Hazel
The bell went and the classroom emptied fast. One second everyone was in their seats and the next bags were being zipped and chairs pushed back and the whole room was moving at once. I took my time. No particular reason to rush. No one was waiting for me at the gate and I had no bus to catch.
I had just stepped out into the corridor when Maya appeared from the direction of the staircase. Her class had finished earlier — she had a free period last and usually sat in the library but apparently today was different.
"Survived it?" she asked.
"Barely," I said.
Claire was a step behind her. Bag on both shoulders, glasses slid slightly down her nose. She pushed them back up when she caught me looking. The three of us fell into step heading for the main exit.
Something about it was eas
