It was a cold winter morning. The chill drifted gently across the school grounds, turning every breath into pale smoke as students stood bundled shoulder to shoulder for assembly. Frost stained the classroom windows, and the handrails were slick with beads of water that bit at bare fingers.

  It had been one week and four days since Ace and C.C.’s escape from detention. With every passing day, the fear faded a little more, replaced by the quiet comfort that maybe they’d gotten away with it.

  As the chatter died down and the shuffling of shoes slowed to a stop, all attention shifted to the front of the agora. Principal Drayden stood behind the microphone, struggling to lower it to his height, the stand squeaked each time he tugged at it. Whispers skimmed past Ace’s ears, a restless excitement spread throughout the crowd.

  “What do you think it is?” one student muttered.

  “I heard it’s just some lousy camp trip,” another grunted.

  “This has to be that new e-sports facility we’ve been waiting for,” someone else said, barely containing their excitement.

  “Stupid… fucking thing…” Drayden murmured under his breath.

  The mic screeched with feedback. Students winced and clamped their hands over their ears until the sound slowly faded.

  “Right,” Drayden announced, straightening his tie where it pressed too tightly against his collar.

  Every word that came from him only fuelled the restlessness of the Year 12s. He flipped through his stack of papers, each rustle drawing a collective groan from the crowd. The chatter began creeping back.

  “Oh come on, can’t he just tell us what’s going on?” hissed a smaller student behind Ace.

  Ace twisted around, confused. Had he missed something?

  “Excuse me! Year 12! Is there something bothering you this morning?” Drayden’s voice boomed through the speakers, echoing across the agora and snapping the entire assembly into silence.

  “It is with great sorrow to the yearly bonus I take from the ridiculous school fees your parents pay, that I’ve been coerced by the school board into spending my Thailand trip money on an all-expenses paid retreat to Greece for all Year 12 students.” Drayden continued.

  Ace and C.C. exchanged a quick glance.

  The entire agora fell strangely still. The usual shuffle of feet stopped. Even the whispering died out. Somewhere behind the science block, leaves scraped softly across the pavement. Birds chirped overhead, sharp and clear in the sudden quiet.

  Five long seconds passed. Then the agora exploded.

  Cheering tore through the air like a wave crashing against concrete. People shouted, screamed, grabbed each other by the shoulders. A group of girls started hopping in a circle like they’d just won a championship. A few guys were already chanting “Greece, Greece, Greece” like it was a football match.

  C.C. pushed through the crowd until he reached Ace, grinning wider than Ace had seen in weeks. Without saying anything, he held out his hand. Ace smirked and clasped it. They pulled each other into their usual handshake, quick and practiced, fingers locking and sliding into a firm grip like they’d just survived something together. It was stupid, dramatic even, but it felt right. Like a quiet victory. For the first time since detention, Ace felt the tightness in his chest loosen up a little.

  Students around them were laughing hysterically, some pinching their cheeks or slapping themselves to make sure they weren’t dreaming. Inspired, C.C chose his own method.

  Miles came jogging toward them, breathless and smiling. “Bro, did you hear? We’re actually—”

  C.C. backhanded him across the face.

  “Ah! What are you doing?!” Miles snapped, clutching his cheek.

  “Wanted to be sure I wasn’t dreaming,” C.C. replied casually.

  Ace shook his head and let out a small chuckle.

  “Oh, alright, knock it off!” Drayden boomed. “I swear you lot shave five years off my life every time I have to deal with you,” he muttered, rubbing his brow like he was fighting off a migraine.

  He let out a slow breath and stared across the sea of faces like he regretted every life choice that had led him to this exact moment.

  Nobody gave any attention to him; it was as if the words hadn’t landed at all.

  With no hope of controlling the crowd, Drayden gave up and dismissed the assembly. He stepped down from the small stage, shuffling his papers under one arm and mumbling under his breath while the teachers around the agora were left to clean up the chaos he’d started. And just as quickly as the riot had begun, the teachers moved in. They spread their arms wide, herding students apart like sheep.

  “Assembly’s over! Straight to class!”

  “To your lockers! Celebrate during recess!”

  Students scattered, laughter and chatter spilling down the corridors. Conversations overlapped as everyone speculated at once — what they’d pack, what they’d see, what Greece would actually look like. The excitement carried all the way to the lockers, bouncing off metal doors and cool stone floors.

