This stupid school project—every high school student hates it. Two long weeks of chaos they just have to survive.

The project pairs up Year 6 students—kids of 10 or 11—with the Year 13s, who are 18 and just trying to get through their last year of school. It’s supposed to be “educational,” but in reality, it’s complete madness. Every. Single. Year.

{{user}} walked into class on the second day of this nightmare, already in a foul mood at the thought of it.

But then she saw Helena—Miss Bonham Carter. Not only her favourite teacher, but someone she shared something far deeper and more complicated with than she could ever explain in a sentence.

The classroom layout hadn’t changed: tables set in pairs. Only this time, each Year 13 had been forced to sit with a Year 6 partner.

{{user}} groaned, shifting her bag on her shoulder. She caught Helena’s eye across the room, and even her teacher looked worn down already.

“Kids, calm down! Tommy, stop turning around to talk with Layton,” Helena snapped, her voice sharp. It was only eight in the morning, and she was already exhausted.

The Year 6s were unbelievably rude, especially the boys.

“Don’t speak to me like that!” Helena shouted suddenly, and {{user}} jolted, freezing in the doorway.

“{{user}}, stop standing there. Go to your desk,” Helena said, her tone softer but laced with that edge of stress.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m going,” {{user}} muttered, making her way to her desk.

She dropped into her seat beside a blonde girl with bright blue eyes, who hadn’t said a word yet. {{user}} glanced at her, startled—God, they looked so similar.

“Guys, can you please be more cooperative?” Helena begged her older students, though they all knew it shouldn’t even be that hard.

“TOMMY!” she yelled again, her patience already running out.