The air buzzed with excitement and nervous energy as students gathered in the grand auditorium of Sunset Valley High School. Freshmen marveled at the expansive space, while returning students caught up with friends, exchanging stories and gossip. It was a day of mixed emotions-anticipation, apprehension, and the thrill of new beginnings.

Emma and Ethan stood near the entrance, scanning the crowded hall.

Ethan nudged Emma, "So, are we doing this?"

Emma sighed, "Yeah, let's just keep it under wraps. No one needs to know we're siblings right away."

Ethan agreed, "Deal. It'll be more fun this way."

Emma rolled her eyes, "Fun for you, maybe. Just try not to get into too much trouble, okay?"

Ethan grinned, "No promises. Good luck, sis."

They bumped fists and headed to their separate seats, blending into the crowd.

Principal Mitchell, a tall, slightly eccentric man with a love for quirky ties, stood at the podium, adjusting the microphone. His bright yellow tie adorned with tiny green frogs swayed as he cleared his throat, ready to address the crowd. The school band began playing the school anthem as the students settled in.

Emma, looking for a place to sit, noticed a girl with a guitar and decided to introduce herself.

"Hi, I'm Emma. Mind if I sit here?" she asked.

The girl, Lily, smiled, "Not at all! I'm Lily. Nice to meet you."

Emma complimented Lily's guitar, "I love your guitar."

Lily replied, "Oh, thanks. I love playing music. What about you? Any hidden talents?"

Emma laughed, "Not really. I'm more of a bookworm. Except, I could make someone feel dumb."

Lily says sarcastically "That's cool. I hope you won't always make me feel dumb."

Emma smiles and grins "Maybe. We'll see."

Meanwhile, as Ethan is trying to find a seat, he bumps into people and causes quite a scene.

"Sorry, sorry, my bad!" Ethan kept saying as he navigated his way through.

"Hey, that was my foot you stepped on." A chubby boy says as Ethan tries to get to an empty seat.

"Well, you shouldn't have put your large feet in the way then." Ethan says with quite a harsh tone.

"What? You talking to me?" The chubby boy stands on his feet and tries to grab Ethan by the shoulder when another boy quickly pulls Ethan away.

"Whoa whoa, he didn't mean that. He meant to say sorry." Liam says, smiling as he pulls Ethan to his row. Liam leads Ethan to an empty seat beside his seat.

Ethan: taking his seat, "Well, I guess this seat isn't taken?"

Liam: smiling, "Nope, all yours. I'm Liam."

Ethan: pulling Liam's hand and shaking it, "Ethan. Nice to meet you."

Liam: "Nice to meet you too. You're new here, right?"

Ethan: "Yeah, just moved to town.

Liam: "Thought so. Anyone would have known to stay off Brad's radar."

Ethan: "Who?"

Liam: "Brad. Bradley Brown. The school's troublemaker."

Ethan: "Ohhh I see. Well, I'm more of a troublemaker myself."

Liam: "Oh trust me, you wouldn't want to get involved with him. He's a big baby."

Ethan: thinking it was a joke, laughed slightly out loud "Oh you're serious?"

Principal Mitchell finally hits the microphone, which makes a loud noise, signalling the students to quiet down. The chatter gradually subsided, and all eyes turned to the stage.

Ethan: curious "So, what's this school like?"

Liam: grinning "Let's just say, it's never boring."

Principal Mitchell begins his speech, "Good morning, Sunset Valley High! Welcome to a brand-new year! Whether you're a returning student or a fresh face, we're thrilled to have you here."

A student in the front row suddenly stands up to his feet and shouted, "Is it just me, or does Principal Mitchell's tie look like it's about to ribbit?"

The hall bursts into laughter, and even Principal Mitchell chuckles.

Principal Mitchell joked, "Yes, yes, I know-my tie is quite... hoppy today. Now, where was I? Ah, yes. A new year means new opportunities, new challenges, and of course, new friendships."

Another student calls out from the back, "And new cafeteria food! Any chance we're getting an upgrade?"

