked. "And you call me a bookworm."
Chris could only offer a weak smile.
Before Noah could continue complaining, Clara cleared her throat.
"Actually, I wanted to ask everyone something."
The group turned toward her.
"If you all have some free time before exams..." She hesitated briefly before continuing. "We could have a farewell party."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Chris's eyes lit up.
Noah's lit up even more.
Kai looked interested.
Aria smiled.
Even Amaya seemed curious about the idea.
"A farewell party?" Kai asked.
Clara nodded. "Before exams. Since middle school is almost over."
"That's genius," Noah declared immediately.
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Aren't we all going to the same high school anyway?"
"Well..."
Before Clara could answer, Noah pointed dramatically at him.
"Hey, you stingy guy. Don't ruin the planning."
Kai immediately turned toward him. "What did you just call me?"
Aria sighed heavily. "Not again."
Eris folded her arms. "But Kai does have a point."
Kai nodded proudly. "See?"
Noah folded his arms and looked away. "Hmph."
Clara found herself caught in the middle of the argument. She wanted to explain her idea properly, convince everyone, and somehow keep the conversation from turning into another pointless debate.
Then her eyes landed on Tyler.
Almost instinctively, she seemed to be asking for help.
Tyler understood immediately.
But things weren't that simple anymore.
Instead of helping, he asked a completely different question.
"Is Aaron coming?"
The question caught Clara entirely off guard.
"What?"
"Aaron," Tyler repeated calmly. "Is he coming?"
For a moment, Clara genuinely didn't know how to answer.
"Well, I haven't asked him yet," she admitted. "I wanted to talk with you guys first."
Nearby, Chris leaned toward Kai and lowered his voice.
"What's Aaron got to do with this?"
Kai whispered back, "How would I know?"
Noah immediately joined them. "Why does the atmosphere always change whenever those two start talking?"
Aria looked at all three boys.
"You do realize we're standing right here, don't you?"
All three immediately looked away.
Chris cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking normally again.
"Anyway, I think we should do something before exams."
Eris nodded. "That sounds nice."
"It'll help everyone relax," Aria added.
Kai nodded as well. "You're right."
Noah threw both hands into the air. "Let's gooooo party!"
Clara smiled warmly. "Well, I guess it's settled then."
But even as she smiled, her eyes drifted back toward Tyler.
She was still waiting.
Still hoping.
Still expecting an answer.
Chris noticed the exchange and looked at Tyler.
"You'll come, right?"
Tyler looked toward Clara.
For several long seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then he shifted his gaze back to Chris.
He wanted to give a different answer.
Something easier.
Something that wouldn't make things awkward.
Instead, he chose honesty.
"I think..." he began quietly.
The smile faded from his face.
"I think I'm going to pass."
The entire group froze.
Nobody seemed to know how to react.
Before anyone could say anything, Tyler picked up his bag and started walking toward the door. He moved past Clara, past the others, and past the conversation itself, leaving the group standing in stunned silence as he headed into the hallway.
The classroom felt strangely quiet.
Clara stood where she was, staring toward the doorway through which Tyler had disappeared. A faint sadness crossed her face before she quickly hid it behind a smile.
Chris noticed.
He wasn't particularly good at understanding complicated emotions, but even he could tell something felt off.
After scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Chris glanced toward Kai.
"Well... let's get going then."
Kai gave a small nod, already slinging his bag over one shoulder.
Noah followed suit, adjusting his backpack before stepping away from his desk.
Just before leaving, Chris looked back at Clara.
His usual grin softened slightly.
"Hey."
Clara looked up.
"Don't worry about it too much."
She blinked.
"Hm?"
Chris pointed at her.
"You come up with the plan."
Then he hooked a thumb toward himself and the others.
"We'll be there."
Noah immediately raised a hand.
"As long as there's food."
Kai let out a sigh.
"You'd attend a meeting about homework if they served snacks."
Noah nodded without hesitation.
"Correct."
A few quiet laughs followed.
Even Clara managed a smile.
Though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Alright," she said softly. "I'll let everyone know once I figure something out."
"Sounds good."
Chris nodded before glancing toward Aria.
It was only for a moment, but the meaning was clear.
Stay with her.
Aria gave the slightest nod in return.
Satisfied, Chris turned and headed for the door. Kai and Noah followed, with Amaya quietly trailing behind them.
Before long, only a few students remained in the classroom.
Eris stepped beside Clara and gently patted her shoulder.
"Hey."
Clara turned toward her.
Eris offered a warm smile.
"Come on. Let's go."
For a brief moment, Clara's gaze drifted back to the doorway.
Then she lowered her eyes and nodded.
"Yeah."
Aria quietly moved to her other side as the three girls left the classroom together.