Hex POV
School smelled the same. Chalk, floor polish, and faint traces of leftover chaos from yesterday. Perfect.
I dropped into my seat, resting my head on the desk, half asleep, half alive. My soul was still in bed.
The classroom door opened.
Our teacher walked in, heels clicking like an announcement. "Good morning, class," she said, "Before we begin, I want to welcome back one of my favorite students."
Clapping erupted immediately. Loud, loud, loud.
"He's back!" Mila squealed.
James leaned toward me. "Hex, bro, look! He actually has the same attitude as you."
I lifted my head slowly.
Then I saw him.
Mir Keiren Watson.
Standing in the doorway.
I froze.
I stood so fast my chair screeched. "MIR."
Keiren's eyes snapped to me. "Charles."
I walked closer, hand hovering over his face like I owned it. "wow Mir you are here ."
He slapped it away. "Stop calling me Mir."
The teacher cleared her throat. "Keiren, do you know Charles?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said.
"Take a seat," she added, pointing to the desk in front of Mila.
He sat, turned toward me.
"Hi, Keiren," Mila greeted. "Welcome back."
"Yeah," James added. "We missed you. And you missed a lot of chaos."
Keiren's eyes flicked toward me. "What are you doing here?"
"Studying," I said. "What else?"
The lesson started. Two hours dragged by.
My eyelids betrayed me.
I glanced forward.
Keiren was already asleep, using his book as a professional nap shield.
Not fair.
The teacher noticed. "Keiren Watson!"
He jumped up like he'd been shot. "Yes, ma'am!"
"Why are you sleeping in class?"
"I just arrived in the Philippines around 2 this morning. Didn't get enough sleep."
"Oh. Okay. You may sleep for twenty minutes. Wake up after that," she said.
Lucky.
I raised my hand. "Ma'am, can I also sleep?"
"Did you travel?"
"No."
"Are your parents rich business people?"
"No."
"Then sit down. How dare you compare yourself to a Watson."
I plopped back into my seat. Keiren, on the other hand, stood.
"Why are you awake? You were allowed to sleep," the teacher asked.
"No, thank you. I won't sleep again," he said, looking at me.
And winked.
I blinked.
The teacher ignored him.
Mila whispered, "See? He's perfect. He believes in equality."
Break finally arrived. I dropped my head on the desk.
Then Mila shook me. "Wake up!"
Ignored.
Shook again.
Ignored.
For five minutes.
"Hex! Come on!"
"Hex."
Still nothing.
She poked my shoulder. Hard.
I lifted my head just enough to glare at her. "What."
James was standing beside her, hands in his pockets, and Keiren was leaning against the desk behind them like he owned the place. Of course.
"We're discussing something," Mila said. "And you're involved."
"I didn't sign up," I muttered, dropping my head back down.
Keiren clicked his tongue. "That's funny, because you're already part of it."
I sighed and sat up properly, resting my elbows on the desk. "Say it. Whatever it is."
James exchanged a look with Mila. "Marco's birthday is in two days."
I blinked once. "Okay."
"That's it?" Mila asked. "No reaction?"
"Why would I react?" I said. "I don't even talk to Marco."
Keiren nodded. "Exactly. None of us do much."
"Then why are you telling me?" I asked.
Mila leaned closer. "Because he invited the whole school. It's one of those big, unnecessary things."
I shrugged. "Then go if you want."
James scratched his head. "We were thinking… since it's a school thing, and everyone's probably going, it would be weird if we didn't show up at least once."
I raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like a you problem."
Keiren smiled. That calm, dangerous smile. "Not really. It's more of a… collective appearance issue."
I narrowed my eyes. "Explain."
"If we go," Keiren said, "we go as a group. No pressure. No staying long. Just show face and leave."
"I'm not interested," I said flatly.
Mila crossed her arms. "Hex, it's not even about Marco. It's about not being talked about on Monday."
I snorted. "People already talk."
"Yes," she said, pointing at me, "but imagine the headlines. 'Section E too arrogant to attend.'"
James added, "Or 'Hex thinks he's too good for birthdays.'"
I leaned back. "I am too good for birthdays."
Keiren laughed quietly. "You see? That's exactly why you need to come."
I shook my head. "No."
There was a short pause.
Then Keiren changed tactics.
"Okay," he said casually. "Hypothetically."
I didn't like that word.
"Hypothetically," he continued, "if someone only stayed for a very short time. Like… ten minutes."
I glanced at him. "And?"
"And they didn't have to talk to Marco," he said. "Didn't have to eat cake. Didn't even have to smile."
Mila leaned in. "Just stand there. Breathe. Leave."
I considered it for half a second. "That's pointless."
"But harmless," Keiren said.
James nodded. "And it avoids unnecessary drama."
I shrugged. "If someone did that, sure. It wouldn't matter."
Keiren's smile sharpened.
Mila gasped softly. "Oh my God."
James covered his mouth. "He said it."
I frowned. "Said what?"
Keiren straightened. "You just agreed."
I stared at him. "…To what."
"To the hypothetical," he said calmly. "Which we were clearly talking about in relation to Marco's birthday."
I sat up fully now. "No. No, I didn't."
"You said it wouldn't matter," Mila said quickly. "Meaning you don't mind."
"That's not the same thing."
Keiren tilted his head. "You didn't say no."
"That's because—" I stopped.
They were all looking at me.
Mila smiled sweetly. "So, outfit."
I groaned and dropped my head back onto the desk. "You tricked me."
"No," Keiren said. "You walked into it."
James laughed. "Cleanest trap I've seen all week."
"I hate you," I muttered into the desk.
Mila ignored me. "Okay, if you're going, we need to talk clothes."
"I'm wearing my uniform," I said.
She blinked. "Hex. It's not school."
"So?"
"So you can't wear that," she said. "People will think you came straight from detention."
Keiren added, "Which would actually be believable."
I lifted my head. "What's wrong with my clothes?"
"Nothing," Mila said quickly. "They're just… repetitive."
James nodded. "You dress like you're always prepared to disappear."
"That's the goal."
Keiren leaned closer. "Just don't wear black on black on black."
I raised an eyebrow. "Why."
"Because Marco will be wearing something loud," Mila said. "And we don't want you mistaken for part of the furniture."
I scoffed. "I don't care if Marco sees me."
"You will when people start asking if you're security," James said.
That earned a small smile from me.
Mila clasped her hands. "Okay. Simple. Dark jeans. Neutral shirt. Hoodie if you must."
"I must wear what i want," I said.
Keiren nodded. "Sneakers. Nothing dramatic."
"Everything I own is dramatic now," I replied.
The bell rang then, sharp and loud, cutting through the conversation.
Mila sighed. "We'll continue this later."
James smirked. "You're coming, Hex."
I pointed at Keiren. "This isn't over."
He smiled back. "It never is."
As the teacher walked in and everyone rushed to their seats, I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed.
I hadn't said yes.
I was sure of it.
But somehow, I already knew.
Two days from now, I'd be standing at a party I didn't care about, surrounded by people I barely spoke to, wearing clothes I didn't choose.
And it would somehow be their fault