  It took a while, but eventually the hallways emptied, the noise funnelling into classrooms instead.

  For Ace, that meant science. The lab smelled faintly of metal and disinfectant, with that sharp chemical bite that never really disappeared no matter how many windows were left open. Benches gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and glass beakers clinked softly as students set their bags down.

  Even while pulling on lab coats and adjusting safety glasses, Greece was still all anyone could talk about.

  “Excited, Ace?”

  The soft voice came from behind him just as he fumbled with his safety goggles. The lenses fogged instantly, turning the room into a blur.

  He pulled them off and turned.

  Lily stood there, buttoning up her lab coat.

  “Y-yeah, good thanks. You?” Ace asked. His hands hovered awkwardly at his sides before retreating into his pockets.

  “Uhhh, I’m well? I meant are you excited for the trip?”

  “Oh, sorry! I’m definitely going to be counting down the days. How about you? Being excited that is.”

  “Are you kidding? It’s going to be so cool!” she said, bouncing lightly on her toes.

  Her excitement was so bright she didn’t even notice her lab coat was buttoned wrong.

  Ace noticed. He didn’t say anything.

  “H-have you ever been to Greece?” he asked after a moment, the question slipping out just to fill the silence.

  “No…” She glanced down, a small hint of disappointment crossing her face. “But I’ve heard it’s really nice. Especially the beaches.”

  “Haha, yeah. They’re some of the best beaches in the world.”

  “Really?!”

  “Yeah. The water’s crystal clear in most places.”

  “Wow! That’d be so—” She stopped suddenly, leaning closer and lowering her voice. “Wait… are there jellyfish?”

  “W-well… I think so,” Ace said.

  His heart skipped as the space between them shrank.

  “Aww, man… I hate jellyfish,” she muttered, puffing one cheek out as she kicked lightly at the floor.

  SNAP.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The sharp crack cut through the room.

  At the front of the class, Mr. Armanaleg stood beside his desk, a metre-long ruler still vibrating slightly in his hand. He scanned the room slowly, waiting until every last whisper died.

  “Whilst I understand you’re all very excited by the recent news, class is now in session,” Mr. Armanaleg said, setting his ruler down and adjusting his glasses.

  Chairs scraped loudly against the floor as everyone shuffled around, grabbing whatever seats were closest at the tall white lab table islands.

  “I’ll be pairing everyone into groups of three for today’s lab experiment,” the teacher announced.

  Like everyone else, Ace scanned the room, torn between staying with Lily who was already seated beside him, or sneaking into a group with C.C. and Miles.

  A few students quietly celebrated, high-fiving and claiming their spots early.

  “I said,” Mr. Armanaleg repeated, voice sharper now, “I will be pairing everyone up. Thank you.”

  The cheers died instantly, replaced by groans.

  Within the first ten minutes, the class was briefed on the experiment.

  “You’ll be reacting magnesium with hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas,” he said, pacing slowly between tables. “You’ll collect the gas in a test tube and perform the pop test to confirm that it is in fact hydrogen. Small amounts only. I don’t want anyone trying to recreate a rocket launch.”

  Half the class nodded like they understood. The other half looked like the words had bounced clean off their skulls.

  Mr. Armanaleg moved from table to table, rearranging students like chess pieces.

  When he reached Ace, he offered him a small, familiar smile. Ace had always had a good reputation. Teachers trusted him.

  “I’m happy for you two to stay together for this class,” he said, glancing between Ace and Lily. “Just need one more.”

  Ace looked at Lily.

  She was already smiling.

  He smiled back.

  “Aaaaand… Reina. Please join Ace and Lily.”

  The smile vanished.

  Reina shot Ace a look, shoved her chair back, and stalked over. She dropped into the seat and crossed her arms tight across her chest.

  “Great,” she muttered. “Paired with a perv.”

  “What?” Lily straightened, shocked.

  “Nothing!” Ace blurted. “I-I’ll grab the equipment!”

  He practically launched out of his chair, escaping toward the cupboards and drawers, grateful for any excuse to avoid whatever conversation was about to explode behind him.

  At the Bunsen burner station, he bumped into C.C. The two grabbed a burner and a couple of flasks.

  “Who’s in your group?” Ace asked.

  “Sexy Lexi and that cockblock over there,” C.C. said, jerking his thumb behind him.

  Ace followed his gesture.

