She joins behind a clique of girls in pink dresses, who bully others by shoving them out of their way. The snobbish manner at which they hold their bags above their shoulders annoys Kay. These girls always show off and make others feel like trash. Kayla watches as the clique pushes on with no regard for students who stumble over. She makes her way over to help one of them up.  

A mousy, tiny girl with bangs collect her books from the floor. Kayla helps her gather her belongings. She's grateful for this. "Thank you," she speaks in almost a whisper before hurrying off. Kayla glares after the pompous clan, glad she has friends who are sweethearts.

Within the juggernaut school, light blue and gray shade the walls. Many teens chat, sitting on window ledges. Heaps of book bags sprinkle the floor. A logo in the center showcase an eagle, shaded black on gray. On the second level, there are banisters of clear glass. The ceilings reach five floors up. Endless windows shine, showcasing the city's glamor. Elevators, staircases, and escalators. All this luxury for a population of 1,900 students, who flood halls full of lockers. Kayla removes a lacy yellow tank and white jeans from her bag. 

"HEY KAY!" Two girls shout obnoxiously, causing their friend to almost stumble into her locker. The two giggle. One has a caramel complexion with kinky red hair, and the other is tan with sleek brown hair. Both of them carry matching, clear bags full of school supplies.

"Hey." Kayla grins ear to ear while opening her locker to grab school supplies.

"I wish we could stay in that?" Jia gestures to Kay's ballerina outfit with a gentle Korean accent.

"We can lie and say our schedules changed, and we have no time to swap outfits." Mya shrugs with a tenor tone.

Kayla closes the locker and heads down the hall; the two follow like ducks. "Maybe." She frowns. "It would be cool to make our marks off the stage. But at least we can wear dresses."

Jia's eyes light up. "I saw these blue ones at the mall. We should totally have a triplet dress day!"

"Aww, I forgot my bag!" Kay eyes the clear bags her friends carry. "Sorry guys, I was rushing. Darius..."

"Was outside." The two complete her sentence with teasing giggles. The crew stride to the girls' restroom.

"Hey, don't make fun of me!" Kay cackles, entering a stall and closing the door. "I don't see him enough."

"You're holding out. So, you're telling me you never snuck him in?" Mya interrogates.

"No," Kayla answers from the stall.

"I call bull." Mya's mouth drops. "No way, you haven't!"

"You know how my parents are, no boys unless they're home."

"It's good to obey your parents." Jia supports. "I have the same rule. My mom's new motto is: "no boys after 8". I'm not even dating. I think she's getting paranoid."

Kayla exits the stall, wrapping her bag around her arm. The bright outfit compliments her cocoa skin. "Our moms had to be separated at birth. I have the same curfew."

Mya's eyes fill with disbelief. "My parents gave me the same rules too, but I don't follow them. There's more to dating than kissing. My advice is to sneak off and have fun." She winks.

"That works...for someone without anxiety." Kayla points out. "I'm fine with the pace we're at."

"At least mess around; doesn't it get boring?" Mya queries skeptically.

"No..."

"I bet it does for him...it's been three months. I'm sure he's tired of waiting."

"My dad courted my mom for a whole year. The right guy will wait, she tells me." Jia states wisely.

"Exactly." Kay jams her dance outfit into the gym bag.

When the bell rings, they all exit the restroom and part ways. Mya strolls down the hall, joining a maze of students. "We'll continue our chat at lunch!"

Her words irritate Kayla, yet she doesn't show it. I don't know what there is to continue. Darius and I are fine with going slow. Sometimes Mya digs farther than she should. Jia and Kayla wave goodbye, then line up behind students who smell of heavy cologne and fruity perfume. Their first period is photography. The classroom has rows of desks that are pressed together into pairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows preview the lively city. Vents stretch across the room, whooshing out cool air. Their teacher, a tall woman in her mid-thirties, wears a yellow dress, her hair in a bun. She draws a smiley face onto the green chalkboard and cheeses. "Good morning, class!" She sings.  

"Good morning, Ms. Ruby," her students respond, taking their seats. 

"Today, we will add the 294th photo to our year collage. Remember, always capture something different." Ms. Ruby carries a tray of Polaroid cameras, handing out one to each student. "Go and explore!" She sings on. 

The teens chatter amongst one another. One boy with a curly afro groans. "I forgot my skateboard! Now I got to choose something else." He complains to his partner. 

Kayla, who shares a desk with Jia, accepts the camera from Ms. Ruby. She powers it on, draping her bag across the back of her chair. A list of photos load, some display clouds, automobiles, rain droplets on concrete, snow, and different colored butterflies. 