Principal Mitchell smiles "Well, I can't make any promises about the cafeteria cuisine, but I can promise you this-our staff and teachers are here to help you succeed and make this year unforgettable."

The students cheer, and Principal Mitchell continues with a grin.

As Principal Mitchell continues his speech, Liam leans over to Ethan.

"See that guy over there? That's Max, the school's star athlete. I call him Ximus."

"What? Why would you call him that?." Ethan says, looking confused.

"Because everyone calls him Max. I wanted to be the odd one out." Liam smiles.

"Oh well, good point." Ethan agrees.

Liam laughs, "He's also a legendary prankster and he likes that girl over there, Lily, the one with a guitar." He says, pointing to where Lily and Emma were seated.

Ethan observed, "Wow, she's pretty. Can I have her?"

"Of course not. Ximus would kill you, but he's always up for a challenge so I'm sure he'll be glad to compete for her love." Liam says.

"Great. Perfect. I'll definitely win." Ethan says proudly.

"We'll see about that. Over there, with the camera, that's Cyrus. She takes pictures of everything." Liam continued the rundown.

Ethan teased, "Handy. Maybe she'll get my good side."

"Shush. Some of us are actually trying to pay attention here." A weird looking guy sitting in front of them says angrily.

Ethan and Liam exchange guilty looks and pretend to pay attention.

Across the hall, Lily was giving Emma a similar rundown.

"That's Noah, our science geek and my best friend. He knows everything about, well, everything," Lily explained.

Emma remarked, "Oh, besties. I like that. He looks like he belongs in a lab, not a high school."

Lily agreed, "He practically lives in the science wing. It would take a lot of manpower to get him out of there."

"Well at least he's not all about good looks. And there I was thinking all good looking guys were dumb." Emma says quite loudly.

A very good looking student sitting beside Emma gives her a somewhat weird look.

"No offense." Emma says, giving a fake smile.

"Over there's Olivia, the queen of the 11th grade and every guy's dream girlfriend." Lily continues.

"Oh I agree with you. She's gorgeous." Emma agrees as she stares at Olivia, talking and laughing with her friends.

"Yeah. She's obsessed with Noah, but everyone knows he likes Cyrus." Lily explained.

"Woah, must be a lot for Cyrus to handle." Emma says.

"Not really. She doesn't care. She's really passionate about photography and I think that's what Noah admires about her." Lily says.

"Hmm...he admires her passion for photography. I love that." Emma smiles.

Principal Mitchell continues, "Let's talk about some important things. First, remember to respect each other. We are a community, and kindness goes a long way. Second, don't be afraid to try new things. Join a club, try out for a sport, or maybe even start your own club. Last year, we had a successful 'Rubber Ducky Collectors Club'."

A student shouts from the middle rows, "Quack, quack!"

Laughter fills the hall again, and Principal Mitchell shakes his head with a smile.

Liam leaned over to Ethan, "See? I told you it's never boring here."

Ethan chuckled, "I'm starting to believe you."

Principal Mitchell chuckles, "Exactly! Embrace your uniqueness. Finally, remember to focus on your studies. As much fun as high school can be, it's also a place to learn and prepare for the future. And speaking of the future, our senior class will be leading by example, so let's give them a round of applause."

The seniors cheer and wave, basking in their moment of glory.

Principal Mitchell sends out a reminder, "Now, a quick reminder about the rules-no running in the halls, no skipping classes, and definitely no food fights in the cafeteria. Trust me, the janitors still haven't forgiven us for last year's spaghetti incident."

The students laugh, and a few seniors exchange guilty looks.

"Alright, that's enough from me. Remember, my door is always open if you need anything. Let's make this year the best one yet! Welcome to Sunset Valley High, everyone!" Principal Mitchell smiles as he concluded his speech.

The hall erupts in applause and cheers as Principal Mitchell steps down from the podium, waving to the students. The atmosphere is electric, filled with the promise of a memorable year ahead.

Emma and Lily were chatting animatedly.

"So, what else should I know about this place?" Emma asked.

Lily reassured her, "Just stick with people that look like the good guys, and you'll be fine."

