At Fairmont High, the cafeteria was more than a place to grab lunch,it was a battlefield of social status. Cliques staked their claims, rumors spread with the speed of wildfire, and a single misstep could make or break a reputation. At the heart of it all was Jessica Whitehall.
She walked in with effortless grace, balancing her tray in one hand while scrolling through the latest TikTok trends on her phone. Her destination? The coveted window-side table, reserved for the elite, where her closest friends, Chloe, Ava, and Taylor, were already waiting.
"Finally," Chloe groaned dramatically as Jessica sat down. "We were just discussing the absolute tragedy that is Mrs. Callahan's so-called 'random' partner selection."
Ava leaned in, feigning sympathy. "Seriously, Jess. You, paired with Steven Greece? That's basically academic exile."
Jessica rolled her eyes but smirked. "He's not that bad. He's… efficient."
Chloe gasped, clutching her chest in mock horror. "Wait. Are you actually considering learning to code?"
Jessica sighed, stabbing at her salad. "What choice do I have? It's thirty percent of my grade."
Taylor nudged her with a teasing grin. "Or you could just flash that Whitehall smile and let him do all the work."
Jessica chuckled but didn't respond. Something told her Steven wasn't the type to be easily swayed by charm, unlike most guys at Fairmont.
Shaking off the thought, she flipped her phone around. "Forget Steven. Look at this new dance challenge. We're doing it after school."
Her friends eagerly huddled closer, already planning their next viral moment when Ava suddenly lowered her voice. "Speaking of interesting pairings… did anyone else notice Mr. Calloway staring at Jessica during History today?"
Jessica frowned. "What? No, he wasn't."
Chloe grinned. "Oh, he totally was. He asked you at least three unnecessary questions and stared just a little too long."
Taylor widened her eyes in fake shock. "Maybe Mr. Calloway has a crush on you, Jess."
Jessica made a face. "Ew. He's, like, thirty."
"Thirty and staring," Ava teased, nudging her. "Some teachers have favorites."
Jessica groaned. "Can we not? That's disgusting."
Chloe laughed. "Relax. It's probably nothing. But if he starts handing out free A's, we'll know why."
Jessica shook her head, but a small smirk played on her lips. "You guys are ridiculous."
As the lunch period wound down, Chloe leaned in conspiratorially. "So… are we still sneaking out tonight?"
Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Obviously."
Ava clapped her hands together excitedly. "Okay, here's the plan. My cousin is covering for me, so my parents think I'm at her place. Taylor, your brother still thinks you're 'studying' at his apartment, right?"
Taylor nodded. "Yep. And Chloe?"
Chloe smirked. "My parents think I'm staying at Jessica's."
Jessica grinned. "And mine think I'm at yours. Flawless."
They exchanged triumphant looks. Sneaking out was practically second nature by now.
"Alright," Chloe said, lowering her voice. "We meet at my place at ten, then head to Noah's. The seniors are bringing drinks, it's going to be insane."
Jessica leaned back in her chair, excitement bubbling beneath her cool exterior. Tonight was going to be unforgettable.