"Hmm...I guess I can snap a bee today, then run." Jia jokes, mortified by the thought. 

"I'm honestly out of ideas." Kay places the camera down, placing her hands under her chin to ponder. "Maybe..." 

"The hem of your tutu?" Jia recommends. 

"Already did that." 

Jia leans onto the desk, her lips perched. "The terrace on the roof. We can try that." Pairs of students pile out of the room. Some flash their devices at wall banners, doorknobs, handles, and even restroom signs.

"Oh...good thinking, let's go!" The two exit to the hallway, passing a tiny girl with orange hair who aims her camera at a fire hydrant case. The friends ring an elevator, beaming as they hit the button together, their hands sandwiched. 

When the lift arrives, a few teachers step off. "Hello." A tall, dark-haired man eyes the camera in Kayla's hand. "Off to add to your portfolio?" The girls nod in unison. "There's a family of birds on the fifth floor, by the third water fountain, right on the windowpane." 

"AWW!" The two gasp. 

"Oh, perfect, thank you!" Kayla takes Jia by the arm and leads the way into the elevator.

"You're welcome." The man waves as the doors close. 

"That's better than the terrace."

"That can be our 295th addition." Jia presses the fifth-floor button.

The elevator travels upwards, passing floors hidden behind its doors. "Now, all we need are 71 more. I wonder what the end project will be."

"Probably a paper...or a poster."

"Some poster that'll be." Kayla gives a nervous expression.

"Or paper."

"I hope not...I suck at papers."

"You're better at them than me. I have to start days ahead to get it in on time." Jia complains. She jumps out of her skeleton when the elevator doors slide open. Kay bursts into uncontrollable snorts. "Eww, stop!"

"I can't!" She snorts on like a pig.

Both chuckle as they stroll an empty hall, locating the third fountain's windowpane where four birds are seated. "Shh...we might scare them off." Jia places a finger to her lip. Kayla covers her mouth, still releasing little titters of amusement. Kay suppresses her laughter and aims the camera, centering the family of birds into the frame, clicking the capture button.

Pre Law, second period. Kayla sits in a courtroom of dark wood paneling. A judge's podium stands at the head of the court. The seating arrangements are accurate as a real-life court and separate the crowd with a swing door. There's a mock case reporter, a typewriter before them, and a Bailiff. The students sit in the crowd session, chattering.

The guard steps beside the Judge's podium. "All rise." The class stands, now quiet as mice. "This court is now in session."

The teacher enters from a side door in judge attire, a man in his forties with a long, uncompromising expression. The Judge sits. "Be seated." He firmly waits as extremely quiet teens take their seats. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Judge Smith." The class chants.

"I'm assuming you all are prepared for the mock trial." Everyone nods. "Lawyers and defendants, gather yourselves before stepping to the podium."

"Which one are we doing?" Chester, a long-haired, tall teen, asks.

"The cow one, I think...ask Fred." Kayla inclines her head to a red-haired, freckled boy who passes the swinging door.

"I don't want to get yelled at...can we choose something else?" Chester eyes the Judge with utter dread.

I thought I had bad anxiety. I wonder why he's so scared of Smith. I mean, Smith is strict but not terrifying. Chester doesn't want to do this; I should switch places with him. There's no need for a meltdown today. Kayla shares an empathetic glance with him, then eyes her group. "What was agreed on, there was the cow, the traffic accident, and domestic violence."

"I think it was the domestic one. HEY FRED!" Izzy, an emo girl, shouts.

Judge Smith stands, his presence now ridiculing. "No shouting, Izzy! You would be deemed unprofessional in a real trial and threatened with dismissal. Adjust yourself! Walk to Fred and ask what you need!" The teacher rubs his forehead harshly before sitting.

She does what he commands. At the podium, she mutters something to Fred, who responds quietly. When she returns to the group, she clarifies the case. "He says the cow one." The group snickers.

"You guys are gonna get us all in trouble." Chester shakes his head, leaning back on the bench dejectedly. "We need to take this seriously."

Izzy rolls her eyes. "It's too early to be a killjoy."

"Kay, can you please go up instead? I can't." The boy pleads.

"Teacher's pet." Izzy jabs.

"Don't tease him." Kayla stands. "I'll cover for you."

Relief fills Chester's face. "Thanks, I owe you."

"Don't worry about it." She reassures with a smile, then beckons Izzy to follow her. The teens near their podium. The wood door swings behind them. Izzy takes a seat while Kayla goes to the podium.

Judge Smith bangs a gavel against its block. Fred clears his throat. "Good morning, your honor. My name is Xavier, first initial F. Your honor, this is a case of tragedy. My client, Mr. Boone, suffered a great loss last week and is set on reparations."

