Party Invitation

The bell clanged, a jarring sound that echoed through the empty classroom. Elonie, sitting at her desk, let out a sigh of relief. The day had been long, filled with the usual mix of challenging equations, mind-numbing lectures, and the ever-present hum of teenage angst. But now, the last class was over, and the promise of the after-school party hung in the air like a sweet scent.

She glanced across the room at Hazel, who was meticulously packing her books into her backpack. Hazel, with her perpetually messy hair and perpetually thoughtful expression, was the epitome of calm amidst the chaos of their class. Elonie, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of energy, always bouncing between excitement and anxiety, her emotions a constant rollercoaster.

“Hey, Haz,” Elonie chirped, her voice a little too loud for the quiet classroom. “Ready for the party?”

Hazel looked up, her brow furrowed in a way that Elonie knew meant she was deep in thought. “I don’t know, El,” she said, her voice so