Betty’s POV
The quad was quieter than usual as I made my way to the studio. The crisp air carried the faint scent of leaves and damp earth, mingling with the distant chatter of students passing by. The fading light of the afternoon cast long shadows across the walkways, adding to the subdued atmosphere.
Inside the studio, Lucy and Carlos were already at work, their voices echoing off the high ceilings as they debated the final layout for the magazine feature. The tension in the air was palpable, almost suffocating.
“I’m telling you, the focus should be on the designs, not the drama!” Carlos argued, waving a set of storyboards in the air.
“And I’m telling you, we don’t get to decide what sells,” Lucy shot back, her hands on her hips and her tone sharp.
I cleared my throat as I stepped into the room. “What’s going on?”
They both turned to me, their expressions a mix of relief and frustration. Lucy was the first to speak.
“Dana wants more drama,” she said, exasperation heavy in her voice. “She thinks the article needs more ‘personal conflict.’”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “We’re not a soap opera, Lucy. This is about the team, not our private lives.”
“Tell that to Dana,” Carlos muttered, dropping into a chair and rubbing his temples.
I sat beside him, picking up the drafts they’d been arguing over. My stomach twisted as I skimmed the lines highlighting my role as the “reluctant leader” and Stacey’s “transformation from rival to ally.” It felt cheap, like they were boiling us down to caricatures instead of showing the real story.
“We’ll figure it out,” I said finally, closing the folder and setting it aside. “But for now, let’s focus on what we can control—the showcase.”
Carlos and Lucy nodded, and the tension in the room eased slightly. As we turned back to the task at hand, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the magazine’s demands were just the beginning of the challenges ahead.