Wednesday – Day Two of Planning
Class 1-A was already on fire by the time I stepped in.
I didn't mean drama.
I meant actual smoke.
Tyler had set off the mini fog machine inside the classroom.
"It's ambiance!" he said, running around with a fan.
"It's a lawsuit," Emma snapped, chasing him with a clipboard.
Sofia dramatically emerged through the mist like a theatre queen. "Your prince arrives—"
"GET OFF MY DESK," Miles yelled.
And me?
I just walked in like, Yeah. This feels about right.
First Period – Costume Fittings
Luna was armed with sketches.
Emma had organized teams to bring donated fabrics and accessories.
Sofia was trying to convince someone to lend her a corset.
I was cornered by all three.
Luna handed me a cloak. "Try it on."
Emma handed me gloves. "No, these go first."
Sofia pulled a silver crown from her bag. "And this—this makes the outfit."
"Should I start charging admission to change clothes now?" I asked.
Emma was already taking measurements. "You're 182 cm, right?"
"I… guess?"
Amaya stood nearby, holding a velvet vest and avoiding eye contact.
I caught her gaze and smiled.
She blushed and looked away.
Luna spoke gently. "Arms up."
I raised them. Luna slipped the vest on, adjusting it slowly.
"You're good at this," I said.
"I like symmetry."
She tugged the collar into place.
Sofia pouted. "Okay, but turn around—let's see the full package."
I rolled my eyes but did a slow spin.
Emma muttered something like, "It'll work."
Sofia clapped. "Prince Jay has entered the building!"
Break Time – Rumors and Roles
"Everyone wants to sign up for café shifts with you," Tyler said, joining me at the courtyard table. "Girls from other classes too. I saw a second-year try to sneak her name in."
"I can't work every shift."
"That's not stopping them."
Emma passed by, dropping a fresh shift schedule in front of me. "You're booked for Friday morning, Saturday lunch, and the closing hour on Sunday."
"I feel like a Disney mascot."
"You're the face of Class 1-A," she said firmly.
Sofia leaned over my shoulder. "More like the jawline."
Emma glared. "Go bother someone else."
Sofia winked. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, Council Queen."
And just like that, the temperature shifted.
Classroom – Afternoon Drama Brewing
Decor teams started their layout sketches on the whiteboard.
Luna posted her color-coded costume board.
Sofia held court over the "Mystic Romance Lounge" section.
Emma tried to keep everything from collapsing.
And I?
Was somehow on everyone's checklist.
"Jay, help us move the display tables."
"Jay, taste-test the teas."
"Jay, smile while we take a poster photo."
Miles grumbled as he passed me, carrying a box of forks.
"You're not even doing anything, but they treat you like a god."
"Maybe they just like my personality."
He scowled harder.
Wardrobe Malfunction
After school, I stayed back to help with costume sorting.
Emma, Amaya, and Sofia were still around.
While moving a pile of outfits, Sofia tripped and—somehow—dragged me down with her.
We landed in a heap behind the curtain partition.
Soft.
Warm.
Very close.
Her face was centimeters from mine.
"Oops," she whispered. "Fell for you."
I groaned. "That was terrible."
"Was it? Or was it perfect?"
Before I could move, the curtain pulled back.
Emma stood there.
Expression: blank.
"…What are you two doing?"
Sofia grinned up at her. "Team bonding."
"Get up. Now."
Amaya peeked from behind her, eyes wide.
She didn't say anything.
But her hands were clenched at her sides.
Evening – Rooftop Cooldown
Later, I slipped up to the rooftop just to breathe.
Of course, someone else was already there.
Luna sat sketching, legs folded, her page fluttering slightly in the breeze.
She looked up. "Rough day?"
I laughed. "More like rough triangle."
She held up her sketch.
It was me, tangled in threads from three directions. Sofia. Emma. Amaya.
Each thread tugging.
Each girl unaware of the others.
"I'm not that messy," I muttered.
She didn't argue.
She just kept drawing.