The Calm Before the Storm

The morning came too early.

Ria groaned as a loud knock echoed through the hostel room, pulling her from a restless sleep. The light was still faint through the curtains, soft and gray, the kind of light that made you want to roll over and pretend the day wasn't starting yet.

"Rise and shine, everyone!" Ms. Reyes' voice carried from the hallway, slightly strained but trying to sound encouraging. The door creaked open, and Ms. Reyes poked her head in, looking far more awake than Ria felt. "We've got a busy day ahead. Breakfast downstairs in fifteen, and I want everyone ready to go for a script run-through right after."

Ria groaned, throwing an arm over her face. Olivia, on the top bunk, let out an exaggerated sigh. "Five more minutes," she muttered.

"Nope," Ms. Reyes replied, stepping into the room fully now, hands on her hips. "Up. All of you. We're not going to win this thing by sleeping in."

Kayla, still bundled in her blanket on the floor mattress, popped her head up and yawned loudly. "Ms. Reyes, do you know how much beauty sleep it takes to keep this energy going?"

"You can sleep after districts," Ms. Reyes shot back, though there was a slight smile tugging at her lips. "Now, get moving."

With that, Ms. Reyes disappeared down the hall, her voice already rising as she knocked on other doors, rousing the rest of the Northwood team from their beds. Ria sat up, rubbing her eyes and trying to shake off the grogginess. The hostel was starting to come alive with the sound of doors creaking open, groans of reluctant students, and the shuffle of feet as everyone got ready for the day ahead.

"I don't think I'm ready for this," Ria muttered, pulling on a sweatshirt.

"Are we ever?" Olivia replied, climbing down from the top bunk with an athletic grace Ria could never quite pull off in the morning. "At least breakfast will help. I heard they have pancakes."

"Pancakes sound like a bribe to keep us alive," Kayla quipped, still half-asleep as she dragged herself to the bathroom.

Downstairs, the common room had been transformed into a makeshift cafeteria, with long tables lined up and trays of food set out for the students staying at the hostel. The room buzzed with a mix of sleep-deprived murmurs and quiet excitement as various drama clubs from competing schools shuffled through, grabbing breakfast and finding seats.

Ria spotted Liam and Izzy already sitting near one of the windows, each of them looking only half-awake. Izzy had her ever-present sketchbook open beside her plate, and Liam was nursing a cup of coffee, staring out the window as if willing the day to pass more quickly.

"Morning, guys," Ria said as she slid into the seat beside them.

"Barely," Liam mumbled into his coffee.

"Is it really morning if you're not awake for it?" Izzy muttered, twirling her fork through her scrambled eggs without much enthusiasm. "Ms. Reyes seems to think it is."

Ria glanced around the room, watching as the rest of the team trickled in. Ethan, of course, was already seated at a nearby table, his energy irritatingly unbothered by the early hour. He was talking animatedly with a few of the other cast members, going over last-minute tweaks to their blocking.

Not long after, Ms. Reyes reappeared, her clipboard in hand and her brow furrowed with a focus that made Ria's stomach twist. It was clear that Ms. Reyes was feeling the weight of today just as much—if not more—than the rest of them.

"Alright, everyone," Ms. Reyes called, clapping her hands once to get their attention. "Finish up your breakfast. We have about thirty minutes before our script review. I want to make sure we cover everything. No loose ends today, got it?"

Ria watched as the rest of the group nodded, though the tension was already palpable. Ms. Reyes' stress seemed to radiate through the room, affecting even those who had been more relaxed earlier. Ethan, for his part, nodded enthusiastically, already talking to Alex about the lighting cues they'd need to hit perfectly today.

Izzy groaned softly under her breath, scribbling something in her sketchbook. "If Ms. Reyes gets any more intense, I think she might start running laps around us while we rehearse."

Ria leaned in, her voice low. "She's just trying to make sure everything goes perfectly today. You know how much this competition means to her."

"I know," Liam added, rubbing his temples. "But if she stresses any more, we're all going to feel it. I swear she's been reworking the blocking in her head every five minutes."

Olivia slid into the seat beside them, balancing a plate of pancakes and bacon. "Well, as long as I don't forget my lines, we should be fine, right?" she said, her tone light, though Ria could tell even she was feeling the pressure.

Ria pushed her eggs around her plate, her appetite fading as the weight of the day settled over her. "I just hope Kael's feeling better," she said softly.

After breakfast, the group moved to a smaller room down the hall, where chairs had been set up in a semi-circle for their script review. Ms. Reyes wasted no time, diving straight into it as soon as everyone was seated.

"Alright," she said, pacing in front of the group, her clipboard held tightly in her hands. "Today is the day. I know we've been working hard, but I need you all to push just a little more. The judges are going to be looking for precision—every movement, every line, every cue has to be perfect."

Her eyes scanned the room, landing on each of them with an intensity that made Ria straighten in her chair. "Ethan, make sure the pacing between you and Kael during the confrontation scene is tight. No room for hesitation." She turned to Olivia and Alex. "Lighting and sound need to be absolutely on point. No missed cues, no technical issues."

"We've got it," Alex replied, though his voice carried a slight edge, as if the pressure of getting everything right was finally catching up to him.

Ms. Reyes nodded, moving on without pausing. "Ria, make sure your team is prepped and ready to adjust if anything goes wrong on stage. We don't have time for confusion if something gets off script."

Ria nodded, feeling the weight of the responsibility settle in her chest. As the scriptwriter, she was expected to be the backbone of the performance, ensuring that any last-minute adjustments could be made smoothly.

The room fell into a heavy silence as Ms. Reyes continued pacing, her words sharp and precise. She was determined, that much was clear, but there was something more beneath her intensity today—a kind of desperation that Ria hadn't seen in her before.

"Remember," Ms. Reyes said, her voice firm, "this is more than just a performance. This is our chance to show everyone what we've been working for, to prove that Northwood can compete at this level."

There was a murmur of agreement from the group, but Ria could feel the growing tension as the reality of the competition loomed over them.

Ms. Reyes finally paused, her eyes softening just a little as she looked at her team. "I believe in all of you," she said, her voice quieter now. "You've worked hard for this. Let's make it count."

With that, she dismissed them for a short break before their final run-through. The room emptied slowly, everyone moving with a kind of subdued energy, the weight of the day hanging over them.

Ria lingered behind, watching as Ms. Reyes gathered her things, her hands gripping the clipboard tightly as she organized her notes. She could see the lines of stress etched into her face, the way her shoulders were tense, even as she tried to keep her calm exterior.

"Ms. Reyes?" Ria called softly, stepping closer.

Ms. Reyes looked up, her expression softening as she met Ria's gaze. "Yes, Ria?"

"I just wanted to say... thanks. For everything. I know we've been difficult at times, but we'll do our best today. You've pushed us hard, and I think we needed that."

Ms. Reyes gave a small, tired smile, her grip on the clipboard relaxing just a little. "Thank you, Ria. That means a lot."

Ria nodded, hesitating for a moment before turning to leave. As she walked out into the hallway, she couldn't help but wonder if they were all ready. Kael was still resting, the team was on edge, and Ms. Reyes' stress was palpable. But today wasn't just about getting it right—it was about proving something, to themselves and everyone else.

And with that thought, Ria knew they had no choice but to give it everything they had.