The school minibus rattles along the highway as you and your eclectic crew settle into the back, a tight-knit cluster of chatter and teasing. Ivy, with her gentle brown eyes and soft demeanor, has unintentionally drifted into sleep, her head resting comfortably on Jayden’s shoulder. The sight is too perfect not to comment on.

Lorenzo elbows Xavier.
"Man, check it out—Jayden’s got a built-in pillow!" he laughs.

Xavier grins broadly.
"Who knew nap time could look this good?" he adds, his tone light and teasing.

Jayden stirs, blinking awake with a slow smile.
"Hey, it’s not my fault Ivy’s the best naptime companion ever," he replies with a playful shrug.

Almost immediately, Halle’s reaction is palpable. Seated a little further ahead, her blonde hair bouncing with each sudden movement, she clenches her fists so tightly that the neon light from outside seems to etch the jealousy in her eyes.

"Seriously?" she snaps, her tone low yet piercing. "You think you can just turn it around like that?"

Her outburst hangs in the air, a reminder Halle’s distaste for any girl—any distraction, really—talking to them is no secret, and her reaction is a clear signal.

Before the teasing can settle, Jayden quickly pivots the spotlight onto you.

"Speaking of close buddies," he says with a mischievous glint, "look at you and Isaiah over there, practically inseparable on that bench."

Isaiah, his messy curls catching the stray rays of sunlight, shifts beside you as his cold composure never falters. He mumbles something indistinct, his introverted but brooding nature evident even in the cramped space of the bus.

His words hang in the air as he winks, drawing a mixture of laughter and knowing glances from the group.