The Road to Districts

The morning was colder than Ria expected. She tightened her jacket around herself as she hurried down the driveway, her breath visible in the crisp autumn air. Her backpack was heavier than usual, weighed down with books and the final, well-worn script for The Last Hour tucked inside. The competition was today, and her mind raced with every possible scenario of what could go wrong—or right.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Olivia: "Waiting by the bus, where are you? I'm freezing."

Ria: "Almost there, relax."

She quickened her pace, finally spotting the familiar yellow school bus idling in the parking lot of Northwood Academy. Its windows fogged over from the cold, and through them, she could see the silhouettes of her teammates already seated inside, huddled in jackets and scarves. Olivia stood by the bus door, bouncing on her heels to stay warm, her breath coming out in puffs of white.

"You're late," Olivia said, grinning through chattering teeth as Ria jogged up to her.

"Barely. It's not like we're going to start without me," Ria replied, playfully shoving her friend as they climbed into the bus.

The inside of the bus was buzzing with nervous excitement. Alex sat toward the back, headphones on, eyes closed, probably trying to block out the chatter. Izzy was sitting a few rows ahead of them, furiously scribbling in her notebook—last-minute costume adjustments, no doubt. Even Kayla was at the front, twisting in her seat to chat with almost everyone, her energy infectious despite the early hour.

Ria made her way to an empty seat near Olivia and plopped down, hugging her backpack to her chest. She caught a glimpse of Kael near the back, his script open on his lap, though he wasn't reading it. His gaze was distant, lost in thought, and for the first time in days, Ria felt the weight of how much this day meant to him.

As the bus roared to life and pulled away from the school, Ria looked out the window, the familiar sight of Northwood disappearing behind them. They were on their way.

The journey to the competition was long, winding through suburban streets and highway stretches. Ria zoned out as they left the city behind, the bus filled with a low hum of chatter and the occasional bursts of laughter from Kayla's corner.

Halfway through the drive, Ms. Reyes stood up from the front seat, her voice carrying over the engine. "Alright, team, listen up! We'll be arriving at the host school in about twenty minutes. Remember, once we're there, you'll need to check in with the organizers. Scriptwriters—" Her eyes found Ria and Olivia, "—they'll want your final versions for review."

Ria nodded, her stomach tightening. The script was in her backpack, folded and scribbled on with notes and edits. She knew it inside and out, but something about handing it over made it all feel so much more real. Olivia, seated next to her, leaned over and whispered, "I hope they like ours better than last year's disaster."

Ria stifled a laugh, remembering the chaos of last year's competition when a rival school had submitted a script so full of last-minute plot twists that even the judges seemed confused by the end. "Anything will be better than that," she whispered back.

As the bus pulled into the parking lot of Riverton High—the host for this year's district competition—everyone grew quieter. The imposing brick building loomed ahead, its large banner welcoming all the schools to the event. Students from different schools milled around the entrance, some already dressed in costumes, others carrying scripts and binders filled with notes. It was intimidating, the mix of excitement and competition hanging in the air.

"Let's go," Ms. Reyes said as the bus door opened. "We're on the clock."

The group filed off the bus, huddling together as they made their way toward the entrance. Ria felt a flutter in her chest as she spotted other schools gathering in groups, each one as focused and determined as Northwood. The rivalry, even unspoken, was tangible.

They entered the bustling main hall of Riverton High, the sound of voices bouncing off the high ceilings. Posters for each school's production hung on the walls, and a large registration table stood near the entrance, where students were handing over scripts and receiving their performance schedules.

"Scriptwriters, this way," Ms. Reyes called, waving toward Ria and Olivia.

"Guess that's us," Ria muttered, gripping her backpack tightly as they approached the registration desk.

Behind the desk, an older woman wearing glasses perched on the edge of her nose barely looked up as she sorted through papers. "Names and school?" she asked briskly.

"Ria Quinn and Olivia Foster, Northwood Academy," Ria replied, slipping the folded script out of her bag and handing it over.

The woman took it, flipping through the pages quickly, then scribbled something on a clipboard. "You're on the schedule for 1:30. You'll be performing third."

"Thanks," Ria said, stepping aside as Olivia grabbed her arm, leading her away.

But before they could get too far, a voice broke through the crowd. "Northwood, huh? Thought you guys weren't competing this year."

Ria turned to see a tall guy with dark hair and sharp eyes standing nearby, holding a script of his own. He had the air of someone who had been in too many competitions to be nervous. Olivia raised an eyebrow, but it was Ria who answered.

"We are. What about you?"

The guy grinned. "Morgan Bishop. Riverton High." He glanced at Ria's script, then back at her. "Good luck. You'll need it if you're following us."

Ria felt her stomach tighten, but before she could respond, a shorter girl with a mass of curly hair appeared next to him, flashing them a bright smile. "Ignore him," she said, elbowing Morgan lightly. "He likes to play mind games with the competition. I'm Mila, Hillside Academy." She extended her hand, her tone friendlier, though there was a spark in her eyes that suggested she wasn't as carefree as she seemed.

Ria shook her hand, feeling a little more at ease with Mila's presence. "Ria. Northwood."

"Well, best of luck," Mila added, her smile softening into something more genuine. "Our schools haven't faced off before, right? It should be fun." She glanced over her shoulder as another group passed by, flashing them a quick nod before turning back. "See you out there."

As Mila and Morgan walked off, Ria exchanged a glance with Olivia.

"They seem... confident," Olivia said, the hint of sarcasm in her voice clear.

"Yeah, just a little," Ria muttered, watching Morgan disappear into the crowd. "But we've got this, right?"

Olivia smiled. "Definitely."

Ria and Olivia rejoined the rest of their group in the auditorium, where they found Ms. Reyes talking logistics with Alex and Kayla about the technical aspects of the performance. The stage loomed ahead, empty for now, but soon it would be their turn to take the spotlight.

Kael stood off to the side, his hands shoved into his pockets, staring at the stage with a distant look in his eyes. Ethan, on the other hand, was chatting animatedly with a few of the newer cast members, his energy seemingly boundless. Ria watched as Ethan's easy confidence radiated through the room, a stark contrast to the quiet tension that clung to Kael.

Ria sighed, glancing at her watch. They had a few hours before their performance, and she could already feel the nerves creeping in. As they settled into their seats to wait, she wondered how the day would unfold. The competition was just beginning, and she could sense the stakes rising with every passing minute.