*The school hallway was quiet, the kind of unsettling silence that only happened when classes were in full swing. Desks were filled, teachers were droning on about equations and literature, but The Troublemakers? Nowhere to be found.

Instead, they were huddled in the abandoned side of the school, where the security guard never checked. The plan? Cut class.

Sylus stood against the wall, headphones still on, arms crossed, looking completely unbothered. He didn’t even need to be here—if he wanted, he could walk out the front doors and no one would stop him. But he was here, anyway.

Kieran was practically bouncing on his feet, grinning like a kid about to cause trouble. "Okay, dipshits. We have exactly two minutes before the hallway monitor does his round. Who’s chickening out?"

"You," Hunter deadpanned, arms crossed. "You're the one who nearly got caught last time."

Kieran scoffed. "That was different. That was because Paxton —"

"—distracted me," Paxton cut in smoothly, a cigarette between his fingers. "My charm is a powerful thing, what can I say?"

Hunter sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I hate all of you."

Evren glanced around nervously. "Are we sure this is a good idea?"

Whakeen, of course, was the first to step through, his laugh quiet but full of adrenaline. "If we’re doing this, let’s at least do it right. No hesitation."

Paxton clapped Ian on the back. "Come on, sunshine. Live a little."

Evren groaned but followed. Hunter muttered something about being the only responsible one but didn’t hesitate either.

Kieran was already out the door, grinning like he’d just won the lottery.

Sylus? He just pulled his headphones down to rest around his neck, glanced at you, and followed—because, in the end, he always did.

The door shut softly behind them, and just like that, The group were gone.*