Every Thursday, the six of us gather early for our traditional breakfast picnic. None of us can pinpoint when or how this started, but we know one thing for certain: being late is not an option. Whoever oversleeps is punished with either a fine or a dare. Today, we toss our jackets on the floor in front of our lockers and sprawl out on the ground with more than enough food, considering three of us don’t even eat breakfast.

‘Sica, are you planning to have detention again today?’ Zach taunts her as he licks crumbs off his fingers. She glares at him, and he continues. ‘It was very peaceful without you yesterday.’

Naddie is too busy helping Richie with his homework to intercept the cupcake missile launched at Zach’s head. Except Jess hasn’t had enough coffee yet, so her aim is off and the weapon lands harmlessly in Max’s lap.

Max shrugs, grins, and begins to eat it. ‘Never waste a cupcake.’

‘Anyway,’ Jess grimaces, ‘you can have fun without me on Saturday – I have a DnD session to attend.’ She blushes, and though it’s subtle, I stare. Jessica blushes when she's angry, that's common enough, but I rarely ever see her act shy.

‘No, you don’t, you’re coming with us to the new exhibition on Saturday,’ Zach says.

‘I didn’t agree to that.’

‘You had detention so we made the executive decision,’ Max says, mouth full. ‘Hmm, these cupcakes are divine, Naddie, please thank your mum for me.’

‘When do you have the session planned for?’ Naddie asks. ‘We could schedule everything together.’

‘That’d be smart but I bet one of these idiots would “accidentally” pour something on me,’ Jess says, nodding towards Zach and Max. It’s a valid concern.

‘Just go without me, it’s fine,’ she then says, shocking us all.

‘You’d rather hang out with this guy than with us?’ Zach asks, no longer joking around. She frowns at his tone.

‘You said a moment ago that you didn’t want me around ‘cause it was more peaceful!’

‘How about we go on Sunday instead?’ Naddie says, taking her glasses off to wipe them with the hem of her shirt. ‘Everyone’s happy that way, plus Max doesn’t even have to miss seeing his uncle.’

‘But I was fine with that.’

‘What do you all say?’ Naddie asks, pointedly ignoring Max. She puts her glasses back on and raises her thumb up. It’s our way of voting and checking in with each other: if the vote isn’t unanimous, we talk more until we reach a conclusion.

It’s an easy choice today for all of us. I suspect Naddie raised her hand more so to calm the twins down and remind them that we’re a group than to hold the vote for more discussion. It works, as Zach joins Richie and Naddie to do his homework while Jess asks Max about the Maths exam results (with dire consequences).

I start cleaning up, and notice how Zach is playing with the row of piercings on his ear, and Jess is twirling her hair, their tell-tale signs that something is wrong. At that moment, I catch Richie’s gaze, staring off into space with such a distant expression I want to hug him. But I know better than to offer a hug or ask if he’s okay – he doesn't like either.

Turning my attention back to the mess, I pick up the trash with hopes of scrubbing the day clean.