𝑆𝐸𝐶𝑅𝐸𝑇𝑆 𝐵𝐸𝑁𝐸𝐴𝑇𝐻 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑆𝑈𝑅𝐹𝐴𝐶𝐸

Twenty-three

Two days later, Kamiya's alarm buzzed sharply, pulling her out of her deep sleep. She groaned, rolling over and hitting the snooze button before slowly dragging herself out of bed. She rubbed her eyes, stretching lazily as she realized she had to hurry if she wanted to grab breakfast before school. 

Throwing on a simple but stylish outfit—an oversized hoodie and fitted jeans with her favorite sneakers—Kamiya grabbed her bag and keys before heading out the door. She decided to stop at Waffle House, her go-to spot when she needed something quick and comforting in the morning. 

Pulling into the parking lot, she parked her blue Audi RS5 and walked inside, the warm smell of syrup, coffee, and freshly cooked breakfast filling the air. She ordered her usual: a classic waffle, scrambled eggs, and a side of bacon with orange juice. It didn't take long for her food to be ready, and she took a seat by the window to eat, enjoying the brief peace before the chaos of school began. 

As she ate, her mind wandered to everything that had happened over the past few days. The cabin trip, late-night FaceTime calls with Ken, and the strange yet undeniable bond forming between them. She shook her head slightly, trying to focus on the taste of her food instead of the memory of his deep voice or the way he had looked at her during their last conversation. 

Once she was finished, Kamiya grabbed her things, tossing her trash and heading back to her car. The drive to school was quiet except for the music playing softly through her speakers. As she pulled into the parking lot, she took a deep breath, preparing herself for another day. Adjusting her bag on her shoulder, she stepped out of the car, ready to face whatever the day had in store for her.

**Monday - 4th Period** 

Kamiya was seated at her desk, leaning slightly toward Marcus as they quietly discussed their upcoming project. The classroom buzzed with a mix of chatter and the occasional scrape of chairs against the tiled floor. Aaliyah sat a few seats over, scrolling on her phone with mild disinterest. Kamiya's notebook was open, her handwriting neat and methodical as she jotted down ideas Marcus was throwing her way. 

The classroom door suddenly swung open with a jarring creak, and in walked Ken Gray. His tall frame moved a little slower than usual, his eyes slightly red and his steps not as sharp. It didn't take much to know he was high. He stumbled toward the desk near Kamiya, pulling a black plastic bag from the pocket of his jacket. 

"Yo, *shit* was packed as hell at the gas station this morning," Ken muttered as he reached her desk. He pulled out a cold Diet Coke and set it in front of her with a slight smirk. "Saw this and thought, '*Damn, Kamiya drinks this all the fuckin' time*,' so here." 

Kamiya blinked, her lips twitching into a small smile. "Thanks, Ken." 

He dropped into the desk behind her, digging through his bag of snacks with one hand while pulling out his phone with the other. Aaliyah gave him a side-eye, shaking her head at his obvious state, but Ken ignored it. 

The teacher, Mr. Aldridge, a wiry man with a no-nonsense demeanor, walked into the room just as Ken loudly opened a bag of chips. "Ken Gray, if you're going to come to my class smelling like a dispensary, at least have the decency to sit quietly and not disrupt everyone." 

Ken froze mid-crunch and looked up, his hazel eyes narrowing. "Man, *what the fuck* you talkin' about? I ain't disruptin' shit!" 

Mr. Aldridge sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Language, Ken. And sit up straight. You're not at home lounging on your couch." 

Ken leaned back further in his chair, defiantly kicking his legs out. "I got all *A's*, don't I? So, what the hell is the problem? Ain't like I'm flunkin' like half these dumbasses in here. Matter fact, I'm passing your class, too, right?"