I take a seat at the very front of the class—where Chaewon would most definitely love to sit—and stare up ahead, waiting for Ms. Montgomery to make her appearance. The rest of the class shuffles in, some of them casting curious glances at me and then at Chaewon and Jess sitting at the back of the class, huddled together. Probably discussing me.

When Flávia walks in, glued to Chyna’s side as always, she glances at me. There’s a twinkle in her eye, and a smile tugging at her lips. My heart flutters at the sight of her even though I’m trying to tell it to shut up because we are rivals and she’s a culture thief! But then Flávia is looking away again, and she and Chyna push past my desk to find a seat by the window.

Ms. Montgomery bounds into the classroom a moment later with a flourish.

“Good afternoon, girls!” She exclaims like we’re about to set off on an exciting adventure and not a regular old business class that nobody really wants to be in.

“Good afternoon,” all of us mumble back in unison. Her smile is as bright as ever as she claps her hands and declares that she’s going to come around to talk to each of us about our business plans, to help us brainstorm further ideas.

“We’re going to have an opening day business showcase next Monday, if all goes to plan,” she says brightly, before dashing off to the first group of girls to discuss their plans. The class immediately erupts into chatter, about businesses and this upcoming showcase.

My stomach drops at the thought. Next Monday seems too close. Only one week to prepare everything, to be open for business and ready to beat Flávia.

When Ms. Montgomery comes around to me a few minutes later, there’s a frown on her lips.

“Nishat, I thought you were in a group of three with Chaewon and Jessica?” She takes the seat beside me and crosses her arms over her chest.

“I was, but … we had … creative differences?”

“Hm.” Her lips are pressed into a thin line. For a moment I think she’ll ask what happened and make me rehash everything in front of the whole class. But she shrugs and says, “Okay. So you’re going solo?”

I nod, thankful that she’s decided against asking any further questions.

“Well, do you have plans? Ideas? Enough to set you up by next Monday?”

“Yeah, I do!” I open up my book and take out all of the sketches and brainstorms that I’ve been working on. I hand them to Ms. Montgomery and watch anxiously as her eyes scan the pages. She sounds out the occasional hmms and ahhs as she reads, but nothing gives away her thoughts.