Clara remained beside Tyler, her notebook open between them as they worked through the last few details of the party.
"All right," Clara said, tracing a finger down the page. "Venue, guest list, budget. I think we're finally getting somewhere."
Tyler nodded. "See? You survived."
"I survived because you helped."
Tyler smiled.
"You're welcome."
Clara narrowed her eyes.
"I didn't thank you."
"You were about to."
"I wasn't."
Tyler picked up her pen.
"You were thinking about it."
Clara immediately snatched it from his hand.
"Don't touch my pen."
"See? You're getting aggressive because you know I'm right."
She gave him a suspicious look.
"Don't get too proud."
"Too late."
Clara tried to maintain an annoyed expression, but it didn't last long.
She looked back down at the notebook.
"Fine. Next problem."
"Guest list."
Clara nodded.
"We have our class, but yesterday some people suggested inviting students from the other sections too."
Tyler thought for a moment.
"How many people do you think would actually come?"
"I don't know."
"Then don't invite everyone."
Clara looked up.
"What?"
"Ask around first."
Tyler pointed toward the notebook.
"Find out who is genuinely interested. There is no point booking a place for fifty people if only thirty show up."
Clara blinked.
"That's..."
She stopped.
Tyler waited.
"That's what?"
"Why didn't I think of that?"
Tyler folded his arms proudly.
"Natural talent."
Clara gave him a flat look.
"Don't get carried away."
"Too late."
She sighed and began writing.
"Fine. We'll make an interested list first."
"Exactly."
"And then we can estimate the cost."
"Exactly."
"And after that, we can decide how much everyone has to contribute."
Tyler nodded.
Clara stopped writing and looked at him.
"You're weirdly good at this."
Tyler looked offended.
"What do you mean, weirdly?"
"I mean, I didn't expect you to be good at planning."
"That's rude."
"You spend most of your free time reading books."
"So?"
"So I expected you to disappear halfway through this conversation."
Tyler placed a hand over his chest.
"You have no faith in me."
Clara smiled.
"I have experience."
"That's even worse."
She laughed.
Eris was still writing her report with the exhausted determination of someone who had long ago accepted that she had made terrible decisions in life.
Her pen moved across the page.
Tyler glanced toward her.
"How's the worm report going?"
Eris didn't look up.
"Shut up."
Clara frowned.
"Worm report?"
Tyler nodded.
"She's the head of the Bookworms."
Eris's pen stopped.
"Tyler."
"What?"
"It's the Literature Club."
"Same thing."
"It is absolutely not the same thing."
Tyler looked at Clara.
"See? She's defensive because she knows I'm right."
Clara tried not to laugh.
Eris pointed her pen toward Tyler without looking at him.
"If you say one more word, I'm adding you to this report."
Tyler immediately raised both hands.
"Okay. I'm done."
A moment later, the classroom door opened.
Luna entered first, followed by Chris, Kai, and Noah. They were talking among themselves until Luna noticed Tyler standing beside Clara, who was sitting on his desk.
She stopped.
Then looked again.
"Well, look at that."
Clara smiled. "Morning."
Luna glanced toward the clock.
"I don't think it's still morning."
Clara blinked.
Luna continued.
"Also, am I dreaming?"
From behind her, Chris casually pinched her arm.
"Ouch!"
Luna spun around and glared at him.
Chris looked completely innocent.
"Now you're awake."
Luna rubbed her arm.
"Why did you do that?"
"You were asking if you were dreaming."
"I was being dramatic."
"You're always dramatic."
"Should I pinch you back?"
Chris shrugged.
"You can try."
Luna narrowed her eyes.
"No need."
She turned back toward Tyler and Clara.
"Oh, Ignaros. I can't even have fun around here."
Tyler smiled.
"You were having fun?"
"Yes."
"Interesting definition of fun."
Luna ignored him and moved closer.
"Anyway, what are you guys doing?"
Clara lifted her notebook.
"We're sorting things out for the party."
Tyler pointed toward the notebook.
"And I'm just helping her out."
Luna looked at him with exaggerated appreciation.
"Good job, Tyler."
Tyler nodded.
"Thank you."
"Don't get too proud."
His expression immediately changed.
Luna smiled.
Tyler looked at her.
"You're really committed to being difficult."
