The school was buzzing like a disturbed hive that afternoon. Posters about Adrian’s “peace party” were everywhere, plastered over lockers, classroom doors, even the bulletin board near the principal’s office. The excuse was to “cool off the campus tension” after everything that had been happening lately. But everyone knew it was just an excuse to drink, dance, and gossip about who was dating who or who got caught crying behind the bleachers.
Amara did not want to go. She told herself she was tired, that she had a headache, that she hated loud music. But Asteria had texted her four times already. You can’t hide forever, she’d written, followed by a heart emoji that somehow made Amara laugh even when she didn’t want to.
So she stood in front of her mirror, brushing through her hair and fee
