The bell rang sharply, signaling the start of the school day at Lumina High. The halls were filled with the usual chatter of students, the occasional slamming of lockers, and the faint hum of a vending machine dispensing an early snack.For Alex, Maya, and Ashley, blending into the mundane chaos of high school life after a night of battling superpowered criminals was almost surreal.---**: The Morning Rush**Alex trudged through the front entrance, his hoodie pulled over his head and his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. He moved slower than usual, his side still aching from the gash Nova had left during their battle.Maya caught up to him, her brow furrowing as she noticed his sluggish pace. "I told you to let me wrap that tighter this morning," she whispered, steering him toward their lockers."Relax, nurse Maya," Alex muttered, giving her a faint grin. "I'm fine."Ashley appeared on his other side, sipping her ever-present iced coffee. "He's not fine," she said matter-of-factly. "I saw him almost fall over while tying his shoes in the parking lot."Alex shot her a glare. "Thanks for the vote of confidence.""Hey, if you don't want me to tell Coach why you're mysteriously skipping track practice this week, maybe you'll listen to Maya and stop acting like you're invincible," Ashley said with a smirk.Maya snorted. "He only listens when he has no other choice. Speaking of which—" She dug into her bag and pulled out a small first-aid kit. "Lunch break. Empty classroom. You're not getting out of it.""Fine, fine," Alex relented, wincing as he opened his locker. "But can we at least pretend we're normal until then?"Ashley grinned. "You? Normal? I don't think so."---**Chaos in Chemistry**Later that morning, the trio found themselves in chemistry class, where they were paired up as lab partners for a particularly tricky experiment."Careful with that beaker," Maya warned as Ashley carefully poured a vivid green liquid into a flask."Relax. I've got this," Ashley said confidently.Alex, sitting at the edge of the lab table with a noticeable slouch, raised an eyebrow. "Last time you said that, we almost got detention for setting off the fire alarm.""That was one time," Ashley retorted, rolling her eyes.Maya sighed, adjusting her safety goggles. "Alex, hold the flask steady while Ashley pours. I don't trust her.""I'm injured, remember?" Alex teased, though he reached out to steady the flask anyway.The trio worked in relative harmony until a loud *pop* came from their table, followed by a plume of blue smoke."Uh... was it supposed to do that?" Ashley asked, waving the smoke away."Nope," Maya said flatly, glaring at the bubbling concoction in the beaker.Alex leaned back, coughing. "Pretty sure we just discovered how not to cure anything."Their teacher, Mrs. Reins, marched over, her arms crossed. "Care to explain why your table looks like it's about to explode?""Teamwork," Alex said quickly, flashing an innocent smile.Mrs. Reins sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Just... clean it up. And *try* not to destroy the classroom."As soon as she walked away, Maya turned to Alex and Ashley. "This is why I work alone during missions."Ashley grinned, holding up a test tube. "Admit it, though. It's more fun with us."---**: The Lunchtime Patch-Up**When lunch rolled around, the trio ducked into an empty art room. Maya set down her bag and pulled out a more advanced medkit, one they kept stashed for emergencies.Alex groaned as he sat on one of the tables, lifting his hoodie to reveal the bandage wrapped around his torso. "You know, this is the third time you've patched me up this week. You're getting *too* good at this."Maya knelt beside him, peeling back the old bandage. "And you're getting too good at getting yourself injured."Ashley leaned against the door, keeping watch. "Maybe if you'd let me throw one of my smoke bombs last night, Nova wouldn't have tagged you."Alex smirked. "Yeah, because more explosions were exactly what we needed."Maya interrupted their banter with a firm glare. "Stop moving, or I'll make this hurt more than it has to.""Yikes, okay," Alex said, holding still as Maya cleaned the wound with precision.Ashley snorted. "You've faced down gang leaders, but one stern look from Maya, and you're done for.""Because she's scarier," Alex quipped, wincing slightly.Maya rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Keep talking, and I'll tape your mouth shut too."After a few minutes, Maya finished rewrapping the wound with a fresh bandage. "There. Good as new. Well, almost."Alex hopped off the table, testing his range of motion. "Thanks, Doc. You should really start charging for this.""I'll just add it to the list of things you owe me," Maya said with a smirk.Ashley checked her watch. "Alright, we've got five minutes before the bell. Let's get out of here before someone wonders why the art room smells like antiseptic."---** After-School Shenanigans**By the time the final bell rang, the trio had settled into their usual dynamic—bickering and laughing as they made their way out of the building."So, anyone else feel like today was harder than fighting Nova?" Alex asked, slinging his backpack over his shoulder."Definitely," Ashley said. "But I'd still take a chemistry mishap over facing another wind-powered maniac."Maya grinned. "At least in chemistry, I don't have to dodge flying debris."As they walked toward the parking lot, Alex paused, looking out at the bustling city beyond the school gates. "You know," he said, his tone quieter, "it's weird. Balancing all this—school, friends, saving the city. Some days, it feels like too much."Maya and Ashley exchanged a glance. Then Ashley slung an arm around his shoulders, careful to avoid his injury. "That's why you've got us, dummy. We're in this together.""Always," Maya added, her voice firm.Alex smiled, the weight of the night before feeling a little lighter. "Yeah. Always."With that, the trio headed into the city, ready to face whatever came next—whether it was homework, another mission, or just another day of chaos.