The tension atop the classroom building thickened, heavy and unyielding, coiling around the crowd like invisible chains. Low murmurs rippled through the circle of students, whispers darting from ear to ear, eyes wide with anticipation. At the heart of the chaos, Felix and James stood locked in a gaze sharp enough to cut glass, like seasoned warriors measuring the depth of each other's resolve. Behind Felix stood Jessica and Milo, silent but resolute, while James's boys flanked him like shadowed sentinels, their postures stiff with unspoken loyalty.
"Hmm," James sighed, a sound that slithered through the tense air. His eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a condescending smirk. "I'd advise you not to get involved in this. This isn't the time to play hero," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt, each word punctuated with a dangerous edge.
