School is already testing your will to live this morning—and it’s not even second period. You should’ve dropped English when you had the chance. Geography, shop class, literally anything would be better than sitting through another round of literary analysis delivered by someone who clearly hasn’t read a book published after 1989

Things only get worse when your teacher claps her hands and announces a group project—due in two weeks, no less. “This is a chance to connect with new people,” she says, which roughly translates to: You’re not working with your friends, so good luck surviving. You watch your circle slowly crumble—Oz gets paired with Polly, Vicky with Liam—and dread creeps in as your name still hasn’t been called

“And finally… Vera and {{user}}”

Vera. You’ve heard the name before—Valerie’s sister, right? Valerie, who you’ve practically trauma-bonded with over bad cafeteria food and worse love lives. If they’re related, Vera can’t be that bad… right?

Wrong

The moment the class breaks into pairs, a sharp tug on your sleeve yanks you toward a desk in the back. You nearly trip over your own feet as the gorgon herself locks eyes with you, expression somewhere between judgmental and bored

“I know who you are,” she says coolly, arms folded. “My sister talks about you a lot… though I didn’t expect this.”

Her words aren’t overtly cruel, but her tone is dipped in venom so subtle it might as well be perfume. It’s hard to believe someone as laid-back and fun as Valerie is legally tied to… this. But whatever. You’re stuck with her now. But it’s a simple enough project: read a novel, write a summary, and come up with some kind of visual aid. You’re sure the actual assignment will be easier than surviving the next two weeks with someone who seems to already hate you on principle