The final bell of freshman year didn’t just ring, it erupted. It echoed down the halls like a victory horn bouncing off lockers. Isis felt it in her chest, a fizzy burst of freedom that made her grin even though she was still technically grounded and her summer was about to be… well, limited.
Students spilled out of classrooms in a wave, shouting, hugging, making plans. Isis stepped into the hallway and immediately spotted Jackie’s bright red hair bobbing through the crowd like a beacon.
Jackie rushed toward her. “Freshman year is officially fucking dead!”
Isis laughed. “Rest in peace.”
Jackie slung an arm around her shoulders. “Okay so, first order of business… when you’re ungrounded, we’re going to the beach. I’m talking a full day of sunshine, snacks, and gossip.”
Isis’s smile faltered just a little. “I’d love that. I just… don’t know when I’ll be free again.”
Jackie gave her a sympathetic side‑eye. “Your parents are still mad?”
“Yep.” Isis sighed. “I think they’re trying to make a point.”
“Well, when they’re done making it, we’re going to the beach and making memories.” Jackie squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll wait. Oh! And I want to tell you about this new fashion-slash-art project I started!”
Before Isis could respond, Roman appeared behind her, sliding his hand into hers and smiling at her like she was the only person in the hallway.
“Hey ladies! Congrats, we did it!” He said cheerfully.
Jackie smirked and said “I’ll leave you two lovebirds to your dramatic farewell. Call me as soon as you’re ungrounded Isis!” She winked and disappeared into the crowd.
Roman stepped closer. “So… last day.”
Isis replied “Feels weird. I’m excited, but I’m still grounded, so it’s like… fake freedom.”
Roman held her hands, brushing his thumbs on her knuckles. “It won’t last forever.”
“I know.” She looked up at him, memorizing the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. “You still working with your uncle this summer?”
“Yeah, I’ll be spending weekends at his farm in Henford, probably sweating to death.” He chuckled. “But I’ll text and facetime you, a lot.”
She felt her cheeks warm and smiled as she said “Good, you better.”
The hallway was thinning out now, the chaos fading into the parking lot. Roman leaned in and kissed her like it was their last kiss, making her heart flutter, but also making her sad because she wouldn’t be seeing him for a while.
“See you.” he murmured.
“See you.” she whispered back.
And then he was gone, swallowed by the crowd outside.
That evening, Isis lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling fan as it spun lazily. Her backpack sat in the corner, already abandoned. Her parents had given her phone back, probably because they felt bad now that school was out. It buzzed occasionally. Jackie sending memes. Roman sending a picture of his dinner. SocialBunny alerts of classmates already partying.
Two whole weeks left of being grounded.
She wasn’t allowed to go anywhere except school and home. Now that school was over, that meant… home. Just home. She could practically hear her parents’ voices: You need time to think about your choices. You broke our trust. You need to earn it back.
The boredom was suffocating. She rolled onto her stomach and stared at the window. Outside, the sky was melting from orange into lavender.
She sighed into the silence. She could journal. Or rearrange her room. Or finish writing the songs she started on the piano. Or paint her nails. Or run on the treadmill.
Instead, she stayed on her bed, imagining the beach day waiting for her on the other side of this punishment.
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