"How do I differentiate the good guys from the bad guys." Emma asked, looking concerned and confused.

"Oh, you'll know. You'll just know." Lily smiles.

Ethan and Liam continued their conversation.

"Any advice for a new guy?" Ethan inquired.

Liam advised, "Just be yourself. Oh, and watch out for Principal Mitchell's frog ties. He has one for every day of the week."

Ethan nodded, "Noted."

Emma and Ethan exchange a glance from across the hall, both feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. Sunset Valley High was already proving to be an interesting place, and they couldn't wait to see what adventures awaited them.

____

The school bell rings, signaling the end of the orientation program. The students of Sunset Valley High School gather their belongings and begin to make their way to their first period.

Emma: whispering to Ethan as they walk "Remember, we agreed not to mention we're twins. Just play it cool."

Ethan: grinning "Relax, Emma. I got this."

As they enter the classroom, Mr. Andrews, the Calculus teacher, greets them at the door.

Mr. Andrews: smiling "Ah, you must be the new students. Welcome! Please take a seat."

Emma and Ethan find seats near the back of the room. Liam waves at Ethan and gestures for him to sit closer.

Liam: whispering to Ethan "Hey, over here. Sit with us."

Ethan nods and moves to sit near Liam, while Emma takes a seat near Cyrus.

Mr. Andrews: "Alright, everyone, settle down. Before we dive into today's lesson, I'd like to introduce our new students, Emma and Ethan Anderson. Emma, Ethan, why don't you come up and tell us a bit about yourselves?"

Emma and Ethan exchange a nervous glance before walking to the front of the class.

Emma: smiling shyly "Hi, I'm Emma. I just moved here from out of town. I love reading and I'm excited to be here. Also, I'm in no way related to this guy."

Ethan: grinning "I'm Ethan. I'm really into sports and making people laugh. Oh, and by the way, we're twins!"

A collective gasp and chuckles ripple through the classroom.

Emma: elbowing Ethan, whispering "Ethan! We agreed not to mention that."

Ethan: shrugging "Oops."

Liam: laughing "Nice going, Ethan. Way to keep a secret."

Max: smiling "Welcome to Sunset Valley High, you two."

Olivia: rolling her eyes "Weirdos."

Max: grinning "This is going to be interesting."

Mr. Andrews chuckles and gestures for Emma and Ethan to take their seats.

Mr. Andrews: "Well, it's nice to meet you both. Welcome to our class. Now, let's get started with today's lesson."

Noah and Lily enter their advanced physics class, chatting as they take their seats near the window. Noah is fiddling with a small gadget he built, while Lily sets her books down, humming a tune.

Noah: looking up from his gadget "Hey, where were you during the orientation? I was looking for you."

Lily: smiling "I sat beside this fun new girl, Emma. She's really interesting."

Noah: raising an eyebrow "Emma, huh? I heard some new students joined. What's she like?"

Lily: "She's quiet but really smart. She's into books, like you are into science."

Noah: grinning "Sounds cool. I'll have to introduce myself. Maybe she'll be interested in some of my experiments."

Lily: laughing "Maybe, but don't scare her off with your weird gadgets."

Noah chuckles, and they both look up as their teacher, Ms. Whitfield, walks into the room and begins writing on the board.

Ms. Whitfield: "Alright, class, settle down. Today we're going to dive into quantum mechanics."

In the 11th graders class, as the lesson progresses, the new friends start to interact more. Emma, sitting near Cyrus, strikes up a conversation during a group activity.

Emma: smiling "Hi, Cyrus, right?"

Cyrus: shyly "Yeah, that's me."

Emma: "So I heard you're into photography?"

Cyrus: smiling "Yes I am. I hate to brag but I'm really good at what I do, which is why I'm so popular."

Emma: laughing "Oh wow. Definitely not bragging."

Meanwhile, Ethan is getting to know Liam and Max a bit better.

Ethan: "So, Liam, you said you're into video games?"

Liam: nodding enthusiastically "Yeah, can't get enough of them. Ximus here is always challenging me to beat his high scores."

