The winter morning was brisk, the cold that made your breath cloud in the air and turned the snow-covered streets of Evergreen into a glittering wonderland. Evergreen High, my home away from home—or, more often, the scene of my many mischievous escapades—was alive with its usual chaos. The holiday break was just around the corner, and while most students were buzzing about Christmas plans, there was one thing that dominated every conversation: the pantsing trend.

I’m Jessica, Jess to most people, a 17-year-old junior with a reputation for being the class clown. If there was a joke to be made or a prank to be pulled, you could count on me to make it happen. But even I had my limits—or at least, I thought I did.

The pantsing trend started small, with just a couple of seniors pulling pranks on each other. It was harmless at first, almost innocent. But within a week, it had spread to every corner of the school. Nobody was safe—not the nerds, not the jocks, not even the teachers. At first, I thought it was hilarious. Seeing someone’s shocked face when their pants hit the floor was comedy gold.

That is until it happened to me.

It was just a normal day—or as normal as things could be in the middle of this madness. I was walking to my locker, juggling a pile of books, completely unaware of what was coming. Then, out of nowhere, I felt the telltale tug at my waistband.

Before I could react, my jeans—and my underwear—were yanked down in one swift motion.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The books in my hands tumbled to the floor with a thud, but I didn’t notice. All I could feel was the rush of cold air against my skin and the weight of every single eye in the hallway staring at me.

I was fully exposed. Completely.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stood there, utterly mortified. Whispers turned into giggles, and then into full-blown laughter that echoed down the hallway like a tidal wave. But here’s the thing: instead of panicking, instead of running for the nearest bathroom to hide, I did something even I didn’t expect.

I acted like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“Really?” I said, rolling my eyes as I calmly bent down to pull up my pants. “That’s the best you’ve got?”

The hallway erupted into even louder laughter. Alex, my best friend, was doubled over, clutching his sides as tears streamed down his face. “Jess! Oh my God! You ... you just—” He couldn’t even finish his sentence through the hysterics.

I gave a dramatic sigh and retrieved my books as if nothing had happened. “Honestly, you’d think people would be more creative around here.”

Inside, I was dying. My face burned hotter than the sun, and my stomach churned with embarrassment. But outwardly? Cool as a cucumber. I walked away like it was just another Tuesday, even though I could still hear the laughter following me down the hall.

That should’ve been the end of it. I’d survived the most mortifying moment of my life—surely lightning wouldn’t strike twice. But this was Evergreen High during the height of the pantsing epidemic, and I’d underestimated just how chaotic things could get.

Rumors started circulating about a massive school-wide pantsing event on the last day before break. At first, I swore I wouldn’t participate. I mean, I’d already been fully exposed to the entire school. What more could I possibly endure?

But as the day approached, my resolve wavered. Everyone was talking about it, planning for it, excited about it. Even the teachers seemed to be in on the joke, turning a blind eye to the madness. Against my better judgment, I decided to embrace the chaos.