"I prefer interesting. Anyway..."
She walked closer, then noticed Eris buried in paperwork.
"What happened to her?"
Tyler didn't miss the opportunity.
"She's writing the legendary Bookworm Report."
Eris didn't even look up.
"Shut up."
Luna grinned.
"Seriously, why did you even become the head of the club?"
Eris's pen stopped.
Tyler slowly turned toward Luna.
"Let's not hit that point."
Luna paused.
Then she understood.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
"Oh."
Chris laughed under his breath as he sat down.
Tyler noticed something immediately.
Chris was quieter than usual.
Too quiet.
Normally he would have already joined the teasing, but instead he put his bag away and kept his attention on his desk.
Tyler watched him for a moment.
"You're quiet."
Chris looked up.
"Am I?"
"Yeah."
"Nothing in particular."
Tyler raised an eyebrow.
"That's suspicious."
Chris hesitated before forcing a casual smile.
"Are you free after this?"
The question immediately caught Tyler's attention.
He leaned back slightly.
"I need to talk to you about something."
Clara looked toward Tyler.
"If it's urgent, we can finish this later."
Before Tyler could answer, Chris spoke again.
"It's not urgent."
Tyler's eyes shifted toward Noah.
Noah was suddenly very interested in arranging his books.
Kai was doing the same.
Tyler's mouth curved slightly.
Clara noticed.
"What?"
Tyler leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Something's coming."
Clara frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"There is going to be huge drama in class today."
"Drama?"
Tyler nodded.
"Yeah."
His eyes shifted briefly toward the classroom door.
"A big one."
"You sound pleased."
"I am."
She stared at him.
"Why?"
Tyler smiled.
"Because I don't have to be involved."
Clara shook her head.
"You enjoy watching other people suffer."
"That's a strong accusation."
"It's accurate."
Tyler laughed.
Before they could say anything else, the classroom door opened again.
The noise in the room gradually faded.
Oliver stepped inside.
Conversation died in several corners at once.
He looked worse than yesterday.
A dark bruise surrounded his left eye, partly covered by a small medical patch. Another mark ran along his cheek, and he kept one arm stiff against his side. His uniform was wrinkled, and his steps were slower than usual.
He didn't look at anyone.
He went directly to his desk, dropped his bag beside the chair, and sat down.
Then he lowered his head onto his arms.
A few students exchanged uneasy looks.
Jacob leaned over.
"Oliver?"
No response.
"What happened to your face?"
Oliver's voice came muffled from beneath his arms.
"Nothing."
Jacob frowned.
"Nothing? Your eye is swollen."
"I fell."
"Down the stairs?"
"Yeah."
Jacob stared at him.
"All those bruises from falling down the stairs?"
Oliver lifted his head just enough to glare at him.
"It's nothing. Leave me alone."
Jacob backed off.
"Fine."
Tyler watched quietly.
He didn't believe the story for a second.
Lucas and Evans sat behind Oliver.
Evans leaned forward.
"I heard Chris and Noah did it."
Lucas turned toward him, pretending to be shocked.
"What?"
Evans shrugged.
"That's what I heard."
Jacob caught the last part.
"Chris and Noah?"
The name traveled immediately.
Another student repeated it.
Then another.
Within seconds, whispers spread across the classroom.
"I heard Chris beat him up."
"Noah too?"
"Apparently."
"I knew something happened yesterday."
Chris finally looked up.
He noticed several students staring.
"What?"
Noah looked around.
"Why is everyone looking at us?"
Jacob turned toward them.
"Evans said you two beat Oliver yesterday."
Chris stared at him.
"What?"
Noah stood.
"That's bullshit."
Chris pushed his chair back.
"Who said that?"
Evans raised his hands.
"I only said what I heard."
"From whom?"
"I don't know."
Chris stepped toward him.
"You don't know?"
"I heard it from someone."
"Then find that someone."
The room grew quieter.
Noah glanced around and realized almost everyone was watching.
"This is insane."
Chris looked toward Oliver.
"Oliver, tell them."
Oliver didn't move.
Chris's expression tightened.
"Oliver?"
Nothing.
Evans exchanged a look with Lucas.
Lucas leaned closer and whispered, just loud enough for Oliver to hear.
