Darkson High

3.1

Kendra walked up to the front of the school, the morning sun casting a warm glow over Darkson High. She spotted Nikky, Mike, and Oliver in their usual spot, huddled together and already deep in conversation. They seemed animated, hands gesturing and voices raised in playful debate. She couldn't help but smile—it was always like this with them.

As she got closer, she could hear snippets of their conversation.

"I'm telling you, jerk chicken is undefeated," Nikky was saying, her voice full of confidence. "Nothing beats it. My mom's recipe? Spicy, tender, and the flavor is perfect."

Mike shook his head, grinning. "Nah, nah, you're both wrong. Kimchi fried rice with some bulgogi? That's where it's at. You get the spice, the savory, the sweet—all in one bite. My mom's kimchi could wake the dead."

Oliver chuckled, shaking his head. "You guys don't know what you're talking about. Dim sum is the way to go. It's like a bunch of tiny flavor bombs, and you get a little bit of everything. Plus, my grandma's pork buns? Next-level."

Nikky rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, but let's be real—who wants tiny food? I want my plate loaded."

Kendra joined the group just in time to hear that. "Hey, if you want loaded, you gotta try my mom's sambusa and injera with stew," she chimed in. "Somalian food is all about those rich spices and flavors. And don't even get me started on Egyptian food—koshari? The layers of rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas, crispy onions, and tangy tomato sauce? That's a real meal."

Nikky smirked, shaking her head. "You're all small fries. Jamaican food still reigns supreme, but you know what? Let's settle this once and for all."

Oliver raised an eyebrow. "What, you wanna have a food fight or something?"

Nikky grinned. "Not exactly. There's a cultural food day coming up, organized by the school. Everyone brings food from their culture, and we see whose food wins. You all down for that?"

Mike nodded, his grin widening. "Oh, I'm in. Get ready to lose to my mom's cooking."

Oliver chuckled. "Same here. I'll bring the best dim sum spread you've ever seen. Prepare to have your minds blown."

Kendra smiled, feeling the excitement build. "I'm game. Just don't be mad when everyone's raving about my sambusa and koshari."

Before Nikky could retort, her foot caught on a crack in the pavement, and she stumbled forward. But in a quick, smooth motion, Mike reached out and caught her by the waist, pulling her upright.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, eyes locking. Mike's hand stayed on her waist, his fingers gently pressing against her side. Nikky, for once, seemed lost for words. The usual fire in her eyes softened as she looked up at him, their faces just inches apart.

Oliver, standing to the side, watched them, an awkward smile spreading across his face. "Uh, guys, if you're gonna start making out, I'll just... stand over here."

Nikky blinked, snapping out of it. She quickly stepped back, adjusting her bag like nothing happened. "Shut up, Oliver," she said, her voice half-annoyed, half-flustered. "I wasn't gonna trip. I had it handled."

"Sure you did," Mike teased, still grinning. "But, you know, if you need me to catch you again, I'm available."

Nikky gave him a playful shove, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "Don't get too cocky."

Before the moment could settle, two new girls, Jessica and Olivia, both juniors, approached the group. They had an air of impatience and determination, their eyes scanning the crowd.

"Hey, have you seen Jake around?" Jessica asked, tossing her hair over her shoulder. She had that confident swagger that usually came with being on the cheerleading squad.

Olivia smirked. "Yeah, we need to have a chat with him. Important business."

Nikky raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? And what kind of 'important business' would that be?"

Jessica and Olivia exchanged a look before Jessica leaned in, lowering her voice like she was about to share a juicy secret. "We're just trying to figure out who he likes better."

"Yeah," Olivia chimed in, her voice dripping with mock seriousness. "I mean, we've both hooked up with him, but you know how it is. Gotta see who's number one."

Kendra winced. She glanced at Nikky, whose expression mirrored her own—half-amused, half-disgusted.

"Ew, really?" Nikky said, her nose wrinkling. "Look, I don't need to hear about my best friend's 'performance' or whatever. Jake's probably at the back of the school smoking. Maybe take the 'competition' there."

"Yeah, go figure it out there," Oliver added with a chuckle. "Far, far away from us."

Jessica and Olivia looked at each other, shrugged, and headed off toward the back of the school, still chattering away about Jake like he was some kind of prize.

Kendra shook her head, smiling at Nikky and Oliver. "You guys are just a magnet for drama, huh?"

Nikky sighed, crossing her arms. "Tell me about it. These girls act like Jake is the last guy on Earth."

Oliver grinned. "To be fair, he's got that bad boy thing going on. Some girls just dig it."

Mike, who had been watching Kyle approach from the other side of the courtyard, gave a quick wave to the group. "Gotta go meet Kyle real quick. Catch you guys later!"

Nikky nodded. "See ya, Mike. Thanks for, you know, saving me from falling on my face."

Mike shot her a wink. "Anytime."

As he walked away, Kendra could see the subtle smile playing on Nikky's lips, and she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "So... what was that about?" she teased.

Nikky rolled her eyes but her cheeks blushing. "Nothing. Just Mike being Mike. Always catching people, I guess."

Oliver snickered. "Yeah, sure. I think there was a little more than just catching happening."

Nikky nudged him with her elbow. "Zip it, Oliver. Not everyone's got a one-track mind like you."

Kendra laughed, feeling a little lighter being around her friends, the morning sun warming their faces as more students began to pour into the courtyard. She felt the familiar flutter of nerves thinking about Shanti, but surrounded by Nikky and Oliver's banter, it felt a little easier to breathe.

"Anyway," Nikky said, changing the subject. "You guys ready for another wild day at Darkson High?"

Kendra grinned. "Always." She looked around, wondering if she'd catch a glimpse of Shanti in the growing crowd. She hoped today would bring another chance to see her—maybe even talk about their texts from the morning. She could already feel her heart beating a little faster at the thought.

As they waited for the bell to ring, the group fell into easy conversation, the chaos of the morning already forgotten. But for Kendra, the day was just beginning, and she couldn't help but feel that something was shifting, something new on the horizon.