The halls of Ridgehaven buzzed with excitement, though they were far emptier than usual. Most students had already swarmed the soccer field outside, their cheers faintly echoing through the walls. But inside, the fluorescent lights flickered above Sumaya and Olivia as they strolled side by side, their footsteps soft against the polished linoleum floor.
Despite the relative quiet, Sumaya still felt watched. A few students who lingered glanced her way, doing double takes, some whispering behind half-covered smiles. Her fingers twitched nervously at the hem of the pink blouse — Olivia's blouse — and her steps grew slower, as if the weight of their stares was physically holding her back.
"I thought we were going to the field?" Sumaya asked, her voice low, tugging her skirt again as if it might magically lengthen. Her tone carried a mix of unease and impatience.
Olivia grinned like she was hiding a secret. "We are. But I forgot something in my locker."