"One word from you and your secret is out."
Oliver's fingers tightened against the fabric of his sleeve.
He still said nothing.
Chris stared at him.
"You're really not going to say anything?"
Silence.
That silence did more damage than any accusation.
Several students began whispering again.
Tyler watched the room carefully.
Then, despite everything, a faint smile appeared.
"This is getting interesting."
Clara looked at him in disbelief.
"You're smiling."
Tyler didn't look away from the scene.
"Didn't I tell you?"
"What?"
"That there was going to be huge drama."
Clara looked back toward Chris and Noah.
"You knew this was going to happen?"
"I knew something was coming."
"And you're enjoying it?"
Tyler shrugged.
"A little."
Clara frowned.
"Chris and Noah are being blamed for something they didn't do."
"I know."
"And you're still entertained?"
Tyler's smile widened slightly.
"That's why it's interesting."
Luna, standing nearby with her novel tucked under one arm, glanced between them.
"He's like this."
Clara looked at her.
"Like what?"
"He enjoys watching people walk into complicated situations."
Tyler looked offended.
"That sounds terrible."
"You were literally smiling."
"I smile at many things."
"Weird things."
Tyler looked offended.
"That's a very serious accusation."
Luna ignored him.
Then she looked back toward Clara.
"Weird, right?"
Clara paused.
For some reason, Luna's words made her smile.
A soft laugh escaped her.
Tyler looked at her.
"What's funny?"
Clara shook her head.
"Nothing."
Luna leaned closer to Clara and lowered her voice.
"If Tyler isn't taking this seriously, it probably means the situation isn't out of control yet."
Tyler immediately looked at her.
"Why are you speaking like I'm some kind of disaster management system?"
Luna smiled.
"Because you kind of are."
Noah suddenly raised his voice.
"WE DIDN'T TOUCH HIM!"
The room went quiet again.
Chris stepped forward.
"We were there yesterday. That's true. But we didn't beat Oliver."
He looked directly at Oliver.
"You know that."
Oliver remained silent.
Chris's face hardened.
"Then say it."
Nothing.
Noah looked toward him.
"Oliver, come on."
Still nothing.
Evans leaned back in his chair.
"Why would he stay quiet if you didn't do it?"
Chris spun toward him.
"Because he's scared!"
Lucas laughed quietly.
"Or because it's true."
Chris took a step forward.
"Say that again."
Kai immediately grabbed his arm.
"Chris."
Chris pulled against him.
"Let go."
"This will make them believe it even more."
That stopped Chris.
For a second, the tension in his face remained.
Then he slowly pulled his arm free.
Tyler watched the exchange with open interest.
Clara glanced at him.
"You really aren't going to help?"
"Why would I?"
Tyler looked toward Oliver.
Clara followed his gaze.
"I like to observe things."
Tyler's smile faded into something more thoughtful.
"Chris is angry because he's innocent. Kai is trying to keep him from making things worse. Oliver is refusing to speak. Evans and Lucas are spreading the rumor. Danny is enjoying it."
His eyes shifted toward Miles.
And Miles is watching everything.
Across the room, Miles felt a chill run down his back. He looked to his left.
His eyes met Tyler's.
Neither of them spoke.
Tyler smiled.
Miles didn't.
Tyler watched the exchange with clear interest.
Clara glanced at him again.
She still couldn't understand the strange psychology of this group.
Chris was being accused of beating someone.
Noah was being dragged into it.
And Tyler was standing there with one hand resting against the back of Clara's chair, watching the entire thing like it was some kind of performance.
Luna was enjoying it.
Kai looked mildly irritated.
Amaya seemed unsure what to do.
Eris wasn't even paying attention.
And Clara?
Clara found herself strangely calm.
She looked toward Tyler.
His eyes were focused on the argument across the classroom.
There was no panic in his expression.
No anger.
Just quiet observation.
As if he was already several steps ahead of whatever was happening.
Clara felt something strange in her chest.
She couldn't quite explain it.
The situation itself was unpleasant.
Chris and Noah clearly hadn't expected this.
The rumor was spreading fast.
Oliver still wasn't speaking.
And yet, standing beside Tyler, Clara found herself believing Luna's words.
If Tyler wasn't worried, perhaps there really was no reason to worry.