It was one of those lazy late afternoons, golden sunlight streaming into the booth of their favorite downtown café — the one with overpriced smoothies, fairy lights year-round, and exactly one functioning charger port (which Ron had already stolen).
Jaanvi sat wedged between Siya and Meera, trying to decide if she wanted the strawberry Nutella crepe or just to eat Aditya's fries later. Across from her, Aditya was scrolling on his phone, pretending not to glance at her every six seconds. Aryan and Rey were arguing over whether pineapple belonged on pizza (again), and Kiara was threatening to unplug Ron's phone if he didn't stop narrating his dream in third-person.
"Sooo," Jaanvi said casually, sipping her iced matcha, "I'm gonna be gone next week."
Everyone blinked.
"Gone?" Saachi asked, setting down her scone. "Gone where?"
"Debate competition," Jaanvi said, like it was obvious. "Week-long. Five hours away. Hotel. Me, Aditya, and three other people from the team."
Silence. Deafening silence.
"Excuse me—WHAT?" Aryan shouted.
"Wait, wait, hold up," Rey raised his hands. "Y'all are leaving the state together?!"
"It's in-state. Just far," Jaanvi shrugged, cool as ever. "Coach Carter announced it yesterday."
"And you're just telling us now?" Meera asked, scandalized.
"I literally found out last night!"
"Still," Siya narrowed her eyes, "you made a PowerPoint about your last grocery haul but forgot to mention a whole hotel trip with your enemy-ex-secret-maybe-boyfriend?"
"He's not my—! We're just debate partners," Jaanvi said quickly.
Aditya, looking up from his phone, raised a brow. "You can lie to yourself, but don't lie to them."
"Shut up," she muttered, cheeks heating.
"I'm just saying," Aditya said, resting his chin in his palm, "you can't even say the word 'hotel' without blushing, but somehow you thought you'd be the one to break it to them? You can't even lie with a straight face."
"Aditya," she warned.
"Jaanvi," he mimicked, smirking.
"Oh my god, they're already fighting like they're on the trip," Aryan said.
"No, they're flirting," Saachi corrected, taking a photo for 'evidence.'
"So when do y'all leave?" Ron asked, chomping a waffle.
"Monday morning," Jaanvi said.
"Does your mom know about the hotel?" Kiara asked. "Like, the actual hotel part?"
"Yes, Kiara," Jaanvi said, deadpan. "She gave me a laminated checklist and said I wasn't allowed to fall in love in a shared hallway."
"Too late," Aditya muttered into his drink.
Jaanvi kicked him under the table. Aditya choked on his soda. Everyone looked delighted.
"Well," Siya said slowly, "if you two get kicked out for kissing in the hallway, don't call us for bail."
"It was one time—" Jaanvi started, and then her eyes widened. "I mean—what hallway?!"
Too late. The whole table had erupted.
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