Heading Home

The sky was streaked with shades of pink and orange as the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting a warm glow over the courtyard. Ria, Olivia, and Alex slowly made their way toward the front gates, their conversation still drifting between the stress of exams and the excitement of the upcoming district competition. The end of the school day always felt like a kind of release—leaving behind the grind of academics and heading toward the familiar comfort of home.

They parted ways near the gate, Olivia and Alex heading off together, still discussing some lighting idea for the final scene, while Ria lingered for a moment, glancing around the fading school grounds. She hadn't seen Kael since class had ended, and after the past week, she felt like she needed to check in with him—especially after Ms. Reyes' announcement about cutting rehearsals for prelims.

As if on cue, she spotted him across the street, standing by the bus stop, flipping through the small journal he always carried with him now. His shoulders were hunched slightly, the exhaustion from juggling school and rehearsals obvious in the way he moved. Ria made her way over, her footsteps light on the sidewalk.

"Hey," she called out softly as she approached.

Kael looked up, his face breaking into a tired smile when he saw her. "Hey, Ria. You heading home?"

"Yeah," she nodded, glancing at the journal in his hands. "How's everything? You managing the... memory stuff okay?"

Kael shrugged, closing the journal and slipping it into his bag. "It's helping, I think. At least I don't feel like I'm forgetting as much, you know? But it's... weird. I feel like I'm constantly second-guessing myself."

Ria frowned, the familiar pang of concern settling in her chest. "That's gotta be tough. But at least you've got the journal, right? It's like your safety net."

Kael nodded, though his smile was a little more forced now. "Yeah. I just wish I didn't need it."

They stood in silence for a moment, the quiet hum of traffic filling the air around them. Ria could feel the weight of everything unsaid between them—Kael's health, the pressure of the play, the upcoming competition. But she didn't want to push him tonight. He looked tired enough without adding more to his plate.

"Prelims coming up," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "Ms. Reyes nearly gave me a heart attack with that whole 'don't fail like last time' speech."

Kael let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "I know. She was joking, but it hit a little too close to home."

"I've been trying to balance everything, but…" Ria trailed off, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's hard not to get wrapped up in rehearsals. And I know the competition's just as important."

Kael's expression softened, and for the first time in the conversation, he looked directly at her, his voice gentle. "You've been doing great, Ria. You're keeping us all together."

She smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at his words. "Thanks. I just don't want to let anyone down."

"You won't." Kael's voice was firm, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—an understanding, a quiet acknowledgment that they were both carrying more than they let on.

The bus pulled up to the curb, and Kael turned to her with a small wave. "Guess that's my ride. See you tomorrow?"

Ria nodded, giving him a small smile. "Yeah. See you tomorrow."

She watched as he boarded the bus, disappearing into the dimly lit interior. As the bus pulled away, Ria found herself standing there for a moment longer, staring at the empty space where Kael had been. There was still so much left unsaid between them, so much she wanted to help him with. But for now, she just hoped he'd keep holding on, day by day.

The Next Week: Training Intensifies

The following week passed in a blur of textbooks, rehearsals, and caffeine-fueled study sessions. By the time Friday rolled around, the weight of prelims had settled heavily over the entire drama club, but Ms. Reyes had kept her promise—two rehearsals instead of five, with strict orders to focus on academics. Still, despite the lighter schedule, Ria couldn't shake the feeling that the intensity had only ramped up.

It was as if the looming district competition had cast a shadow over everything, even as they tried to juggle exams. And today, the pressure felt even heavier.

Ria sat in the drama room, flipping through her script for what felt like the hundredth time. Around her, the other members of the club were going through their own pre-rehearsal routines—stretching, warming up their voices, muttering lines under their breath. The air was thick with concentration, the usual banter and light-hearted chatter replaced by a kind of focused determination.

Kael stood at the front of the room, running a hand through his hair as he paced back and forth, glancing between the script in his hand and the group in front of him. He looked better than he had last week—still tired, but there was a fire in his eyes today, a drive that Ria hadn't seen in a while.

"Alright," Kael said, his voice cutting through the silence. "We've only got a couple of weeks until the competition, and I know we're all juggling exams right now, but we've gotta push ourselves. The district judges aren't going to go easy on us just because we've had a tough schedule."

There was a murmur of agreement from the group, and Ria could see the determination in everyone's faces. They were tired, yes—but they were also ready to give everything they had.

"Ms. Reyes has some news for us," Kael continued, glancing toward the door as Ms. Reyes entered the room with her clipboard in hand. "And I think it's going to change how we approach the next couple of weeks."

Ms. Reyes smiled, but there was a hint of something serious in her expression as she looked out over the group. "Alright, everyone. I've been talking with the school administration, and they've agreed to let us perform a full dress rehearsal as part of the school's upcoming event."

The room buzzed with excitement, but there was an edge of nervous energy too.

"The event's happening next Friday," Ms. Reyes continued, "and it'll be a chance for us to test out the full production—costumes, lights, everything—before the district competition. You'll be performing in front of the entire school, so think of it as a trial run."

Ria's heart skipped a beat. Performing The Last Hour in front of the entire school? It was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. The pressure of competing was one thing—but showcasing their work in front of their peers? That was a whole different kind of challenge.

"We've got one week to get everything ready," Ms. Reyes said, her voice firm but encouraging. "I know we've been cutting back on rehearsals because of exams, but this is going to be intense. I want everyone focused. We're aiming for the gold, remember?"

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of her words settling over them. Then, slowly, the excitement began to build again. They were ready. They had to be.

Kael stepped forward again, his expression serious. "This is our chance to see what we've got. It's going to be tough, but we'll get through it. We always do."

Olivia was the first to break the silence, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "Full dress rehearsal? In front of the whole school? This is going to be epic!"

Alex grinned, already sketching lighting ideas in the margin of their notebook. "I've got a few ideas that'll make the final scene pop."

Ethan, lounging near the back of the room, gave a lazy smile. "This'll be fun. We'll give them a show they won't forget."

Ria smiled, feeling the buzz of excitement spread through her. This was it. They were about to take everything they'd worked on and put it in front of an audience. It was terrifying, but it was also what she loved about theater—the rush of performance, the energy of the stage.

"Alright," Ms. Reyes said, clapping her hands. "Let's get to work. We've got one week to make this the best performance it can be. I know you're all balancing exams and schoolwork, but this is our moment. Let's make it count."

The group broke into action, everyone buzzing with the energy of the announcement. Ria stood up, glancing at Kael, who was already talking to Ms. Reyes about the rehearsal schedule.

She felt the familiar rush of adrenaline kick in. It was time to prove themselves—not just to the judges at the competition, but to the entire school.