I walked back to class like I was wading through fog.
My legs moved, but my brain? It was sowhere else...stuck in that office, echoing with Mr. Han’s words.
Three days.
Three days to fix my life before it unravels completely.
I knew June and Marcus were going to ask.
They always do.
But I didn’t want to tell them.
Didn’t want them worrying about again. They already do that too much, and I hate that I can’t stop giving them reasons to.
So, I just kept walking. Eyes on the ground. Lost in thought.
"Watch your step, kid. Life’s slippery enough without adding water to it."
I blinked, jerking slightly at the voice.
My head had been down, feet dragging, thoughts still spiraling:
I looked up to see a mop slung over a yellow "Caution: Wet Floor" sign...and behind it, Marcus’s dad.
He gave a gentle look, not pity.
"Sorry, sir," I mumbled, lowering my head, stepping back. "I didn’t see..."
"Keep your chin up, Ash. Rain doesn’t last forever." He nodded slowly.
"Thank you," I said quietly, bowing my head once. Then again. Then a third ti, before realizing tears were already dripping silently to the floor.
I wiped at my cheek quickly, hoping no one else saw.
He probably noticed. Cos he gave a kind smile. Didn’t say a word.
Just kept mopping.
By the ti I got back to class, the door creaked open. A few desks still shuffled, notebooks half opened. The projector screen had been rolled up. The whiteboard was blank again.
Mr. Brooks had already left. Probably stord out after Orion’s little anatomy cody routine.
"I was frustrated too. But not at Orion. At the world. At everything I couldn’t control."
That was the kind of day I was having.
I slipped into my seat, pretending everything was fine.
But I knew they saw right through .
"Hey..Ash?"
June’s voice broke the silence. I turned to see her adjusting her glasses, eyes narrowed in worry. Marcus was just behind her, spinning a pen lazily between his fingers.
"What happened in there?" she asked, tapping my arm.
I blinked. Zoned out again. "Huh?"
"The principal’s office," Marcus said. "What did he say? You okay?"
I hesitated.
June pushed her glasses up, squinting like she could read my mind if she looked hard enough. "Hope it’s not sothing serious."
"No," I said, forcing a smile. "He just... wanted to ask so questions."
June’s brows shot up. "Questions like what?" She leaned in so close I could sll the faint scent of lemon sanitizer on her sleeves. "Like... FBI-level questions or just, like, what’s your GPA?"
"Oh my god, June," I laughed softly and started massaging her shoulders playfully. "Relax. You’re gonna pop a blood vessel."
"Don’t change the subject," she warned.
"I need your help, Juney," I said, drawing out the nickna with an exaggerated pout.
Marcus snorted. "Uh-oh. He’s about to emotionally manipulate us."
"Spill," June said, still suspicious.
"I need you to pick up Alia after school," I said, pressing my palms together in a dramatic prayer. "I have detention."
June spun around so fast I nearly stumbled. "ASH?! Nooo!"
"She told the soup I made Sunday night tasted like alien poop!" June whined. "She said, and I quote, ’This tastes like alien poop.’ Do you know what that does to a girl’s self-esteem?!"
"Do any of you know what alien poop tastes like?" she asked dramatically.
Marcus raised a hand. "Your soup."
I laughed so hard I had to grip the edge of the desk.
June let out a mock shriek and lunged at him, poking his freckled face and trying to pull on his ginger hair.
"Okay, okay....sorry!" Marcus held up his hands like she had a knife. "Truce!"
"Honestly, she scares ," Marcus admitted. "I’m not gonna lie, man. That girl could probably survive the Recall Trials."
"Please?" I gave them my best puppy face...bottom lip quivering, eyes wide.
Works every-ti Alia uses them on anyone.
June sighed, already lting. "Fine. But Marcus is coming with . I’m not dying alone."
"Please beg him to co with ," she added smugly, folding her arms.
I turned dramatically. "Marcus. Please. For the sake of my life. And hers."
He rolled his eyes, but the smirk gave him away. "Fine. But if she throws anything at , I’m leaving you both."
"Deal," I said.
He groaned but smiled. "You both know I can’t say no to either of you."
I sighed in relief.
The bell rang before I could thank them again.
Ti for the next class.
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