“Wow,” Makayla says, scrolling through the presentation as I gape at the screen. “ ‘The ability to melt something is hardly unique. Boiling? It is a power less explored. Tons of potential.’ I just—” Makayla’s thoughts are interrupted by the collective laughter that overtakes the table.

“Boiled is an objectively terrible name,” Danica chokes out, and I learn that she snorts when she laughs too loud, which makes her about ten percent less intimidating.

I close my laptop. “Reid is holding Melted hostage.”

“I back up everything on my hard drive,” Henry reminds me.

“Hostage,” I reiterate.

Obviously, I have to retaliate.

Henry shakes his head, as if he can read my mind. “Prank wars never end well.”

He’s technically not wrong, but my brain is already thinking ahead to the next move, how I can prank back in a similar—but unexpected—manner. Reid and I don’t have a whole rule book established just for me to sit on my hands and not prank back.

“We’re not twelve anymore, Hen,” I say.

He raises his eyebrows. “Really?”

“I’m with Chao,” Danica says. “There is a lot at stake. A final curtain call for the seniors. A chance for the juniors to prove that our clubs add just as much value to the school community as the band. If we want to be taken seriously, we have to take ourselves seriously.”

Fitz nods. “Reid got us. It’s annoying but… isn’t the best retaliation… no retaliation?”

“Let’s keep the focus on HAVE A HE(ART),” Henry pleads.

“Can we add an art showcase to the pitch? We can display art in the hallways, available for sale, like our auction proposal,” Makayla says, attempting to get us back on track.

“Where would the money we raise go?” Arjun asks. “That will probably come up.”

“We split it,” I suggest, refocusing on HAVE A HE(ART). “Ticket sales, art sales, all of it. Between our programs and The Sunshine Project—an environmental charity created by our generation that is doing the work to fight climate change. We need the money, but I’m not about just performative activism.”

“Me either,” Henry agrees. “It’s not like we can save all our clubs with one event anyways.”

“I love that,” Fitz says.

Everyone agrees.

“Perfect,” I say, taking notes.

“And the pitch—” Arjun starts. “Do we really think going above Mrs. Mulaney is the best play? Shouldn’t we try to appeal to her first?”

Fitz scoffs. “We did that already.”

“My dad presents to the school committee all the time,” I say. “Each meeting dedicates time to public comments. We just have to pick a meeting to attend and sign up.”

Makayla raises her eyebrows. “It’s… that easy?”

“To speak? Yes,” I say. “Actually being heard is the challenging part.”

“I’m in. I want to play Emma,” Danica says.

“We’ll have to do a chemistry read,” Fitz says. “Since I’m Adina.”