She joins behind a clique of girls in pink, who bully others by shoving them out of their way. The snobbish manner at which they hold their bags above their shoulders annoys Kay. These girls always show off and make others feel like trash. The clique pushes on with no regard for students who stumble over. Kayla makes her way over to help one of them up.  

A mousy girl with bangs collect her books from the floor. Kayla help her gather her belongings. "Thank you," the girl speak in a whisper before speeding off. Kayla glares after the pompous clan, glad she has friends who are sweethearts.  

Within the juggernaut school, light blue and gray shade the walls. Many teens chat, sitting on window ledges. Heaps of book bags sprinkle the floor. A logo in the center showcase an eagle, shaded black on gray. On the second level, there are banisters of clear glass. The ceilings reach five floors. Endless windows shine, showcasing the city's glamor. Elevators, staircases, and escalators. All this luxury for 1,900 students, who flood halls full of lockers. Kayla removes a lacy yellow tank and white jeans from her bag.   

"HEY KAY!" Two girls shout obnoxiously, causing their friend to almost stumble into her locker. They giggle. One has a caramel complexion with kinky red hair, and the other is tan with sleek brown hair. Both of them carry clear bags full of school supplies. 

"Hey." Kayla grins ear to ear while opening her locker to grab school supplies.

"I wish we could stay in that?" Jia gestures to Kay's ballerina outfit with a gentle Korean accent.

"We can lie and say our schedules changed, and we have no time to swap outfits." Mya shrugs with a tenor tone.

Kayla closes the locker and head down the hall; the two follow like ducks. "Maybe." She frowns. "It would be cool to make our marks off the stage. But at least we can wear dresses."

Jia's eyes light up. "I saw these blue ones at the mall. We should totally have a triplet day!"

"Aww, I forgot my bag!" Kay eyes the ones her friends carry. "Sorry guys, I was rushing. Darius..."

"Was outside." They complete her sentence with teasing giggles. The crew stride to the girls' restroom.

"Hey, don't make fun of me!" Kay cackles, entering a stall. "I don't see him enough."

"You're holding out. So, you're telling me you never snuck him in?" Mya interrogates.

"No," Kayla answers from the stall.

"I call bull." Mya's mouth drops. "No way, you haven't!"

"You know my parents, no boys unless they're home."

"It's good to obey your parents." Jia supports. "I have the same rule. My mom's new motto is: "no boys after 8". I'm not even dating. She's paranoid."

Kayla exits the stall, wrapping her bag around her arm. The bright outfit compliments her cocoa skin. "Our moms had to be separated at birth. I have the same curfew."

Mya's eyes fill with disbelief. "My parents gave me rules too, but I don't follow them. There's more to dating than kissing. My advice is to sneak off and have fun." She winks.

"That works...for someone without anxiety." Kayla points out. "I'm fine with the pace we're at."

"At least mess around; doesn't it get boring?" Mya is skeptical.

"No..."

"I bet it does for him...it's been three months. I'm sure he's tired of waiting."

"My dad courted my mom for a year. The right guy will wait." Jia states wisely.

"Exactly." Kay jams her dance outfit into the gym bag.

When the bell rings, they all exit the restroom, parting ways. Mya strolls down the hall, joining a maze of students. "We'll continue our chat at lunch!"

Her words irritate Kay, yet she doesn't show it. I don't know what there is to continue. Darius and I are fine going slow. Sometimes Mya digs farther than she should. 

Jia and Kayla line up behind students who smell of heavy cologne and fruity perfume. Their first period is photography. The classroom has rows of desks pressed together into pairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows preview the lively city. Vents whoosh out air conditioning.

 Their teacher, a tall woman in her mid-thirties, wears a yellow dress, her hair in a bun. She draws a smiley face onto the green chalkboard. "Good morning, class!" She sings, all chipper. 

"Good morning, Ms. Ruby," her students respond, taking their seats.

"Today, we will add the 294th photo to our year collage. Remember to capture something different." Ms. Ruby carries a tray of Polaroid cameras, handing out one to each student. "Go and explore!"

The teens chatter amongst one another. One boy with a curly afro groans. "I forgot my skateboard! I gotta choose something else." He complains to his partner.

Kayla, who shares a desk with Jia, accepts the camera from Ms. Ruby. She powers it on, draping her bag across her chair. A list of photos load, some display clouds, automobiles, rain droplets on concrete, snow, and multicolored butterflies.

