Location: Avalon Elite Academy – Detention Hall, Afternoon
The wooden clock on the wall ticked slowly.
Outside, the sun was still bright, students walked freely through the halls.
Inside?
A scene unlike anything Avalon had ever seen.
Scene: The Lineup
Sitting at the back of the room like it was a lounge instead of punishment:
Grayson Lysander – legs crossed, tapping a pencil rhythmically.
Nova Vale – calmly reading a book like nothing happened.
Arielle Vale – polishing her nails with calm menace.
Elina Vale – staring out the window, already plotting.
Zeke – lounging with a grin, chewing gum.
Rico – playing tic-tac-toe on the desk with a pen he stole from the principal's office.
At the front of the room, Vice Principal Hargrove looked like he aged ten years in the past ten minutes.
"This is not a café. This is not a club. This is not a stage show."
"You are in school!"
Scene: The Offense List
He slapped a file onto the desk.
"Public display of affection."
"Flirting with multiple students simultaneously."
"Launching a metal fork across the room—"
"—and screaming 'You're dead, Phantom!'"
"Jumping tables. Running through the halls."
"Feeding grapes to one another in the middle of fourth period."
Rico (whispering): "You forgot the cupcake."
Hargrove (roaring): "AND THE CUPCAKE!"
Scene: Unbothered Royalty
Grayson leaned forward.
"To be fair… I didn't throw the fork."
Nova: "You earned it."
Arielle: "You gave out your number, Romeo."
Elina: "You ran. Like a coward."
Grayson: "I ran… for love."
Zeke and Rico: Applauding silently.
Scene: The Vice Principal Gives Up
He stared at them. All of them. Perfect posture. Flawless smiles. Deadly auras.
He rubbed his forehead.
"You'll all stay for the hour. Sit. Silently."
They nodded.
He walked out.
And the moment the door shut?
Scene: Detention Lounge
Zeke: "So who's down for a prank on Caelan?"
Rico: "Loser has to do morning training in pink shorts."
Arielle: "I'm in."
Elina: "I'll help rig it."
Grayson (smiling): "Is this detention… or family bonding?"
Nova (closing her book): "Why not both?"
Final Scene: Outside Looking In
Caelan, Azra, and Liora passed by the window.
They stopped.
Looked inside.
Their parents and uncles were laughing. Planning. Flirting. Scheming.
Azra: "We're the parents."
Liora: "We're cursed."
Caelan: "I'm applying for early graduation."