Max: grinning "Gotta keep you on your toes, buddy. Oh and Ethan, we should hit the court sometime."

Ethan: "Definitely! I'm up for any challenge."

Olivia: interjecting "Just make sure you don't get too competitive. Max tends to turn everything into a contest."

Max: "Hey, competition is healthy. Right, Olivia?"

Olivia: sighing "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Parker."

Liam: to Ethan "Don't mind them. They bicker like an old married couple."

Ethan: laughing "I noticed."

Mr. Andrews: "Alright, everyone, back to the lesson. Let's focus on these integrals."

As the class continues, Emma and Ethan feel more at ease, enjoying the friendly banter and the new connections they're making. By the time the bell rings for the next period, they've already started to feel like part of the group.

As they leave the classroom and head to their next class, the group of friends continues to joke and laugh, the bond between them growing stronger with each passing moment. Despite the initial hiccup, Emma and Ethan are beginning to feel right at home in Sunset Valley High School.

***

The bell rings, and students at Sunset Valley Middle School hurry to their next class. Maddie Smith walks into her history class with her friends, Lexi and Ava. The three girls find their usual seats and immediately start chatting.

Lexi: "I can't believe we only have one more year here. Next year, we'll be in high school!"

Ava: "I know, right? I'm so excited but also kinda nervous. High school is so much bigger."

Maddie: "We'll be fine. I heard the teachers are way cooler, and there are so many more clubs to join. I can't wait to try out for the cheerleading team."

Lexi: "And the dances! My cousin told me the high school dances are epic. Way better than our middle school ones."

Ava: "Ugh, I just hope we don't get too much homework. I've heard the horror stories."

Maddie: "We'll manage. Besides, we'll have each other. And hey, we're already the coolest eighth graders, right?"

Drew, the gross boy in their class, interrupts with a smirk, "Absolutely, you have me too," smiling brightly.

"And me," George, Drew's friend, adds, nudging Drew with his elbow.

Maddie rolls her eyes and looks down at her desk. "Go. Move along."

Lexi and Ava exchange glances, their expressions saying all they needed to say. Lexi leans in, whispering just loud enough for Drew and George to hear, "Yeah, like that's gonna happen."

Ava snickers, "In your dreams, boys."

Drew shrugs, trying to play it cool. "Hey, can't blame a guy for trying," he says, backing away with a playful grin.

George nods agreeably, "Yeah, you can't.

As Drew and George walk away to their seats, their teacher, Mr. Thompson, enters the room, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "Alright, settle down, everyone. Let's get started on today's lesson."

Drew, not quite ready to give up, calls out, "Hey, Mr. Thompson, can today's lesson be about how to survive high school?"

The class bursts into laughter. Mr. Thompson shakes his head with a smile, "Nice try, Drew, but we have plenty of middle school learning left to do. I know high school is exciting and you're all thrilled about it, but we still have a lot to learn here."

Lexi raises her hand, "Mr. Thompson, do you have any advice for us about high school?"

Mr. Thompson pauses, thinking for a moment. "Just be yourselves, work hard, and don't let the little things get to you. And remember, it's a fresh start. Make the most of it."

Ava chimes in, "Does that mean we get less homework?"

Mr. Thompson chuckles, "Nice try, Ava. But no, you'll probably get more. Now, open your textbooks to page 45, and let's dive into today's lesson."

Maddie whispers to Lexi and Ava, "At least we have each other, right?"

"Absolutely," Lexi says, smiling.

"And me," Drew pipes up from his seat, making everyone laugh again.

"Keep dreaming, Drew," Maddie says, shaking her head but smiling slightly.

The room settles down as everyone opens their books, the excitement about the future lingering in the air.

_____

In a brightly lit sixth-grade classroom, Joey and Will sit next to each other, whispering animatedly. They both have a crush on Jordan, a girl with long black hair and an infectious smile. She's sitting across the room, chatting with her friends.

Will: curious "Do you think Jordan likes anyone in our class?"

Joey: grinning "Uhh, obviously she does."

Will: more curious "Really? Who? Me?"