"Hmm... I can snap a bee, then run." Jia jokes, mortified by the thought.

"I'm out of ideas." Kay places the camera down, placing her hands under her chin to ponder. "Maybe..."

"The hem of your tutu?" Jia recommends.

"Already did that."

Jia leans onto the desk, her lips perched. "The terrace on the roof. We can try that." Students pile out of the room. Some flash their devices at wall banners, doorknobs, handles, and restroom signs.

"Oh...good thinking!" The two leave for the hall, passing a tiny girl with orange hair who aims her camera at a fire hydrant. The friends ring an elevator, hitting the button together, their hands sandwiched.

When the lift arrives, teachers step off. "Hello." A tall, dark-haired man eyes the camera in Kayla's hand. "Off to add to your portfolio?" The girls nod. "There's a family of birds on the fifth floor, the third water fountain, on the windowpane."

"AWW!" The two gasp.

"Oh, perfect, thank you!" Kayla takes Jia by the arm, leading the way into the elevator.

"You're welcome." The doors close.

"That's better than the terrace."

"That can be our 295th addition." Jia presses the fifth-floor button.

The elevator travels upwards, passing floors hidden behind its doors. "Now, all we need are 71 more. I wonder what the final project will be."

"Probably a paper...or a poster."

"Some poster that'll be." Kayla gives a uneasy expression.

"Or paper."

"I hope not...I suck at papers."

"You're better at them than me. I have to start days ahead." Jia complains. She leaps out of her skeleton when the elevator doors slide open. Kay bursts into uncontrollable snorts. "Eww, stop!"

"I can't!" She snorts on like a pig.

They chuckle while wandering an empty hall, locating the third fountain's windowpane where four birds are seated. "Shh...we might scare them off." Jia places a finger to her lip. Kayla covers her mouth, still releasing little sniggers of amusement. Kay aims the camera, centering the family of birds into frame and clicking the capture button.  

Pre Law, second period. Kayla sits in a courtroom of dark wood paneling. A judge podium stands at the head of the court. The seating arrangements are accurate and separate the crowd with a swing door. There's a mock case reporter, a typewriter before them, and a Bailiff. The students sit in the crowd session, chattering.

The guard steps beside the Judge's podium. "All rise." The class stands, now quiet as mice. "This court is now in session."

The teacher, in judge attire, takes a seat. A man in his forties with a long, uncompromising expression. The Judge sits. "Be seated." Extremely quiet teens take their seats. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Judge Smith." The class chants.

"I'm assuming you all are prepared for the mock trial." Everyone nods. "Lawyers and defendants, gather yourselves."

"Which one are we doing?" Chester, a long-haired boy, asks.

"The cow one, I think...ask Fred." Kayla inclines her head to a red-haired, freckled boy who passes the swinging door.

"I don't want to get yelled at...could we choose something else?" Chester eyes the Judge with utter dread.

I thought I had bad anxiety. I wonder why he's so scared of Smith. I mean, Smith is strict but not terrifying. Chester doesn't want to do this; I should swap places. There's no need for a meltdown today. Kayla shares an empathetic glance with him, then eyes her group. "What was agreed on, there was the cow, the traffic accident, and domestic violence."

"I think the domestic one. HEY FRED!" Izzy, an emo girl, shouts.

Judge Smith stands, his presence now ridiculing. "No shouting, Izzy! You would be deemed unprofessional in a real trial and threatened with dismissal. Adjust yourself! Walk to Fred and ask what you need!" The teacher rubs his forehead harshly before sitting.

She does what he commands. At the podium, Izzy mutters something to Fred, who responds quietly. When she return to the group, she clarifies the case. "He says the cow one." The group snickers.

"You guys are gonna get us all in trouble." Chester shakes his head, leaning back on the bench dejectedly. "We need to take this seriously."

Izzy rolls her eyes. "It's too early to be a killjoy."

"Kay, can you please go? I can't." The boy pleads.

"Teacher's pet." Izzy jabs.

"Don't tease." Kayla stands. "I'll do it."

Relief fills Chester's face. "Thanks, I owe you."

"Don't worry about it." She reassures with a smile, then beckons to Izzy. The teens near their podium. The wood door swings behind them. Izzy takes a seat while Kay goes to the podium.

Judge Smith bangs a gavel. Fred clears his throat. "Good morning, your honor. My name is Xavier, first initial F. Your honor, this is a case of tragedy. My client, Mr. Boone, suffered a great loss last week and is set on reparations."

