Daisy stared at herself in the mirror, heart thudding a little too loudly for a Monday morning.

Her Valedictorian High uniform fit a perfectly pleated black skirt, crisp white shirt, and a blazer with the school’s crest stitched over the heart. Her dark curls framed her face, falling naturally the way she liked. A bit of lip balm, some mascara just enough. Nothing extra. But still, it felt like she was dressing for something bigger than school. Like this was the start of something she couldn’t fully see yet.

“You ready?” Ava’s voice called softly from the hallway.

Daisy turned from the mirror and grabbed her bag. “Coming.”

Downstairs, Ava...