The loud rev of an engine broke through the soft chatter of the evening as the Grendale school bus rolled into the Heldale campus. Its headlights sliced across the field like twin moons before it parked just outside the courtyard gates.
Groups of students began gathering, some laughing as they shared snacks, others taking last-minute pictures. The mood was winding down, still cheerful but scattered with yawns and weary limbs. The end of the festival had come.
Ely leaned closer to Sylan, looping her arm around his.
"My friends said they brought a car," she said, her voice cheerful and high. "Way more fun than the crowded school bus. You don't mind, right?"
Sylan blinked, staring distantly toward the bus. Then nodded. "No, it's fine."
"Great!" she grinned, waving over at two girls and a guy leaning against a glossy red coupe across the lot. Loud music pulsed from their stereo. One of them blew Sylan a teasing kiss.
He faked a smile. "Yeah. Great."
---
Across the parking lot, Kant stood beside his silver sedan, keys dangling from his fingers with Tam in front of him.
Tam stepped closer, clasped his hands together dramatically. "Look, man, I know it's sudden, but let me take your car tonight. Just for tonight."
Kant didn't answer. He just stared.
Tam hurried to fill the silence. "Listen! There are these three—no, four—gorgeous girls stranded outside the school building. Their ride bailed. I overheard them talking and I was like—this is fate. They need a lift, and I have a license. Plus, you'd be helping prevent a city-wide heartbreak."
Kant raised an eyebrow. "You don't even own a license. I saw yours get shredded 3 months ago."
"That was a temporary suspension!" Tam said, offended. "Also, I might still have a another copy—somewhere."
Kant gave him a long, dry stare.
Tam shifted tactics. He pressed his hands together again, more desperate this time. "Come on, bro. Please. You don't understand. One of them actually asked for me to take them home. Me. Not you. Me, Tam. And I just need wheels. You have wheels. Let's not make this harder than it has to be."
Kant tilted his head. "I have to take my sister home too and besides,how am I sure the car gonna be in safe hands with someone like you?"
Tam blinked. "C'mon, just a smooth ride, a little music, maybe some laughs—then drop them off like the gentleman I am. You have my word. Cross my heart."
Kant sighed and looked away, weighing his options like a parent forced to consider trusting a particularly suspicious child.
"Tam," he said finally, "if you so much as scratch it, breathe weird on it, or let one of them sit on the hood for a selfie—"
"I'll wash it every week for a month!" Tam jumped in. "With polish!"
"—then you owe me three months' worth of gas," Kant added flatly.
Kant sighed heavily and threw the key at Tam. Tam caught it mid-air.
"Thanks, man!" Tam grinned, already climbing into the driver's seat. "You're saving my life here."
Kant rolled his eyes. "Just don't wreck it. Return it first thing tomorrow morning."
Tam gave him a mock salute. "Promise. I'll even vacuum it."
Kant smirked faintly, shutting the passenger door as Tam revved the engine and sped off with a cloud of dust. He stood there for a moment, alone, watching his car disappear.
"Kant, are you ready to go now because I sure am" Marin's voice cut in from behind.
He turned. "What?"
Marin looked around the parking lot" Where's the car?" she raised her brow and held her hand to her nose bridge. "Don't tell me you lent it to Tam again?"
Kant shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. "He begged and said it was just for tonight."
Marin sighed." What if he scratches the car like last time?"
"Don't worry. I made it clear to him that if anything happened to it, he would surely pay for damages. I'm sorry ".
Marin crossed her arms. "Alright . Well, that means we're stuck with the school bus now."
He nodded. "Yeah. Guess we are"
A beat passed. The neon lights from the festival sign flickered once, faintly, before going still.
Marin frowned but didn't push. She turned and started walking toward the bus as Kant followed silently behind her, their footsteps echoing under the dimming glow of the last lanterns swaying above.