Golden

eleven

„Navarro is literally such an old hag, she brought coffee into class and won't share."

Ian's lips moved into a smirk as he glanced at his phone under the table, careful to avoid his teacher's attention when he opened Hazel's chat.

"I'd kill for coffee right now," he replied, still smiling as she immediately entered the chat and started typing.

"Let's grab some after school?"

Finn glanced at Ian, eyeing his smile. "Who are you texting?" he whispered as Mister Wilson kept rambling about politics to a class that didn't listen.

"Hazel," Ian mumbled as he typed his reply. "Can't, Noah's stupid council meets today."

Again, he didn't wait long for a reply. "Noah's sitting behind me, should I tell him you can't come?"

"Hazel Palmer?" Finn asked, intrigued. "You're really going on a date with her, then?"

Ian just shrugged. "I don't know. I'll see."

He glanced back at her text, briefly thinking about it before replying. "No, we can get coffee another time."

"Should I pick you up after the meeting's over?"

Ian glanced at her reply before tossing his phone into his bag, forgetting about the conversation and instead focusing on the last few minutes of Mr. Wilson's class.

When school ended Ian dragged himself to the student council's room, not surprised to see that they were all already gathered and waiting for him - today, Ian had taken his time to get there. Noah glanced up at him as he walked over to his usual seat.

"You're late, Kilian."

"Wow, didn't notice," Ian retorted, not meeting his gaze. He was still enraged about their conversation yesterday, and Ian had contemplated skipping the council's meeting. However, he guessed that would only prove Noah's point of Ian being less ambitious than hard working Noah Rivera, so Ian grit his teeth and pulled through.

"I was just about to explain our next project. The money we earned with the bake sale is a nice sum, but far from enough for the senior's trip, so we need to throw in a few extra projects," Noah said. He was once again leaning against his desk, enjoying how he was the only one standing. "Any ideas?"

Franny's hand shot up. "A kissing booth."

Ian snorted. "We're trying to make money, not spread your herpes all around school."

Franny just rolled her eyes. "I don't have herpes, Reyes. I was just trying to get Tegan his first kiss."

"Shut up," Tegan next to her mumbled, sinking deeper into his chair.

Noah folded one hand over his eyes, exhaustion eminent in his features. "Any serious ideas? I don't have time all day."

"We could go to a nursing home," Madeleine proposed, her voice timid and quiet but enough to entice a smile from Noah.

"Now that's a good idea. That's something the principal will love to write about on the school's website." He glanced at Franny. "Not some horny teenager's attempt at prostitution."

"A kissing booth isn't prostitution," Franny argued, causing Tegan next to her to roll his eyes.

"We're getting paid for kissing people. Technically, it is."

"We could spend an afternoon with the old people and play bingo with them," Noah said, ignoring their bickering.

Ian pulled a face. "Fuck old people. They're disgusting."