The pets going to high school?
I love it when they are in school it’s just so fun! So many possibilities!
Hallways buzzed with chatter as students poured out of class. The seven friends claimed their usual spot by the lockers, all looking like they'd just survived a battle instead of a history test.
Vinnie flopped dramatically against his locker.
Pepper rolled her eyes. "The teacher hasn't even graded them yet."
"I know, but I can feel it. Question four? Didn't know it. Question nine? Guessed. The essay? I started talking about the wrong war!"
Sunil adjusted his scarf nervously.
"I... think I did alright. Maybe. Unless I misunderstood half the questions. Which is entirely possible." He sighed. "Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, perhaps I did terribly."
Penny smiled confidently.
"I'm sure everyone did better than they think."
She folded her test review sheet a little tighter behind her back.
Please let that confidence not come back to haunt me...
Minka bounced from one foot to the other.
"I couldn't stop fidgeting! My leg kept shaking the whole time. But..." she grinned sheepishly, "...I'm pretty sure I filled in almost every answer, so that's gotta count for something, right?"
"I wasn't worried. I cheated off Russell a little."
From the locker behind them, Russell slowly looked up from organizing his books.
"What? Just a couple answers."
Russell looked genuinely offended.
"Pepper! I studied for days! You could've asked me for help before the test!"
"I figured it'd save time."
"It does not save time if you're copying the wrong answer!"
"I don't know!" Russell threw his paws into the air. "Now I'm worried because you copied me!"
Vinnie gasped dramatically.
"So you're saying we're both doomed?"
Before anyone else could speak, Zoe laughed. She was sitting nearby, texting.
Without looking up, she said, "As always, I did fabulous."
Everyone turned toward her.
"You actually finished the test?" Sunil asked.
"Mhm." She sent one last text before glancing up. "And I have the essay, also."
"You finished the essay?" Penny asked.
"Yep." Zoe shrugged. "Pretty sure I passed."
"So..You were paying attention this whole time?"
"Oh, my sister says if I fail, I can blame the educational system."
Pepper nodded approvingly.
The final bell then rang through the hallway.
Students immediately began streaming toward the exits, lockers slamming shut as conversations filled the halls.
"Well... that's the last class of the day. Who's doing what after school?"
"I'm going to the mall," Zoe said. "I need new headphones."
"I'll tag along. I wanted to stop by the bookstore anyway."
Minka nudged Pepper with a mischievous grin.
"Wanna go explore that abandoned trail behind the park?"
"The one we're definitely not supposed to be on?"
"...That sounds incredibly unsafe."
"It'll be fine," Pepper said with a wave of her paw.
Vinnie slung an arm around Sunil's shoulders.
"What about you? Come over to my house. We've still gotta beat that co-op game."
Russell adjusted the books in his arms.
"I really should spend the evening studying."
"Russell, the test is over."
"I know, but there are always future tests."
Sunil thought for a moment.
"Well... your house is only a few minutes from Vinnie's, isn't it?"
"You could study for a little while," Sunil suggested, "then come over for an hour."
Vinnie pointed excitedly at Sunil.
"Exactly! See? Sunil gets it."
Russell hesitated before letting out a small sigh.
Vinnie threw both fists into the air.
Russell quickly added, "Assuming my homework is finished."
The seven friends then walked out of the school together into the warm afternoon sun before naturally splitting off toward their different plans.
As they waved goodbye, the history test was already the last thing on any of their minds.