The moment Hallie, Ryan, Eva, and Sam stepped into Hawthorne High's grand auditorium, they were greeted by flashing lights, music, and hundreds of excited students.The entire hall buzzed with energy. Freshmen rushed around trying to find seats while seniors stood in groups chatting loudly.
"Okay this is officially better than last year's welcome". Eva declared dramatically.
"You say that every year." Sam replied.
"Because every year im right"
Ryan shook his head. "You have been here for ten seconfs".
"Exactly my judgment is elite". Hallie laughed.
Before they could continue, a familiar voice called out.
"Hallie , Rayn".
The four turned around.
Principal Carter stood near the entrance, smiling warmly.
" Congratulations to both of you" she said. "Another year as Head girl and Head boy".
Hallie smiled politely.
"Thankyou ma'am, it is an honour".
Ryan nodded beside her.
"We will do our best".
"I know you will".
The principal looked genuinely proud.
"You two have represented Hawthrone High exceptionally for years. I couldn't think of better students for the roles".
Eva immediately leaned toward Sam.
"Did you here that? She basically called them the royal family".
Sam snorted.
"They already act like one".
"We do not". Hallie protested.
"You literally have matching scedules".
"That is because we are school heads".
"And chilhood bestfriends".
"And basically married...." eva said.
"EVAA!"
Ryan nearly choked trying not to laugh.
Before Hallie could threaten her friend any further, the principal's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
"Excuse me for a moment" .
After a quick nod, she walked away toward one of the side exits.
The group watched her leave.
Then Eva immediately spun toward Hallie and Ryan.
"Anyway, when is the wedding?". "Anyway, when's the wedding?"
Hallie stared at her.
Sam burst out laughing.
Ryan rubbed his forehead.
"Every year".
"Every single year". Hallie agreed.
"Okay okay" Eva said. "No wedding questions".
The others relaxed.
A pause.
"So who is takimg whose last name?".
"Evaaaaa!".
The auditorium erupted into laughter as the music grew louder.
A few minutes later, everyone found seats near the front.
Students continued filling the hall until every row seemed occupied.
Finally, the lights dimmed.
The chatter slowly died down.
Principal Carter stepped onto the stage.
"Good morning students".
The audience applauded.
"Welcome back to another year at HAWTHRONE HIGH".
More applause followed.
She spoke about achievements from the previous year, upcoming events, and the importance of leadership, friendship, and growth.
Hallie listened attentively.
Ryan sat beside her, looking surprisingly serious.
Then the principal smiled.
"And speaking of leadership".
Uh oh.
Hallie instantly knew what was coming.
Ryan seemed to realize it too.
They exchanged identical looks.
The principal continued.
"I would like to invite our head girl and head boy onto the stage".
The audience cheered.
Eva stood up immediately.
"Wohoooooooo".
"Sit down" Hallie whispered.
"No"
"Evaaa"
"No"
Sam physically pulled her back into her seat.
Hallie and Ryan walked toward the stage while students applauded.
The moment they reached the center, the principal began speaking again.
"For years these two studentshave represented our school with dedication, responsibility and integrity".
Hallie forced a smile.
Ryan did the same.
The applause continued.
Without looking at her, Ryan whispered,
"This is embarassing"
Hallie kept smiling.
"Extremely"
"Why are they clapping so much?".
"I don't know"
"Its been thirty seconds"
"Smile"
"My face hurts"
"Keep smiling"
"This feels like we are being presented to the kingdom" Hallie almost laughed.
"Stop talking".
"You started it".
The principal continued praising them.
Neither of them knew where to look anymore.
When they finally returned to their seats, Eva looked offended.
"You two were whispering".
"We were not".
"You were".
"We weren't"
"You looked suspic
Sam nodded.
"Very suspicious".
Hallie groaned.
Ryan looked ready to disappear.
The rest of the evening passed quickly.
Music played.
Students danced.
Teachers attempted to supervise while pretending they weren't enjoying the party themselves.
Eva somehow convinced a group of freshmen that Sam was secretly famous.
Sam spent ten minutes denying it.
Then she accidentally knocked over an entire stack of paper cups.
Then she tried helping clean them up and somehow made things worse.
"No one saw it". she announced.
Everyone saw it.
Five minutes later she appeared wearing somebody's sunglasses.
"Evaa")
"Yes?"
"Whose are those".
"I have no idea."
"You stole them".
"I borrowed them emotionally".
"What does that even mean?"
"I don't know".
Hallie laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink.
As the party continued, Hallie stepped away from the group for a moment.
The auditorium felt warmer now.
Louder.
More crowded.
She glanced around absentmindedly.
Students.
Teachers.
Decorations.
Nothing unusual.
Then her eyes landed on someone walking down the hallway outside the auditorium.
A boy.
Tall.
Brown hair.
For some reason, Hallie froze.
The boy wasn't heading toward the party.
Instead, he walked straight toward the principal's office.
Something about him felt familiar.
Very familiar.
Hallie's brows furrowed.
Have I seen him before?
The boy disappeared around the corner.
She stared after him.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
She knew him.
Or at least...
she used to.
Images flashed through her mind.
A younger version of herself.
A playground.
A laugh.
A name.
No...
Not quite.
She couldn't remember.
The memory sat frustratingly out of reach.
Kiki---
No.
Not Kiki.
"Hallie"
Eva's voice snapped her back to reality.
Hallie blinked.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah".
Her gaze drifted back toward the hallway.
Empty.
The boy was gone.
But the feeling remained.
Familiar.
Important.
Like someone she'd forgotten.
Someone she wasn't supposed to forget.
Hallie stared toward the principal's office one last time.
And suddenly—
The memory clicked.
Her eyes widened.
It was him.
Him.