Love Unscripted

✨ Chapter Four:Lunch Table Trouble

Lunch hour rolled in like a warm breeze of relief. The cafeteria at Wheelerslane High was buzzing — trays clattering, sneakers squeaking on tiled floors, students laughing at their tables like they’d all survived a war together.

I followed Tellyon through the crowd, we both carried trays piled with food.

“Trust me, the chicken nuggets are the only safe option,” Tellyon said, wrinkling her nose at the spaghetti.

I chuckled. “Noted.”

They sat near the windows, where a few students gave me curious glances but said nothing. Tellyon introduced her to a couple of girls—Jade, who barely looked up from her phone, and Mya, who smiled kindly and complimented my accent.

"So, what’s Nigeria like?” Mya asked between bites.

“It’s loud. Hot. Real,” I replied. “Let’s just say—if you can survive Lagos traffic, you can survive anything.”

Tellyon burst out laughing. “Girl, you're gonna fit right in.”

Just as the mood lifted, the cafeteria doors swung open, and in walked Sasha Mason—heels clicking like gunshots against the tile. She strutted over with her entourage trailing behind, all hair flips and whispered insults.

“Well, well,” Sasha said, stopping at Keller’s table. “If it isn’t Wheelerslane’s newest charity case.”

Tellyon’s face dropped. “Sasha, don’t—”

“I wasn’t talking to you, Tel. Stay in your lane,” Sasha snapped, then turned to me. “So, what’s it like flying in from the slums straight into our civilized world?”

I leaned back in my seat, calm but sharp. “Funny. I thought I was walking into a school, not a zoo.”

Gasps erupted from the nearby tables. Even Jade looked up from her phone.

Sasha blinked, clearly not used to pushback. “What did you just say?”

“I said,” I repeated slowly, “you talk a lot for someone who’s clearly threatened.”

Tension thickened in the air. Sasha’s friends exchanged uneasy glances.

Before anything could escalate, a stern voice cut through the moment.

“Is there a problem here?” Mrs. Gilberton, the assistant principal, had appeared by the side door.

“No, ma’am,” i said smoothly, already picking up my tray.

Sasha was still glaring, but she knew better than to make a scene in front of a staff member.

“Good,” Mrs. Gilberton said. “Keller, the principal would like to see you in her office.”

I stood slowly, tossed my uneaten food into the trash, and turned to Tellyon. “Save my seat.”

“Always,” Tellyon whispered, eyes wide with both admiration and fear.

As i walked off, i didn’t look back. The war had only just begun