  Miles was already seated, kicking his feet while aggressively scribbling on the hypothesis worksheet, calculator buttons clicking nonstop. Lexi sat stiffly beside him, hands folded in her lap, nervously side-eyeing him like he might suddenly start reciting formulas at her.

  “Miles?” Ace said.

  “Yeah. What about you?”

  “See for yourself.”

  C.C. craned his neck toward Ace’s table.

  Lily tapped her fingers anxiously against the desk. Reina slouched beside her, staring straight at them, eyes narrowed with pure venom.

  C.C. winced. “Yeah… she’s insane. Make sure you’re wearing your crucifix, vampires hate that. Good luck, man.”

  “Thanks,” Ace replied, hoisting the equipment into both arms and carrying it back to their table.

  He dumped everything down in a clattering pile of glass and metal.

  Reina’s lip curled.

  “Seriously?” she scoffed, one eyebrow lifting.

  “What?”

  “Have some class.”

  She sat up straight, snatching the Bunsen burner from the mess and setting it upright with quick, precise movements. The rubber tube slid neatly into the gas tap like she’d done this a hundred times before.

  Meanwhile, Lily quietly passed out the hypothesis sheets, placing one in front of Ace and another in front of Reina like she was trying to keep the peace.

  “Um… is this the magnesium?” Lily asked, pinching the thin metal strip between two fingers and holding it up to the light.

  The fluorescent bulbs caught its dull silver surface.

  “Yep,” Ace said.

  “…Are you sure we have enough?”

  Before he could answer, Reina grabbed the hydrochloric acid.

  She poured it into the flask with steady hands, the liquid glugging softly against the glass. She lifted it to eye level, squinting as she measured. Exactly 20 millilitres. Not a drop more.

  She set it down with quiet confidence and glanced sideways at Ace, who was still fumbling with the gas collection tube.

  Her look said everything.

  “S-so Reina. Are you excited for Greece?” Lily asked gently, trying to warm the icy air between them.

  Reina’s eyes slowly drifted toward her.

  Click.

  Her ballpoint pen snapped down.

  “Can’t wait,” she said plainly, looking down at the work and writing out each equation. Ace followed, writing out his hypothesis and the necessary measurements and equations needed for the experiment.

  Reina grabbed the first strip of magnesium she saw and held it over the test tube, one hand gripping the stopper, slowly twisting it loose.

  “Ready?”

  “W-wait, what’s the expected volume of hydrogen gas produced when 0.02 grams of magnesi—”

  “I’ll tell you afterwards,” Reina snapped. “Just observe, okay?”

  Ace frowned. The strip in her hand looked thicker than the one he’d cut earlier.

  “Are you sure that’s the same strip we had?”

  “Yes. Zero point zero two grams. Now shut up and watch before we lose the gas!”

  “B-but it doesn’t look right, let me take a lo—”

  He stood and stepped closer.

  “Hey! Back up, perv! You aren’t the only one acing this class!”

  “I-I just want to—”

  “Just watch!”

  Before he could argue again, Reina dropped the magnesium in and slammed the stopper closed, her face inches from the glass as she waited for the clean little pop they were expecting.

  For a second, nothing happened. Then, angry bubbling erupted inside the flask. Not the gentle fizz they’d seen in demonstrations. Foam surged upward like the liquid was boiling over. Violent streams of bubbles tore through the delivery tube, rattling it against the stand. The inverted test tube in the water bath filled almost instantly, water forced out in desperate gulps.

  Ace’s stomach dropped.

  “That’s not—”

  The flame hovered near the mouth of the tube. A heartbeat of silence. Then the leaked hydrogen caught first. A blinding flash.

  CRACK.

  The sound punched the air like a firecracker going off in a tin can. Their ears rang as glass shattered and the flask tipped sideways, acid splashing across the bench.

  “AAH!” Reina screamed.

  She tripped over her chair and fell backward into Ace. He stumbled but caught her before she hit the floor, barely keeping his balance. Lily jumped back, hands clamped over her ears, eyes squeezed shut.

  For a moment, everything smelled like smoke and chemicals.

  Reina stared at the wrecked table in shock.

  Then she looked up, realising she was in Ace’s arms. Colour rushed to her cheeks. She shoved off him immediately.

  “Damn it! What did you do?!” she yelled.

  “Nothing! That was way too much magnesium!”

