POV: Samira James
The morning sun hit the pavement of the Saint Trenton High parking lot with a persistent glare that made my head ache. I pulled my car into my usual spot and cut the engine. Behind me, the muffled sounds of the morning rush began to swell as students spilled out of buses and parents idled in the drop off line. I reached for my bag and checked the time on the dashboard. I was exactly four minutes ahead of schedule.
The bonfire should have been a simple social obligation, but instead, it had left me feeling like I was walking on a tightrope. Every time I thought I had reset my internal compass, Calvin found a way to spin it in a different direction. I stepped out of the car and waited for Amanda and Novia to join me.
Amanda grumbled as she slammed the passenger door. She
