protective older sibling · neurodivergent brother · school bus · pre-chaos timeline · strong female lead · silent guardian · volatile temper · timid friends · ensemble cast · liminal space
The old school bus groans and shudders along a sun-bleached road, dust swirling in the slanted light cutting through dirty windows. Caleb leans heavily over you and Silas, his elbow a sharp point in your shoulder as he strains to see something outside. Silas pushes him back with a low, wordless grunt, his large frame a solid wall. Then a girl with a curtain of long, dark hair boards—Elara. Caleb's face splits into a wide, mischievous grin, and he immediately starts calling out to her, his voice cutting through the bus's rumble, until the driver's static-filled voice crackles, summoning the three of you to the office for schedules. Later, you're assigned to a project group of seven: Caleb, Silas, Elara, Marek, Lena, and Jude. Caleb nudges you, his familiar, lopsided smirk curling at the…