They sat together at the cafeteria table, the aroma of various snacks filling the air around them. Travis munched on a bag of chips while Eve dove into a container of nachos smothered in cheese, clearly relishing the moment. As they enjoyed their snacks, the conversation flowed naturally.
"Man, I can't wait to buy *Sparking Zero*!" Eve exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She leaned forward, practically bouncing in her seat. "I've been waiting for it for months!"
Travis nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, me too. But I'm thinking of playing it on console, so I'm planning on buying one."
Eve's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Wow, no one our age can just buy a console with their own money. Are you secretly a drug lord, Travis?" she asked, narrowing her eyes in playful suspicion, her expression a mix of intrigue and humor.
Travis chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, not yet. Maybe in my next life, though."
Eve burst out laughing, the sound brightening the bustling cafeteria. "That's good to know! For a second, I was starting to worry I'd have to keep my distance!"
Their laughter echoed through the cafeteria, drawing the attention of nearby students. As they joked around, Mia approached their table, her expression shifting from curious to annoyed.
"What's so funny?" Mia asked, crossing her arms as she leaned against the table.
Eve smirked, looking at Travis before turning back to Mia. "Just discussing Travis's secret life as a drug lord. You know, typical lunch conversation."
Mia raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching in a half-smile. "Really? That's the best you could come up with? Well, whatever. Travis, could I sit with y'all today?" she asked as she approached the two, her tone teasing yet inviting.
"Sure," Travis replied, gesturing to the empty seat beside him. "Who do you usually hang with, honestly? I've never seen you with your friends."
"Oh, I used to sit in class with Ms. Bissette," she replied.
Travis nodded, intrigued by her response, and they continued walking toward the cafeteria. As they approached the entrance, a sudden ruckus echoed from inside, drawing their attention. A crowd had gathered in a tight circle, the noise rising above the usual lunch chatter.
Peering into the throng, they could see two people locked in a heated confrontation. One person was clearly overpowering the other, throwing punches with relentless intensity while the crowd egged them on, a mix of excitement and tension hanging in the air.
"That's what you get for looking at my girl!" Dexter shouted, his voice booming across the cafeteria like a bullhorn. He was the classic, dead-brained jock straight out of an American teen movie, embodying every stereotype with pride. Dating the most popular girl in school gave him a sense of superiority, but deep down, he was riddled with insecurity, convinced that if she ever lost interest, she'd simply find someone else to fill the void.
Roxanne, the girl in question, lounged at the lunch table with her squad, decked out in their cheerleader outfits, casually picking at their food while tossing around gossip. Her carefree demeanor seemed to be at odds with Dexter's outburst.
"Roxxy, you're not going to stop your boyfriend?" Missy chimed in, balancing a perfectly polished burger on her fingertips, showcasing her freshly manicured nails like a trophy.
"Like I'd care what he does," Roxanne replied nonchalantly, rolling her eyes. "He can fuck himself for all I care. I'm only using him, like I've said a thousand times already. So could we change the topic?" Her tone was dismissive, bordering on bored.
"You don't have to be a bitch," Becca shot back, irritation lacing her voice. Roxanne responded by raising her middle finger in a casual gesture, unfazed as she continued to munch on her lunch.
Travis watched the scene unfold, shaking his head in disbelief. 'Wow, this is so cringe. It's like I'm watching a Disney movie, with all their dramatic scenes playing at once,' he thought, suppressing a laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
"Like I said, remember, but this time it's more of him making a scene instead of them both. Would you believe me if I told you that he was a student well-being representative?" Eve said with a short chuckle.
"What? His dumb ass? That's very ironic since he's one of the causes of stress for students," Travis replied, shaking his head.
"I know, right? What should I get you guys?" Eve asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Here, get me a sandwich. Use the change to buy whatever you want. Oh, and get something for Mia as well," he said, passing her a crisp hundred-dollar bill.
Eve's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she took the bill. 'Is he rich? I don't remember him balling this much,' she thought, eyeing him with newfound curiosity.
Mia was equally taken aback, but her thoughts ran along a different line. 'That's the same amount of money my mom donates to the church. I swear one day we'll go broke because of them.'
Eve left the table, leaving Travis and Mia alone. They sat closely together on a bench, the air thick with unspoken tension. Travis casually placed his hand on her thigh, catching her completely off guard.
"What are you doing? What if they see us?" she stammered, her cheeks flushing.
"Mia, look around. We aren't the only ones doing this. Well, we might not be on their level, though," he replied, gesturing with his free hand.
She raised her head, scanning the cafeteria. Couples were scattered around, some openly flirting, others being more intimate, completely unconcerned about the world around them. 'Wow, how bold,' she thought, a mixture of awe and embarrassment washing over her.
"Okay," she finally said, a deep blush creeping across her face. Travis chuckled at how adorable she looked, practically seeing the steam rising from her cheeks.
"How's your mom been?" he asked, attempting to steer the conversation to safer territory.
"She's alright, but honestly, I'm more concerned about my dad. He's been coming home less and less these days. Yet my mom doesn't even seem worried or anything," Mia replied, her expression turning serious.
"Maybe she knows what he's up to. I heard there's a criminal around town who keeps stealing at night. He might be busy with that," he suggested, trying to ease her mind.
"You're right, but I wish she'd tell me these things if they were happening, you know? She's my mom, but she's more distant than anyone I know," Mia confessed, her voice tinged with frustration.
"You could talk to her, you know," he offered gently.
"I know, but how?" she asked, her eyes searching his for an answer.
"Umm, I'll think about it," he responded, his tone thoughtful. Mia smiled sweetly as she leaned into him, finding comfort in his presence.
"You're the best," she said softly, her gaze warm.
Eve returned, casting a playful glare at Mia, who simply smiled smugly. Eve shifted from where she had been sitting before to squeeze in beside them, effectively trapping Travis in the middle of two girls who were both vying for his attention.
'This is the life,' he thought, a satisfied grin spreading across his face as he enjoyed the moment.
TO BE CONTINUED