Sikowitz's classroom was a microcosm of perfect chaos. The air smelled of dry paint, teenage sweat, and the unmistakable aroma of the mysterious liquid from the coconut that the professor sipped with delight. In one corner, Cat Valentine was humming a nonsensical melody while drawing cupcakes with wings in her notebook, completely unaware of the tension brewing at the other end of the room.

Jade West dug her black-painted nails into the table, her eyes fixed on Beck and Tori like two poisoned darts. He was laughing too loudly, too forcedly, at some trivial joke of Tori's. His hair fell over his eyes in a studiedly casual manner, and Jade could swear he had tilted his chair back just so the light from the window would better illuminate his profile. Three days. Three damn days since the breakup, and he hadn't even tried to apologize.

"The sustained note should resolve to E minor," murmured André, pointing to the sheet music on his knees.

Rex, the puppet on Robbie's lap, shook its head in exasperation. "E minor? Seriously? Even my dead grandmother has more musical talent than you, Shapiro. And she smells better."

Robbie sighed, adjusting the ventriloquist control. "Rex, please, it's a perfectly valid harmonic progression..."

The door swung wide open, cutting off all conversations. Principal Helen Dubois stood in the doorway, with an expression that suggested the smell of chaos had given her a migraine. Beside her, a new figure observed the spectacle with curious eyes.

"Good morning, class," said the principal in a tone that brooked no reply. "I present to you our new student. I hope you make her feel... welcome."

All eyes turned to the newcomer. The silence lasted exactly two seconds before Sikowitz spat out a bit of coconut liquid.

"Excellent!" shouted the professor, barefoot as always. "Just what we needed—more fuel for the creative fire."

Jade never took her eyes off Beck, who had interrupted his conversation with Tori to observe the newcomer with genuine interest. Her fingers clenched around her phone so tightly that the vinyl case crackled in protest. Perfect. Just what she needed: another distraction to add to this comedy of errors.