As Mrs. Johnson exited the classroom, I turned to Emilia.
"Did you notice she was finding fault with me?" I whispered.
Emilia frowned, nodding.
"Yeah, I noticed that too," she replied, her voice barely audible.
Sofia, sitting on the other side of Emilia, leaned in.
"What's going on with Mrs. Johnson?" she asked.
I shook my head.
"No idea, but she seemed extra critical today."
Emilia's brow furrowed.
"Maybe it's because of Priscilla"
My eyes widened.
"What do you mean?"
Emilia glanced around the classroom.
"Maybe it's really because of Priscilla," Emilia whispered.
My eyes widened.
"You think Mrs. Johnson's behavior has something to do with Priscilla?"
Emilia nodded.
"Rumor has it, Mrs. Johnson is close to Priscilla's family."
Sofia's eyes sparkled. "That explains a lot."
I frowned. "But why would Mrs. Johnson care about Priscilla's feud with me?"
Emilia shrugged.
"Maybe Priscilla's family influences Mrs. Johnson's opinions."
I processed this new information.
Priscilla, the queen bee, had always wanted to be my life difficult this days.
Now, it seemed her reach extended to my teachers.
The bell rang, signaling the start of break.
"Let's grab some fresh air," Emilia suggested.
Sofia nodded.
"Outside, we can talk more about Mrs. Johnson and Priscilla."
We filed out of the classroom, joining the stream of students flooding the hallways.
As we stepped into the courtyard, the cool breeze refreshed me.
Emilia turned to me.
"Selina, be careful around Mrs. Johnson."
Sofia's eyes locked onto mine.
"If Priscilla's family influences her, you don't know what she's capable of."
I nodded, determination swelling within me.
"I won't let Priscilla or Mrs. Johnson bully me."
We headed to the cafeteria, the aroma of freshly baked pizza and simmering soups enticing us.
As we waited in line, Emilia whispered, "I'm so glad for this break."
Sofia nodded vigorously. "Me too, I need some fuel."
I smiled, selecting a sandwich and fruit.
Once we had our food, we found a quiet table by the window.
Emilia dug into her salad. "So, what's your weekend plan?"
I shrugged. "Not much, maybe catch up on reading."
Sofia sipped her juice. "Sounds relaxing."
Just then, Priscilla and her entourage sauntered into the cafeteria.
Priscilla's gaze locked onto me, a sly smile spreading across her face.
Selina and her friends enjoyed their meal, surrounded by lively chatter and warmth. Suddenly, Sofia's expression transformed into a sad, crying face, reminiscent of a distressed baby.
"Sofy, what's wrong?" Selina and Emilia asked simultaneously, concern etched on their faces.
Sofia relaxed her hand onto her chin, her eyes welling up with mock tears.
"I forgot to get my drink," Sofia said lazily, a hint of playful melodrama in her voice.
Selina and Emilia exchanged amused glances.
"We smiled, gently touching her hair. "Let me get it," Selina offered.
Selina rose from her seat and walked towards the counter, joining the short queue.
As she waited, Selina pondered the simple joys of friendship.
She ordered drinks for herself and her friends: iced tea for Emilia, lemonade for Sofia, and a fruit smoothie for herself.
The refreshing drinks would complement their meal perfectly.
With the drinks in hand, Selina returned to her friends.
Their laughter and chatter resumed.
As Selina walked towards their table, she passed Priscilla's table, where her friends were lounging.
One of Priscilla's friends, Victoria, playfully stuck out her leg, attempting to trip Selina.
Selina, anticipating the move, swiftly sidestepped Victoria's leg.
"Clumsy much?" Selina teased, smiling wryly.
Victoria's face flushed, but Priscilla intervened.
"Leave it, Vic," Priscilla warned.
Selina continued to her table, drinks in hand.
"Smooth move," Emilia whispered.
Sofia chuckled. "Selina's got ninja skills."
Selina grinned. "Just careful."
As they sipped their drinks, the tension dissipated.
Their laughter filled the air once more.
"Ahh, the Handsome 5Stars are coming!" a male student exclaimed.
The cafeteria erupted into excited chatter and squeals.
"The princes of our school are gracing us with their presence," Emilia joked.
Sofia playfully rolled her eyes.
"Can't breathe, too much handsome."
I smiled, intrigued by the commotion.
The Handsome 5Stars, five senior guys renowned for their charm, intelligence, and striking looks, walked into the cafeteria.
Romeo, Alexander, Tom, Mikeulian, and Chris.
Their confident strides commanded attention.
The room buzzed with anticipation.
The Handsome 5Stars scanned the cafeteria, acknowledging admirers with charming smiles.
Romeo, the charismatic leader, led the group.
Alex, the quiet intellectual, nodded at acquaintances.
Tom, the star athlete, high-fived teammates.
Mike, the creative soul, exchanged nods with art club members.
Chris, the witty jokester, entertained nearby students.
Their camaraderie was undeniable.
As they reached the food counter, the lunch ladies fawned over them.
The 5Stars' easy banter and genuine kindness made them beloved schoolwide.
Selina observed from afar, intrigued by their dynamics.
Emilia leaned in. "Who's your favorite?"
Sofia blushed. "Don't make me choose!"
Selina smiled mischievously. "Let's just appreciate the view." her heart beating fast in her chest.
"Excuse me, may I join you guys?" a calm, deep voice asked.
Sofia, Emilia, and I turned to see who was speaking.
A handsome, intelligent-looking student stood beside our table, his warm smile putting us at ease.
"Hi, I'm Lucas," he introduced himself.
Our eyes met, and I felt a spark of curiosity.
"Sure, have a seat," Emilia invited, gesturing to the empty chair.
Lucas sat down, blending in seamlessly.
Sofia's eyes sparkled. "What brings you to our table?"
Lucas leaned in, his voice engaging. "I noticed you guys seem like the most interesting people in this cafeteria."
I smiled."Interesting?"
Lucas chuckled. "Refreshing, actually."
As we chatted with Lucas, his easygoing nature and quick wit drew us in.
"So, Lucas, what do you enjoy doing outside of school?" Emilia asked.
Lucas's eyes lit up.
"I'm a huge fan of photography. I love capturing moments and beauty in everyday life."
Sofia nodded enthusiastically.
"I've seen your work on Instagram! Your urban landscapes are stunning."
Lucas smiled.
"Thanks! I'm actually working on a project to document the city's street art."
I leaned in, intrigued.
"That sounds amazing. Can we see some of your photos?"
Lucas pulled out his phone, sharing his portfolio.
As we scrolled through, Emilia pointed out.
"Your photos tell stories."
Lucas nodded.
"That's exactly what I aim for."
Our conversation flowed effortlessly, covering topics from art to music.
As we chatted, we didn't notice someone's intense gaze on me.
"Hey, man!" Chris called out, trying to divert Romeo's focus.
But Romeo's gaze remained fixed on Lucas, his fists clenched.
"Romeo, Romeo!" Chris repeated.
Romeo's eyes snapped towards Chris.
"Who is he?" Romeo asked, his voice low and menacing, still staring at Lucas with a killing intent.
"Oh, him?" Tom intervened. "He's a new student in our class, Lucas"
Lucasr's name seemed to fuel Romeo's anger.
"I don't like him," Romeo growled.
Lucas, oblivious to the tension, continued chatting with us.
Chris eyes widened."Romeo, what's wrong?"
Romeo's glare deepened."He's...familiar."
Chris placed a calming hand on Romeo's shoulder."Let's talk about this outside."
Romeo's intensity made me shiver.