The next afternoon, the six of them met up in Kora's backyard. The air was warm and full of late-summer energy, and someone's portable speaker played soft music while the group gathered around the picnic table.
Kora had brought a big notepad, Suzy had colorful pens, and Michael had a bag of chips he refused to share.
"Alright," Mia said, brushing her hair from her face. "If we're doing this, we're doing it right. No silly scribbles this time."
Jordan laughed. "You say that like we're signing a contract."
"Pretty much," Mia said. "This is The List. Once it's written down, there's no backing out."
Michael leaned over the table, grabbing a chip. "You sound like we're summoning a ghost."
"Don't give her ideas," Michelle said, snatching the bag from him.
They all laughed, the easy kind of laughter that only came from years of friendship. Mia took a deep breath and started reading from her notes as Kora neatly rewrote everything onto the clean sheet.
THE SENIOR YEAR BUCKET LIST
(One last adventure before graduation)
1. Do something that scares you.
2. Go on a spontaneous night adventure — no phones, no plans.
3. Bury a time capsule with something personal inside.
4. Do one good thing for someone without expecting anything back.
5. Do something none of us will ever admit we did.
6. Make a promise we can't break — no matter what.
7. Confess a secret you've been keeping since freshman year.
8. Watch the sunrise together — no talking.
9. Pull one harmless prank before graduation.
10. Write letters to our future selves and seal them in the capsule.
11. Crash a school event we're not supposed to be at.
12. Stay out past curfew once — together.
13. Face something from our past we've been avoiding.
14. Spend a whole day without technology — just us.
15. Tell someone how you really feel — even if it's risky.
16. Do a random act of kindness for a stranger.
17. Visit the old abandoned park on the hill.
18. Make a memory that will outlive high school.
19. Take a picture after every completed task.
20. Open the time capsule five years from now — together.
"Not bad," Suzy said, admiring their work. "Looks kind of official now."
Kora smiled. "It's actually a good mix — a little crazy, a little meaningful."
"Mostly crazy," Michelle said under her breath.
Michael grinned. "That's what makes it fun."
Jordan leaned over the table. "So, which one are we starting with?"
Mia looked around. "Well, Jordan's idea was number two. The night adventure."
Jordan's grin widened. "Perfect. Tomorrow night then?"
Kora raised an eyebrow. "That's… soon."
"That's the point," he said. "No plans. Just see where the night takes us."
Suzy sighed but smiled anyway. "Fine. But if we get lost, it's on you."
Michael clapped his hands. "Then it's settled! Operation Night Adventure begins tomorrow!"
They all cheered, laughing as Kora carefully folded The List and slipped it into her notebook for safekeeping.
For the first time, it felt real — like their last days of high school were about to get a lot more interesting.