  “Oh—I—I thought it was only a little bit…” Lily said softly, lowering her hands.

  Both Ace and Reina turned to her.

  “What do you mean?” Ace asked.

  “I thought the strip you cut was too small…so I cut a bigger piece. Sorry.” She fiddled with the buttons on her lab coat, eyes fixed on the floor.

  Reina’s jaw tightened. Her anger bounced between them like a loaded spring. Her left eyelid twitched.

  She inhaled, ready to unleash hell.

  BOOM.

  A massive shockwave blasted through the classroom. The windows rattled violently as a thunderous explosion echoed from across the lab.

  “FUUUAAARCK!” C.C. threw his arms over his face as the shockwave hit him full force. His lab coat whipped violently around his body, and his safety glasses went flying, skidding somewhere across the room.

  The air seemed to get punched out of everyone’s lungs at once. Hearts jumped and heads snapped toward the source of the blast. Miles tipped backward with his chair and slammed hard onto the floor with a metallic crash. Lexi to the other side of the room like the room was on fire.

  The ringing in Ace’s ears lingered, high and sharp.

  Then, silence. Heavy. Suffocating.

  “WHAT DID YOU DO?!” Mr. Armanaleg stormed across the lab, shoes slamming against the tiles. “YOU COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE! LET ALONE YOURSELF, YOU IMBECILE!” He pushed right up in C.C.’s face, invading every inch of personal space.

  “It was Miles!” C.C. blurted, pointing wildly. “He calcumalated it all wrong!”

  Still on the floor, Miles rubbed the back of his head and groaned. “No I didn’t! I told you it was too much magnesium!”

  “It was close enough!”

  “YOU EYEBALLED THE MAGNESIUM STRIP!?” Mr. Armanaleg barked, his voice cracking through the lab like another explosion.

  “It was an educated estimate, sir.”

  For a moment, the teacher just stared at him. Then something in him snapped. He gripped the metre-long ruler in his hand and hurled it down with all his strength.

  CRACK.

  The ruler smashed against the table and split clean in two. The sound echoed. For once, C.C. didn’t have a comeback. He’d pushed teachers before. But this time felt different, like he’d finally crossed a line he couldn’t joke his way back over.

  “S-sir… I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” he stammered.

  The room stood silent.

  Mr. Armanaleg gently set the broken ruler down on the bench, the last of his anger draining from his posture. Without another outburst, he strode to the door and pulled it open wide, stepping aside to clear the path. He exhaled slowly through his nose, steadying himself, then glanced back at C.C.’s group and gave a firm nod toward the hallway.

  “Outside. Now.”

  Lexi, C.C., and Miles shuffled out without protest, their shoes scraping awkwardly against the tiles. The door shut behind them with a dull click that seemed louder than it should have. For a few seconds, no one spoke. Students gradually turned back to their tables, though many kept their ears tuned toward the hallway, straining to catch whatever conversation might follow.

  “Moron,” Reina muttered under her breath as she turned back to the gas tap, fiddling with it like nothing had happened.

  Ace barely registered her comment. He was still in shock, his thoughts tangled with worry for C.C. Part of him wanted to defend his friend, to say something to the teacher or follow him out, but what could he even argue? C.C. had a talent for finding trouble, almost chasing it, and it often felt like it was only a matter of time before one of his stunts actually did blow up the whole school.

  As Ace stared at the closed door, he suddenly felt something tighten around his arm.

  He glanced down.

  Lily was clinging to him.

  Both her arms were wrapped around his sleeve, her fingers knotted into the fabric as if letting go would send her falling. Her eyes were squeezed shut, shoulders trembling slightly - whether from the explosion or the shouting, he couldn’t tell. She looked smaller like this, fragile in a way he’d never noticed before.

  When she finally opened her eyes and realised what she was doing, she froze. Her face flushed red almost instantly.

  She let go and stepped back, quickly fixing her lab coat and brushing her hair behind her ear like she could erase the moment.

  “Sorry. I shouldn’t have… I didn’t…” she stammered.

  “I-it’s okay. Really. That was quite the—”

  “No, just…”

  She trailed off, unable to finish the thought. Instead, she gathered her books against her chest and slipped past him, pushing open the back door. Her footsteps faded down the corridor, leaving Ace standing there, unsure why the space beside him suddenly felt so empty.

