Paper Napkin Rules

The snack bar at College had paper dragons taped to the windows and a chalk sign that said, FANTASY THEME NIGHT: PICK A HOUSE, PICK A SNACK.

Mariza slid into line, tugging her ribbon straight. Her long curls bounced, turquoise streaks catching the ceiling lights.

She blinked at the menu and froze. Her pupils had gone purple.

“Nope,” she whispered, tilting her head so her hair covered her eyes.

A vampire girl at the counter—Marceline—laughed softly while she paid, her own purple pupils steady like tiny coins.

Mariza grabbed her phone and opened the front camera. Purple. Definitely purple.

“Sea-salt fries,” Mariza told the cashier too fast.

Behind Marceline, a girl in a green hoodie narrowed her eyes.

“Marceline, stop following me,” the girl snapped.

Marceline’s smile wobbled. She hurried after the hoodie girl and bumped Mariza’s shoulder.

“Sorry,” Marceline said, not looking back.

Mariza held her fries like a shield and watched them disappear past the soda machines

Paper Dragons, Wet Shoes

Mariza hurried out of the snack bar, clutching her sea-salt fries.

The hallway at College led toward the gym, where a tiny music festival buzzed—drums, clapping, and someone singing off-key.

Mariza lifted her phone like she was checking a message.

The front camera showed it again.

Purple pupils.

“Oh, come on,” Mariza muttered, and shoved her hair forward.

Near the gym doors, Marceline—the vampire girl with the neat black bob—stepped in front of Ivy’s green hoodie.

“Ivy, just—” Marceline started.

“Move,” Ivy snapped, and swung a giant fruit punch.

The cup tipped.

Red drink rushed across the tile like a fast little river.

Mariza’s sneakers hit the slick spot. Her fries flew and slapped the floor.

“Sorry! Sorry!” Mariza said, dropping to her knees. Water never scared her, but falling did.

Marceline crouched too, pressing her dark cardigan into the spill to stop it.

Marceline glanced up.

Her pupils were purple.

“Please,” Marceline whispered, “don’t say you saw.”