Joey: dramatically "Oh Willy, no offense but, it's me. Jordan loves me. Have you seen the way she looks at me?"

Will: "Uhh, I'm pretty sure she looks at everyone like that, Joey."

Joey: "No she doesn't. Look at her. She's probably daydreaming about me right now."

Will: "No, she's not."

Jordan glances over and sees the boys whispering. She smiles and waves, causing both boys to blush furiously.

Joey: panicking "She's coming over. Act normal."

Will attempts to nonchalantly lean back in his chair, but it tips too far, and he flails wildly to keep his balance, causing his desk to clatter loudly. Joey, trying to play it cool, casually flips his hair but ends up smacking himself in the face with his hand.

Jordan: walking up "Hey, Joey, Will! What are you guys talking about?"

The boys exchange nervous looks.

Joey: trying to sound casual "Uh, nothing much. Just... you know, stuff."

Will: "Yeah, just... stuff."

Jordan raises an eyebrow, "You guys are acting weird. Is there something you want to ask me?"

Joey and Will look at each other, then back at Jordan.

Joey: "Well, um, we were just wondering... do you have a crush on anyone? I mean, not that it's a bad thing or anything."

Jordan laughs, not unkindly.

Jordan: "Oh, you guys! That's so sweet. But no, I don't have a crush on anyone right now."

Will: smiling, relieved "Oh, okay. Cool, cool."

Jordan: curious "Why do you ask though?"

Will: laughing nervously "No special reason. We were just wondering."

Jordan smiles and pats them both on the shoulder, "Okay. Talk to you later."

As she walks back to her friends, Joey and Will look at each other with mixed feelings of relief and disappointment.

Will: "I told you. She doesn't 'love' you."

Joey: grinning "Well, she said she doesn't have a crush right now, which means she wants me to woo her."

Will: "Since when did you use the word woo and I'm pretty sure that's not what she meant, Joey. "

Joey: "Oh, that's exactly what she meant and I won't let her down. And I always say woo."

Will sighs and shakes his head. He takes his seat, and they both continue their classwork, each occasionally sneaking glances at Jordan.

_____

The bell rings, signalling the end of the class. "Don't forget to turn in your essays by the end of the week." Mr. Thompson reminds the students as they talk, laugh and make their way out of the classroom.

"I just wanted to say that I admire your hard work Mr. Thompson." Jake, one of the students says to Mr. Thompson as he exits the classroom.

During lunch, Maddie, Lexi, and Ava find a quiet corner of the cafeteria to sit and chat. They unpack their lunches and continue their conversation from earlier.

Lexi: "Okay, but seriously, who do you think is the cutest guy in our grade?"

Ava: "Definitely Jake. Have you seen his eyes? They're like, the bluest blue."

Maddie: "Jake's cute, but I think Connor has the best smile ever. Plus, he's super nice. Remember when he helped us with our science project?"

Lexi: "Yeah, because he was in our group."

Maddie and Ava nod agreeably.

Ava: "Right, but sometimes he's a little too goofy. I like a guy who can be serious too."

Maddie: "Wanna know where you can meet serious guys?"

Lexi and Ava look at Maddie, curiosity written all over their faces.

Maddie: "High School."

The three girls scream and laugh, drawing a lot of attention from the other students in the cafeteria.

Just then, Joey and Will walk by, carrying their lunch trays and trying to look cool. Joey has a confident swagger, while Will nervously glances around. They make their way over to a table where Joey's friends are seated, already eating their lunch.

Joey sets his tray down with a dramatic flourish and sits down, immediately launching into his plans.

Joey: with a confident grin "Alright, listen up, guys. I've got a foolproof plan to win Jordan's heart."

Joey's friends, Mike and Sam, look up from their lunches with curiosity.

Mike: raising an eyebrow "Oh yeah? Let's hear it, Casanova."

Joey: leaning in conspiratorially "First, I'm going to leave a love letter in her locker. Not too mushy, just enough to get her attention."

Sam: chuckling "And how are you going to make sure she knows it's from you? What if she thinks it's from someone else?"

