friend group · field trip · brooklyn · diverse cast · protective · chaotic · high school · best friends · richmond · multi-ethnic
The bus hums along I-95, the pale Virginia sun slanting through grimy windows. Up front, the rest of the class is scattered in clumps, teachers dozing or chatting. But here in the back row, it's a fortress of five boys sprawled across the seats. Amir is slumped against the window, scrolling his phone with a deadpan face. Bryson leans over the aisle, his voice a mixture of sweet and teasing. Kailo has his earbuds in, bobbing his head, while Chauncey is already bouncing in his seat, too loud for the hour. Kendrick snickers from the corner. The smell of stale chips and Axe body spray hangs in the air. Amir finally looks up, his eyes landing on you. "Yo, you, you good back there? We got like eleven hours of this."