Lies In The Dark

Trying to Survive a Day at School with This Mess of a Friend Group

Emma

The last bell echoed through the classroom, signalling freedom—or at least, a temporary break. My eyes flicked to the clock. Ten more minutes until we could escape. It wasn't like we ever really listened to the teacher in the last period on a Friday, anyway.

Beside me, Poppy was balancing a pen on her finger, her tongue poking out in concentration. On her other side, Mel had her earbuds in, bobbing her head along to some random tune as she doodled in her notebook. Zyran was turned halfway in her seat, mid-whisper with Rory about plans for tonight. Probably more about the party we were all planning to hit after school. Even Tessa, who was usually the most focused, had her gaze fixed somewhere out the window, her thoughts far from equations.

"Earth to Emma!" Jake whispered from the seat behind me, tossing a paper ball at my head. "Did you hear? Z's planning to sneak in a keg for the party."

I rolled my eyes but grinned. "A keg? You think anyone's sober enough to care after the first few rounds?"

He chuckled, leaning back casually like he owned the place. Typical Jake—laid-back but always up for a good time. Captain of the hockey team, and my boyfriend for a reason.

Before I could respond, the teacher, Mrs. Calloway, raised her voice, snapping me out of the moment. "Emma Dawson, I assume you're paying attention?"

"Of course, Mrs. C." I flashed her my best smile, the one that always seemed to get me out of trouble. "Just talking about the importance of teamwork... in life."

A stifled laugh escaped from Zyran, who covered her mouth, while Mel shot me a thumbs-up from the other side of the room. Mrs. Calloway gave me a hard look, clearly deciding whether or not to believe me. Meanwhile, Miri, two rows over, looked like she was holding her breath, worried we'd all end up in detention.

"Teamwork in life, huh?" Mrs. Calloway raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest. "Perhaps you'd like to explain how that relates to our geometry lesson?"

I opened my mouth, ready to make something up, but Tessa—sweet, always-thinking Tessa—piped up from her seat. "Well, Mrs. C, geometry is about understanding different shapes and how they fit together, right? Just like how people with different personalities fit together in life."

Mrs. Calloway looked genuinely surprised for a moment. "That's... an interesting connection, Tessa."

Tessa blushed, glancing down at her notes, clearly embarrassed by the attention. I shot her a grateful look and mouthed, "Thanks." She just shrugged, her usual shy, quiet self.

Before things could get any more intense, the final bell rang, releasing us from the prison of education. Everyone scrambled to gather their things, the excitement for the party buzzing through the air like electricity.

"Nice save, Tessie," Poppy said, bumping Tessa's shoulder as she passed by, a grin on her face.

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The final bell was like music to my ears. As the classroom exploded with movement—books slamming shut, backpacks hastily slung over shoulders—our group moved together in a chaotic, yet perfectly synchronised shuffle. Poppy slid out of her seat first, the pen she had been balancing clattering to the floor. She shot me a lopsided grin, her usual carefree energy contagious.

"See, Tess? I told you geometry was more than just angles," Poppy said, tossing a wink over at Tessa, who was still recovering from her unexpected moment in the spotlight.

Tessa smiled softly, her cheeks still pink from earlier. "I wasn't trying to save you. I just... didn't want detention."

"Detention, shmetention," Zyran chimed in, brushing her sleek hair over her shoulder. "We all know Emma would've sweet-talked us out of it."