Ryan watched the others. Leon's face was all business, eager like a person who wanted to be useful. Daniel's grin had sharpened into a kind of uncontained curiosity.
Aiden's hands kept still on the desk, but his eyes moved as if sending out small scouts to measure every angle. Maya, as always, stood like she had planned the world on a chalkboard and now merely needed to get everyone to see it too.
"This is important," Maya said. Her voice softened a notch, the way people did when they meant to make others feel the weight alongside them. "It is not just a meet. It's our chance to show what West High is now. To remind them that we're organized and capable. To recruit, to make alliances, and to protect our people."