Joey: smirking "Oh, she'll know. I'm going to sign it with something only she'd recognize. Like, 'Your secret admirer who knows you love strawberry ice cream.'"

Will: frowning "But Joey, she doesn't like strawberry ice cream. She's always eating chocolate."

Joey: pausing, then waving his hand dismissively "Details, details. I'll figure it out. Next step, I'll accidentally bump into her after school, offer to help carry her books, and charm her with my witty conversation."

Mike: sarcastically "Yeah, because 'accidentally' bumping into someone never looks suspicious."

Sam: nodding "And what's this witty conversation going to be about? You're going to need more than 'Hi, Jordan'."

Joey: thinking for a moment "I'll ask her about her favorite books or her favorite classes. I'll keep it light, make her laugh. Everyone loves a guy who can make them laugh."

Will shakes his head, trying to hide a smile.

Will: "I don't know, Joey. Sounds like a lot could go wrong."

Joey: undeterred "Nonsense. Confidence is key. I just need to be myself. Plus, if I get her to laugh, I'm halfway there."

Mike: grinning "Alright, Romeo, we'll be rooting for you. But if you crash and burn, we reserve the right to laugh."

Joey: nodding with mock seriousness "Fair enough. But mark my words, by this time next week, Jordan will be head over heels for me."

Sam: leaning in, curious "Okay, but what's your backup plan? You know, in case she's not impressed by your charm and wit?"

Joey's eyes twinkle with mischief as he leans in closer, lowering his voice.

Joey: "Alright, here we go. If the love letter and charming conversation don't work, I've got a Plan B. I found out that Jordan's dad is a big fan of football. So, I'm going to 'borrow' a signed football from my dad's collection and give it to her, saying it's a gift for her dad. It'll score me major points."

Mike: impressed "Dude, that's actually kind of brilliant."

Sam: clapping "Yeah, that's some next-level thinking. But isn't your dad going to miss the football?"

Joey: shrugging "He's got tons of memorabilia. He won't miss one football. And besides, it's for a good cause."

Will: curious "Wait, hold up guys. Why isn't anyone asking how Joey found out about Jordan's dad being a big fan of football?"

Mike: nodding "True."

Sam: agreeing "I was just about to ask."

Joey: laughing sheepishly "Oh boys, there are certain questions that don't require answers. This is one of them. Now, moving on."

Sam: nodding "Word."

Mike: agreeing "I hope to be this committed someday."

Will: laughing "You're really going all out for this, huh Joey?"

Joey: grinning "Hey, you've got to take risks to win big, and I can't let my girl down."

The boys continue eating their lunch, joking and laughing about Joey's plan. Despite the teasing, they all secretly hope Joey's confidence pays off.

As they eat, Joey keeps glancing over at Jordan, who's sitting with her friends, completely unaware of the elaborate scheme unfolding just a few tables away.

***

The bell rings, signaling the end of the morning classes at Sunset Valley High School. Students pour out of classrooms, their chatter filling the hallways as they make their way to the cafeteria. The air is thick with the smell of pizza, fries, and various cafeteria staples.

In the bustling cafeteria, Emma finds a seat at a table by the window. She's soon joined by Cyrus, who slides into the seat across from her, her camera slung over her shoulder as always.

Emma: smiling "Hey, bragger."

Cyrus: laughing "Okay, okay. That's enough. But, you know, I hate to brag again but I'd love to show you some proof."

Emma: laughing "Now I won't stop."

They both laugh and begin to unpack their lunches, falling into a fun conversation as Cyrus shows Emma some of her photos. Meanwhile, across the cafeteria, Ethan is navigating his way through the crowded tables, looking for a place to sit.

As he walks, he accidentally bumps into Brad, a large, the school's troublemaker. Brad is flanked by his friends, a group of equally intimidating guys. "Hey, aren't you the same guy that bumped into Brad during orientation?" One of Brad's friends says.

From their vantage point, Noah and Lily can see the cafeteria clearly. A crowd is forming around Brad and his friends. In the middle of the commotion is Ethan, clearly in a heated argument with Brad.

