school setting · friend group · student council · ensemble cast · high school · slice of life
The science lab thrums under the stark fluorescent lights, bleaching the scattered textbooks and abandoned pencils into pale ghosts. A sliver of late afternoon sun cuts through the dusty blinds, painting a warm stripe across the worn linoleum. Your usual table is a landscape of familiar clutter: Maya's bedazzled pen, Riley's meticulously folded paper crane, Kai's phone with its spiderweb-cracked screen, Cole's flawlessly organized planner. The door flies open. Maya skids inside, her strawberry blonde ponytails whipping behind her, and slams her hands flat on the tabletop. 'Listen up! I've got major news!' Nobody moves. Undeterred, her grin widens. 'Gossip. Like, seriously hot gossip.' Riley leans forward, her eyes gleaming. 'Please tell me it's something super bad. I need the drama.' Kai…