  As the lesson dragged on, Ace found himself trapped under Reina’s blunt responses and occasional kicks beneath the desk, counting down the minutes until the bell finally rang. The day felt long, awkward, and heavier than usual. Lily’s presence had suddenly become a source of discomfort for him; his body seemed to want to recoil every time she passed by. Had he done something wrong? He couldn’t figure it out, and the uncertainty left a tight, restless knot in his chest.

  Riding home through the freezing streets, Ace kicked off his bike and dragged it into the garage. The rest of the evening unfolded predictably: homework, dinner, sleep. Routine felt like the only thing keeping him sane. It was safe and predictable. If everything was prepared, consequences were manageable, fear was minimized, and control remained firmly in his hands. When plans appeared out of nowhere or the day shifted without warning, it unsettled him completely.

  Having finished his studies early, Ace decided to head downstairs. He passed through the living room and glanced outside, spotting his grandfather sitting alone on the porch, staring into the darkness of the backyard. Ace slid open the door, stepped out, and closed it softly behind him before joining his grandfather. Between them, the small glass coffee table held only an empty ashtray.

  “Hey, Grandpa,” Ace said quietly, settling into the chair.

  “Hello, Ace. How have you been?” His grandfather’s smile was gentle, welcoming, easing some of the tension Ace carried.

  “Good,” Ace sighed, the weight of the day lingering.

  “Excellent. And your studies?”

  “They’re challenging, but I’m managing fairly well,” Ace replied, trying to sound confident.

  “Good man. Everyone has a weapon in this world, but your education is your ammunition. Treat it seriously, and you will find you have enough to take on the world.” His grandfather’s hand swept in a slow, almost ceremonial gesture as he spoke, emphasizing the gravity behind the words.

  Ace sat in silence for a moment, letting the words sink in, nodding slowly in acknowledgement.

  “The school has actually decided for us to go on an all-paid trip to Greece in a few weeks,” he said, his voice quieter this time, almost hesitant.

  For a long moment, his grandfather remained still, eyebrows furrowed, gaze lowering to the ground. His expression suggested the news had stirred something deep, perhaps a memory, perhaps regret. “Excellent. You’ll get to see the origins of the world in Greece, as well as some very beautiful villages and beaches. The ruins are a nice view.”

  “Yeah… I’m pretty excited, I think,” Ace murmured, unsure if he wanted to continue the conversation, unsettled by his grandfather’s subtle reaction.

  “Do you know if you will be seeing any temples while you’re there?”

  “No. We don’t know where we’ll go or what we’ll do yet,” Ace replied.

  A pause settled over them, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

  “Ace, I must give you something. Something to hold onto while you’re there.” His grandfather reached into the collar of his jumper, tugging at a black rope necklace hidden beneath the fabric. Slowly, he lifted it, revealing a small black pendant hanging at the end. He hesitated, lips trembling almost imperceptibly as he gazed out into the night sky, before finally pulling it free and extending it toward Ace.

  Ace looked down and reached out, gently lifting the stone from his grandfather’s hand. As it left his grandfather’s fingers, a slow, heavy exhale left him, and he leaned back in his chair, as if releasing some invisible weight he had been carrying.

  “Be careful while you’re there, Ace. I trust you are strong enough to make the right decisions. And watch out for that C.C. character, he’s got a knack for trouble despite his Oscar award winning acting when he’s over,” his grandfather said quietly, his gaze steady.

  “Thank you. I will,” Ace replied, turning the pendant over in his hand, a small knot of unease forming in his stomach. “What is this? The necklace… where did you get it?”

  His grandfather smiled faintly, a flicker of something unspoken in his eyes. “Happened upon it a long time ago. I was a few years older than you are now. Don’t be afraid of it, Ace. Just remember me while you wear it.”

  Ace nodded solemnly, holding the pendant for a long moment before sliding it carefully into his pocket. He stood, and without thinking, hugged his grandfather tightly, feeling the warmth and quiet strength in the man’s arms. Pulling back, he offered a small smile and stepped back inside.

  Later, in the quiet of his room, Ace stood in front of the mirror. He lifted the necklace from his pocket, fitting the black cord over his head, and tucked the red stone neatly beneath his shirt, as his grandfather had worn it. He stared at his reflection, feeling the weight of the pendant against his chest, a reminder of the world waiting for him, and of the trust someone he loved had just placed in him.

  Who do you relate to more right now?