Noah: whispering to Lily "Looks like there's some action in the cafeteria."

Lily: peering out the window "Oh no, that's Ethan, the new guy."

Brad: sneering "Oh, it's really you. You should watch where you're going, nerd."

Ethan: raising an eyebrow "Sorry, didn't see you there. Maybe you should try not to take up the whole cafeteria."

Brad's friends snicker, and Brad's face turns red with anger.

Brad: "What did you say?"

Before Ethan can respond, Brad shoves him. Ethan stumbles back but manages to keep his balance.

Noah and Lily watch as Brad shoves Ethan, causing him to stumble back.

Noah: "This is going to get ugly. Should we do something?"

Lily: concerned "I don't know. Ms. Whitfield won't be happy if we leave class."

Ethan: sarcastically "Wow, Brad, real mature."

The commotion catches the attention of Liam who is sitting a few tables away. Liam quickly gets up and makes his way over to Ethan.

Liam: "Hey, what's going on here?"

Brad: glaring at Ethan "Your buddy here thinks he's funny."

Ethan: "I wasn't trying to be funny. I was just stating a fact."

Brad takes another step towards Ethan, but Liam steps in between them.

Liam: "Back off, Brad. Just let it go."

Brad: "Or what, Carter? You gonna fight me?"

Before anyone can react, one of Brad's friends trips Ethan, sending him sprawling to the floor. A hush falls over the cafeteria as everyone turns to watch the unfolding drama. Max sees the commotion and rushes over to help his friends.

Max: "Hey, leave him alone, Brad."

Brad: "What, you want some too, Parker?"

Brad shoves Max, and Max shoves him back. A full-blown scuffle ensues, with Brad's friends joining in and the cafeteria descending into chaos. Teachers rush to break up the fight, and a few minutes later, Ethan, Liam, Max, Brad, and his friends find themselves in Principal Mitchell's office.

Noah: whispering "I wonder what kind of punishment they'll get."

Lily: whispering back "Probably detention and community service. Principal Mitchell doesn't go easy on fights."

Ms. Whitfield: noticing their distraction "Noah, Lily, is there something you'd like to share with the class?"

Noah: quickly "Uh, no, Ms. Whitfield. Sorry, we're just... really interested in quantum mechanics."

Ms. Whitfield gives them a skeptical look but continues with the lesson. Noah and Lily exchange a relieved smile and try to focus, knowing that the school year at Sunset Valley High is already off to an eventful start.

The principal sits behind his desk, looking both stern and disappointed.

Principal Mitchell: sighing "This is not how I wanted to spend my lunchtime, boys. Care to explain what happened?"

Ethan: glancing at Brad "He started it."

Brad: indignant "I did not! He bumped into me and started mouthing off."

Liam: cuts in "Brad shoved Ethan first."

Max: adds "And tripped him."

Principal Mitchell: holding up his hand "Enough. I've heard enough. Fighting is not tolerated in this school. You'll all receive detention and community service as your punishment. And Ethan Anderson, welcome to Sunset Valley High."

The boys groan but don't argue. They know better than to test Principal Mitchell's patience any further.

As they leave the office, Brad shoots Ethan and Liam a dirty look.

Brad: muttering "This isn't over."

Ethan: sarcastically "Looking forward to it."

Liam chuckles and nudges Ethan.

Liam: "Well, at least we'll be doing community service together."

Max grins, shaking his head.

Max: "It'll be an adventure."

They head back to the cafeteria, their punishment looming over them but their spirits unbroken. Emma and Cyrus watch as Ethan, Liam, and Max return, their faces flushed from the encounter.

Emma: raising an eyebrow "What happened to you three?"

Ethan: grinning "Just had a little run-in with Brad."

Cyrus: smirking "You mean you picked a fight with Brad."

Liam: "Details, details."

As they head over to get their lunches, Olivia and her friends walk by, giving the boys disgusted looks.

Olivia: "Classic Max."

Max: "Hey, I was right this time."

The friends laugh, the tension from the fight slowly dissipating as they settle back into their lunchtime routine, knowing that despite the trouble, they have each other's backs.