The Last Bell

Chapter 1: The Ride to School

The sun hasn't even fully risen when the school bus pulls up to pick up the students. It's an early start for the study sleepover, and most of the students are still groggy. Carlos stretches out in his seat near the back, his eyes already half-closed, but Denise slides into the seat beside him before he has a chance to doze off.

"Hey, Carlos," she says, her voice dripping with charm as she flips her hair. "You ready to ace those IB exams? Maybe we can study... together later." She leans in a little closer, and Carlos flashes a sheepish grin.

"I mean... yeah, I guess. Studying sounds cool," he replies, a little awkwardly. He's used to Denise's flirtations, but with Zara in the picture, it feels more complicated now.

"Come on, Carlos, we never hang out anymore," Denise coos as she sidles closer to him, practically pressing her shoulder against his. Her perfume lingers heavily in the air, sweet and overpowering. "Don't tell me you're going to spend the whole sleepover studying. We could... do something else." She gives him a sly smile, her fingers trailing lightly along his arm.

Up front, Zara sits with her phone glued to her hand, her fingers scrolling through social media. Her latest post is already blowing up with comments and likes. She's got that casual influencer confidence, but she glances back at Carlos and Denise, her expression betraying a flicker of irritation.

"Here we go again," she mutters under her breath before turning to Lila, who sits beside her. "Carlos and Denise, round one thousand. I swear, it never ends."

Lila shrugs, smirking. "You know Denise can't resist. But don't worry, Carlos is totally into you, not her."

"Yeah, but Carlos isn't stupid," Zara responds, locking her phone. "I hope."

"Denise always pushes her luck," Lila shrugs. "But Carlos will figure it out. You've got him."

Across from them, Daniel and Raj are deep into their usual banter. Raj, wearing his signature Shah Rukh Khan fan shirt, is mimicking a scene from one of his favorite Bollywood films, complete with dramatic gestures. Daniel is laughing so hard he's nearly falling out of his seat, his designer jacket draped casually over his shoulders.

"You could totally pull that off," Daniel teases. "Shah Rukh Khan meets fashion icon. I'm seeing it!"

"I'm telling you, it's in the blood," Raj quips back, striking a pose.

In the back, Matt, usually upbeat and goofy, sits silently staring out the window. Carlos notices and gives him a nudge. "Yo, you good, man?"

Matt only shrugs, his face blank. "Just... thinking. Don't worry about it."

The group exchanges puzzled looks, but Matt waves it off. He's always been a little strange, but something about him today feels... off.