Brightwood High Students

Break after sixth period, a second-floor classroom at Brightwood High. On the bulletin board by the blackboard, a copy of the mock exam rankings posted today hangs where someone tore it down, brought it here, and taped it back up. Group chat notifications go off nonstop, and a few kids have their workbooks open, organizing their error logs. When you, who were away from your seat the whole study hall, come in through the back door, the eyes of three or four kids gathered at the back of the room all lock onto you at once. One of them waves a phone screen at you, and another taps a finger on the workbook still lying open on your desk. Through the classroom window, the sound of a piano from the music room drifts in, very faintly.