"Please state what was lost."

Fred holds back a laugh, fighting to keep a straight face with a twisted expression. "A cow." The room roars with laughter; some students clutch their stomachs in response.

Smith sighs longingly, unamused. "Order!" He beats the gavel down. The room falls silent. "Continue."

"Last week, Mr. Boone let his cows out on a hot Sunday." Fred's voice changes to a southern drawl towards the end of the sentence. The room uproars, much like a comedy show. Kayla fights off titters. "When that woman!" He shouts in a convincing country accent and points at Izzy. "Ran over poor old spotty on a devil motorcycle, going well past 55." He delivers each word dramatically. "Her reckless behavior requires punishment!" He bangs his hands on the podium.

"Mr. Xavier, correct yourself; this isn't your theater class!" Smith hits the gavel down once more.

Sniffles escape Fred, who animatedly wipes at his eyes. "I'm sorry, your honor, my emotions got the best of me."

"Allow the plaintiff to the podium; you may be seated."

Fred shares a competitive glance with Kayla as he departs, whispering the words: you're going down, missy.

Kayla coughs to hide a laugh as Mr. Boone steps to the podium. He eyes Kay hesitantly; she gives him a thumbs-up, urging him to continue the fun. The boy locks eyes with the judge. "Hello, your honor." Boone begins.

"Hello, Mr. Boone. Please state the events from last Sunday to your best ability."

"It was early, around 10 am, when I went to the barn to let my cows flock." Boone puts on an odd rural accent, an awful mix of English and country.

"NO MORE VOICE ACTING, OR YOU ALL WILL RECEIVE F'S!" Smith growls, banging the gavel down three times.

"Uh oh," Kay turns to Izzy. "The fun is dead."

"Crap." Izzy slumps in her chair.

Come lunchtime, the trio meets up at the food line. The girls pack their plates with tuna wheat wraps, kettle chips, and water. Kayla surveys the alternatives: pizza, fries, hot dogs, chips, soda, and cookies. "Let's eat junk today."

Jia fixates on steamy apple pies; the aroma is so tempting. She reaches for one, holding it over her plate. "Maybe just one cheat day."

"We have a show. Anyway, I can't have sugar...my mom always knows. I break out in red bumps." Mya sighs.

Jia gives Kayla a puppy dog peer, still holding the apple pie. "The sodium will bloat my feet, sorry. We have to tough it out." Jia drops the pie back into the tray and mopes.

The three walk to the back of the lunchroom. Table after table, teens chomp on junk food. A few down sodas in a drinking contest. Some plates are loaded to the max with food. Fred has four slices of pepperoni pizza, two bags of chips, and extra dipping sauce. "We'll get Smith next time." He says to Kayla with a full mouth. "There's no way that man doesn't have a funny bone."

"It's a lost cause; he's a robot."

There's a bench which looks onto the main street where cars speed; this is where the friends sit. Mya runs her hands through her kinky red hair and leans forward. "Back to boy talk. Now, what time do your parents get home tonight?" 

I should lie to avoid the chat. Kayla thinks fast, her eyes shifting a bit. "6 pm." 

"Oh...that won't work. We can try some other time." She nibbles on her tuna wrap. 

Good, she didn't notice I lied. I would be a laughingstock for avoiding the scenario if she realized I did. I'm not as outgoing as Mya, who has had three boyfriends. I've only had one. Darius. Making out is all I'm ready for right now. She needs to butt out. Again, Kayla hides her frustration, being too kind to hurt her friend's feelings.  

"How about you, Jia?" Mya delves on, drinking her water. "I know you're crushing on Fred." Jia blushes hot red, shushing her friend quickly. "Don't be shy; share your steamy dreams about him." 

A long beep comes from Kayla's bookbag; she unzips it and pulls out a Motorola pager. Darius sent her a message. A row of digital hearts post across the screen. Her heart does flips in her chest. Kay flashes her teeth, her irises now wide and high on love. Does that mean he loves me? Is that his way of saying so? Kay ponders while putting away the bedazzled device. "What does it mean when a guy sends you hearts?" She asks Mya.

"Is that why you're glowing right now?" She singsongs.

"Maybe..."

Mya leans forward with a large smile. "It means he doesn't just like you. If you catch my drift."

"That's what I figured. I've been thinking about saying it."

"Go for it."

"But Teen Magazine says the guy has to do that."

Jia nods. "True...it's not lady-like to speak it first."

"Stop listening to that trash." Mya scorns. "Girls can cut to the chase; guys actually prefer it over getting their egos hurt. Trust me."