"Please state the loss."

Fred holds back a laugh, fighting to keep a straight face with a twisted expression. "A cow." The room roars with laughter; some students clutch their stomachs in response.

Smith sighs longingly, unamused. "Order!" He beats the gavel down. The room falls silent. "Proceed."

"Last week, Mr. Boone let his cows out on a hot Sunday." Fred's voice changes to a southern drawl . The room uproars, much like a comedy show. Kayla fights off titters. "When that woman!" He shouts in a convincing country accent, pointing at Izzy. "Ran over poor old spotty on a devil motorcycle, going well past 55." He delivers each word dramatically. "Her reckless behavior requires punishment!" Fred bangs his hands on the podium.

"Mr. Xavier, correct yourself; this isn't theater class!" Smith hits the gavel down once more.

Sniffles escape Fred, who animatedly wipe his eyes. "I'm sorry, your honor, my emotions got the best of me."

"Allow the plaintiff to the podium; you may be seated."

Fred share a competitive glance with Kayla as he departs, whispering the words: you're going down, missy.

Kay coughs to hide a laugh. Mr. Boone steps to the podium. He hesitantly eyes her; she gives him a thumbs-up, urging him to continue the fun. The boy locks eyes with the judge. "Hello, your honor." Boone begins.

"Hello, Mr. Boone. Please state the events to your best ability."

"It was early, around 10 am, when I went to the barn to let my cows flock." Boone puts on an odd rural accent, an awful mix of English and country.

"NO MORE VOICE ACTING, OR YOU ALL WILL RECEIVE F'S!" Smith growls, banging the gavel down three times.

"Uh oh," Kay turns to Izzy. "The fun is dead."

"Crap." She slumps in her chair.   

Come lunchtime, the trio meets up at the food line. The girls pack their plates with tuna wheat wraps, kettle chips, and water. Kayla surveys the alternatives: pizza, fries, hot dogs, chips, soda, and cookies. "Let's make it a junk today."

Jia fixates on steamy apple pies; the aroma is so tempting. She reaches for one, holding it over her plate. "Maybe just one cheat day."

"We have a show. Anyway, I can't have sugar...my mom always knows. I break out in red bumps." Mya sighs.

Jia gives Kayla a puppy dog peer, still holding the apple pie. "The sodium will bloat my feet, sorry. We have to tough it out." Jia drops the pie back into the tray, moping.

The three walk to the back of the lunchroom. Table after table, teens chomp on junk food. A few down sodas in a drinking contest. Some plates are loaded to the max with food. Fred has four slices of pepperoni pizza, two bags of chips, and extra dipping sauce. "We'll get Smith next time." He speaks with a full mouth. "There's no way that man doesn't have a funny bone."

"It's a lost cause; he's a robot." Kay cracks.

There's a bench which looks to the street where cars rush; this is where the friends sit. Mya runs her hands through her kinky red hair and leans forward. "Back to boy talk. Now, what time do your parents get home tonight?"

I should lie to avoid the chat. Kayla thinks fast, her eyes shifting a bit. "6 pm."

"Oh...that won't work. We can try some other time." She nibbles on her tuna wrap.

Good, she didn't notice I lied. I would be a laughingstock if she realized I did. I'm not as outgoing as Mya, who has had three boyfriends. I've only had one. Darius. Making out is all I'm ready for. She needs to butt out. Again, Kayla hides her frustration, being too kind to hurt her friend's feelings.

"How about you, Jia?" Mya delves on, drinking her water. "I know you're crushing on Fred." Jia blushes hot red, shushing her friend. "Don't be shy; share your steamy dreams about him."

A long beep comes from Kayla's bookbag; she unzips it, pulling out a Motorola pager. Darius sent her a message. A row of digital hearts post across the screen. Her heart flips in her chest. Kay flashes her teeth, her irises now wide and high on love. Does that mean he loves me? Is that his way of saying so? Kay ponders at the bedazzled device. "What does it mean when a guy sends you hearts?" She asks Mya. 

"Is that why you're glowing right now?" She singsongs.

"Maybe..."

Mya leans forward with a large smile. "It means he doesn't just like you. If you catch my drift."

"That's what I figured. I've been thinking about saying it."

"Go for it."

"But Teen Magazine says the guy has to do that."

Jia nods. "True...it's not lady-like to speak it first."

"Stop listening to that trash." Mya scorns. "Girls can cut to the chase; guys actually prefer it over getting their egos hurt. Trust me."