Students moved freely between stations. Teachers supervised broadly rather than standing beside every group. Chloe had her phone out almost continuously.
Jada attended because Sofia refused to let her spend the day hiding in the library. She wore the same kind of clothes she preferred everywhere: black fitted shirt, loose black hoodie, brown cargo pants, white sneakers, and her gold pendant. Her curls fell loose around her shoulders.
For the first hour, nothing happened. She played volleyball badly, ate half a pretzel, and laughed when Sofia nearly lost a relay race because she tripped over a cone.
Then Sofia left briefly to find water. Jada began walking back toward the main entrance.
Madeline noticed her first. Chloe was beside her.
Evan stood several feet away with two other students. Madeline said something to him that Jada could not hear.
Evan smiled. Then he walked toward her.
Jada kept moving. He stepped into her path.
Behind him, Madeline and Chloe approached. Two other students followed because they sensed something worth watching.
“What?” Jada asked. Evan spread his arms.
“Nothing.” He smiled.
Jada tried moving left. He moved left too.
Madeline laughed. “Why are you always in such a hurry?” Jada answered that she wanted to go inside.
Evan stepped closer. “We’re just talking.”
“You can talk without blocking me.” Jada moved right.
He matched her again. Students behind him began laughing.
Chloe raised her phone. Jada saw it.
“Put the phone down.” Chloe said she was filming field day.
The camera remained pointed directly at Jada. Madeline leaned closer from behind.
“Why are you nervous?” Jada looked at her.
“I’m annoyed.” Madeline smiled.
“Same attitude.”
Jada exhaled. She looked toward the school doors and considered walking through the group.
Evan shifted closer. Less than a foot separated them.
“You think you’re too good to talk to people?” he asked. Jada said no.
“I think I asked you to move.” Evan laughed.
“What if I don’t?”
Jada’s expression changed slightly. She had heard versions of that sentence dozens of times in training rooms.
It was the moment someone stopped pretending an interaction was mutual. She lowered her voice.
“Then you’re choosing the next part.”