Let's be Together

After forcing down my fifth cup of coffee, my stomach feels like it's filled with hot water and regret. The caffeine is buzzing through me, but I can't ignore the queasy churn anymore.

I grab my stuff and head to my next class, Algebra.

Skipping it is not an option—not just because it's a favorite of mine, but missing even one class could mean getting benched for our next game.
It's only a five-minute walk from the cafeteria to the classrooms, but it feels longer with the crowd streaming out into the halls between periods.

Halloway High's hallways are beautiful in a way that you don't usually see in schools—the kind of architecture people actually notice.

The place is all sleek, polished wood and bright, airy windows. They even won an award last year for "Best School in Autumn Lane," which they display proudly in the main office.

As I cut through the crowd, I check the time. The bell hasn't rung yet, and I figure I'll just go take my seat rather than waiting in the hallway.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I glance down to see Millie's name on the screen. The text simply says, Meet me in the bio lab.

I quickly text back, Can't. Got Algebra now, before sliding my phone back into my pocket, deciding to catch up with her after school when we'll have time to talk properly.

But as I turn toward the stairs to my class, someone suddenly grabs my arm from the left and yanks me through an open doorway.

My yelp is cut short by a hand over my mouth, and my heart skips several beats before I realize it's just Millie.

"Millie! Are you insane?" I hiss, lightly swatting her hand away. "Why'd you have to pull me in here like that?"

She crosses her arms, staring at me with an intensity that isn't typical for her. "We need to talk. Now."

I sigh, glancing back toward the door. "Millie, I have my Algebra class, and you know I can't miss it. Can we please just talk later?"

But she shakes her head firmly. "No. We're talking now. It'll take two minutes, I swear."

I sigh, tsking at her stubbornness, but she's not budging. "Millie, there's no way a two-minute talk is going to clear up whatever this is. Can we just... do this later?"

She stares at me, lips pressed together, and I notice something almost fragile in her expression. "Grace," she says, softer now, the usual confidence wavering. "About last night..."

My heart jumps a bit. "Last night?" I blurt, my mind racing through what little I remember. "Did... something happen? Because honestly, my memory's totally shot after the whole pool fiasco."

Millie stares at me, surprise flashing in her eyes, mixed with something else I can't quite place. "You don't remember?"
Her voice is barely a whisper as she looks me up and down, maybe assessing if I'm joking.

I shake my head, nervously brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "No, like, seriously. I only remember up until that dare with the drinks, and then the lacrosse boys pushing everyone in the pool. That's it. The rest is... nothing."

Millie mumbles something under her breath, rubbing her forehead like she's trying to massage away a bad memory.
I raise an eyebrow, watching her closely.

"What's wrong? Did I... do something weird last night?" I ask, half-joking, but there's a nagging in the back of my mind that I might be onto something.

She looks up at me, sighs, then shakes her head. "It's nothing," she says, voice too dismissive.

But I know Millie. Something's up.
"Come on, Millie. You're acting like I'm going to be mad or something."