The classroom buzzed back to life, kids whispering, chairs scraping, the usual chaos before the bell. I was still reeling from Nina's whole "main character energy" stunt, my face probably redder than a shonen hero's battle aura. I was at my desk, trying to act like I wasn't the center of a social nuke, when Jake came barreling over, his eyes wide like he'd just seen a final boss spawn in real life.
"Dude," he hissed, leaning so close I could smell his cheap body spray. "What's wrong with you?"
I blinked, pencil halfway to my notebook. "Uh, what?"
"Why are you so hot now?" he whisper-yelled, his voice cracking like he was accusing me of a crime. "Is this, like, a play for Ruby or something? Are you going after her?"
I stared at him, my brain buffering. Then I snorted, loud enough that the girl in front of me turned to glare. "Bruh, are you serious right now?"
