Time passed, and it was now breaktime. Travis wandered through the school, searching for the cafeteria. His frustration grew as he navigated the labyrinthine halls.
'Man, why is this place so big? There aren't even that many students,' he thought, his patience wearing thin.
Just then, he spotted Amelia and Stella walking towards him, engaged in conversation. Travis smiled and made his way over. As he approached, Amelia's face lit up with a welcoming smile, while Stella's expression remained neutral.
"Hey, could you guys show me where the cafeteria is?" Travis asked.
"Oh, it's right there. At the end of the hall. Can't you hear the commotion from here?" Amelia replied, pointing down the corridor.
Travis turned around, and indeed, the sounds of lively chatter and laughter became apparent. 'Hmm, weird,' he thought, realizing he must have missed the noise while wearing his earphones.
"Oh, I must have had my earphones in when I passed by. So, where are y'all headed?" he asked as he fell into step beside them.
"Why would we tell you that?" Stella shot back with a smirk.
Amelia chuckled, stepping in to ease the tension. "Stella, be nice. We're just heading to the cafeteria ourselves. Why don't you join us? It's not like we have any special plans."
Stella gave a reluctant nod, her frown softening slightly. "Fine, but don't think we're going to make it easy on you."
They walked together down the hall, the conversation shifting to lighter topics. Amelia chatted animatedly about her favorite classes and upcoming events at school, while Stella listened, occasionally adding her own thoughts.
"So, Travis," Amelia said, "what do you think of the school so far? Have you managed to find your way around?"
Travis shrugged, smiling. "It's pretty huge, but I'm getting the hang of it. It's a bit overwhelming, but I think I'll manage."
Stella glanced at him. "You'll get used to it. The layout is confusing at first, but you'll learn the shortcuts."
They reached the cafeteria, a bustling space filled with students. The noise was deafening, but the variety of food and the vibrant atmosphere were impressive. Amelia led the way to a table near the windows, offering Travis a seat.
"Here we are. What do you want to eat? The cafeteria has some decent options," Amelia said, gesturing to the food stations.
Travis looked around, noting the diverse selection of dishes. "I think I'll go with something simple. Maybe a sandwich and a drink. What about you guys?"
"Same here," Amelia said, "but I'm also getting some of their fries. They're pretty good."
Stella rolled her eyes playfully. "And I'll get the salad. Someone has to keep it healthy."
As they went through the line and picked up their food, Travis and Amelia continued chatting about their interests and experiences. Stella remained quieter, but her occasional remarks added to the conversation.
With their plates of food in hand, they returned to the table. The conversation flowed easily, with Amelia and Travis sharing stories about their favorite activities and recent experiences. Stella chimed in with her own opinions, gradually warming up to the friendly banter.
The break passed quickly, filled with laughter and new connections. As they finished their meals, Travis felt a sense of camaraderie forming with his new classmates.
"Thanks for showing me around," Travis said, as they wrapped up their lunch. "I appreciate it."
"No problem," Amelia replied with a smile. "It was nice having you join us. Let's hang out again sometime."
Stella nodded in agreement, her previous reserve giving way to a genuine smile. "Yeah, sure. Let's go back to class now. "
They went back to class and continued through the day, ending with English. When the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, everyone quickly packed their belongings and left. Travis, however, stayed behind with Ms. Martinez.
"So, you and my mom were friends? Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, walking up to her desk.
"Oh, she asked about me, huh? Yeah, we were friends—still are, just haven't seen each other in a while. The last time I saw her was on the first day of school when she dropped off your sister," Ms. Martinez replied, looking up with a fond smile.
"That's nice. So, how did you two meet? In school? Or was it during a mission?" Travis asked, leaning against her desk, curious.
"Well, it was during a mission back in the day. Your mom was pretty popular, you know. I was just starting out as a hunter, and she showed me the ropes. She basically made me a better hunter. I really owe your mom a lot," she said, her tone warm with nostalgia. Then, her expression shifted slightly. "By the way, is it true that you fought Jack?"
"Yeah, but don't worry about it. I'm fine," Travis shrugged casually. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow."
After leaving the classroom, Travis immediately called Maya, letting her know she'd have to head home on her own. She understood, and after the call, Travis set off toward the other side of the school. He searched for Jack but found no sign of him. Then, he spotted Ryan and his gang playing football on the field.
Calling them over, Travis had a brief conversation, managing to extract Jack's whereabouts with a few choice words. Satisfied with the information, he left Ryan beaten and bruised, lying on the ground on the verge of tears. His friends stood around, stifling their laughter.
"Man, they really did a number on you," one of them snickered, while another was wheezing, barely able to contain his laughter.
Ryan, red-faced and seething, couldn't do anything but lie there, fuming with anger.
'I'll get you one day, Travis!' he thought furiously, his fists clenched in frustration.
Meanwhile, as Travis made his way to confront Jack, he suddenly sneezed. He paused, looking around in confusion.
'There's no way I'm getting sick. Someone must be thinking about me... hope it's a hot girl,' he thought with a smirk before continuing on his way.
TO BE CONTINUED