Chapter 4: Lunch time woes
999 Words
Lexi: Absolutely Not
Lexi blinked. Once. Twice.
Jace Callahan—the school's golden boy, the arrogant quarterback, and Savannah Monroe’s on-again-off-again accessory—was asking to sit at her table.
It wasn’t a request. It was an event.
The entire cafeteria seemed to slow down as people turned to watch.
And Lexi?
She had one answer.
“No.”
Jace raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that. “No?”
Lexi nodded, crossing her arms. “Yeah. No.”
Ryan coughed, whispering, “Damn, Lex. That took guts.”
Jace just grinned.
And then? He sat down anyway.
Lexi groaned. Of course, he did.
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Madison: The Defender
Madison narrowed her eyes.
Jace Callahan was not about to waltz into their peaceful, drama-free lunch and turn it into a spectacle.
She leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. “So, what exactly are you doing here, Callahan?”
Jace smirked. “Getting notes.”
Madison scoffed. “Really? You need notes? Or are you just here because—oh, I don’t know—you like the attention?”
Jace chuckled. “If I liked attention, I’d still be at my table.”
“Please. You’re a walking attention magnet.”
Jace shrugged. “Not my fault people like me.”
Lexi groaned, rubbing her temples. “Oh my God. Both of you, stop.”
But Madison wasn’t done. “You’re sitting at our table, Callahan. That makes you our problem. So, be honest—why are you really here?”
Jace’s smirk didn’t fade. But for a second, his eyes flicked to Lexi.
Madison noticed.
Oh. Oh.
So that’s how it was.
This wasn’t just about notes. This was about Lexi.
And before Madison could even call him out on it—
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Savannah: The Queen Reclaims Her Throne
The air in the cafeteria shifted.
Lexi knew before she even turned around.
Savannah Monroe had entered the chat.
The sound of heels clicking against the linoleum floor sent a shiver down Lexi’s spine.
“Jace.”
Savannah’s voice was calm. Too calm.
Jace barely looked up. “Yeah?”
“What exactly are you doing?”
Jace finally met her gaze. “Getting notes.”
Savannah’s lips curled into something not quite a smile. “From her?”
Lexi sighed. Here we go.
Savannah’s eyes flicked to her.
Cold. Calculating. Deadly.
Lexi swallowed.
“Look, let’s not make a scene,” Lexi muttered, pushing her tray aside. “His loyalties lie with you, definitely. Jace, please, can you leave?”
Jace frowned. Clearly not expecting that.
But Savannah?
She just smirked.
That’s right. Know your place.
Jace stood, grabbing his tray.
Lexi let out a breath of relief—until he turned to her and said, “See you in class, Carter.”
And then he was gone.
Lexi sat there, stunned.
Ryan let out a low whistle. “Well. That was... terrifying.”
Madison crossed her arms. “You should’ve let me throw my drink at him.”
Lexi groaned, dropping her head onto the table.
This was only the beginning.
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1. The Mysterious DM
Lexi barely made it out of the cafeteria before her phone buzzed.
A new message. From an unknown number.
Unknown: You should be careful, Carter.
Unknown: You don’t belong in their world.
Lexi froze.
What. The. Hell.
Her heart pounded as she stared at the message.
Before she could even react, another text came in.
Unknown: And trust me, you don’t want to be Savannah’s next target.
Lexi’s fingers trembled as she hovered over the reply button.
Who was this? A warning? A threat?
She looked up, scanning the hallway. Was someone watching her?
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2. Jace Corners Lexi
Lexi barely had time to process the weird DM before her next problem arrived.
Jace.
He was waiting outside her next class, leaning against the wall like he owned the place.
“Carter,” he said when she got closer.
Lexi ignored him.
He fell into step beside her. “So, you just tell me to leave now? That’s how this works?”
Lexi sighed. “I wasn’t trying to start anything.”
Jace smirked. “Could’ve fooled me.”
She shot him a glare. “Look, Jace, I’m not interested in whatever game you and Savannah are playing.”
“Who said it’s a game?”
Lexi stopped walking. “Oh, please.”
Jace just grinned.
Something about that look made her stomach flip.
She hated that.
“I meant what I said, Carter,” Jace said, stepping closer. “I’ll see you in class.”
And then he walked away, like he hadn’t just made her whole world tilt sideways.
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3. Savannah’s Not-So-Subtle Warning
By the time Lexi made it to her next class, her nerves were shot.
So of course, Savannah was waiting for her.
She stood by the doorway, arms crossed, looking like she had just stepped out of a teen drama villain audition.
Lexi tried to walk past.
Savannah stepped in front of her. “We need to talk.”
Lexi sighed. Here we go.
Savannah smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I don’t think you understand how things work here.”
Lexi raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Enlighten me.”
Savannah tilted her head. “Jace and I—we have history. That means something.”
“Great. Have fun with that.”
Savannah’s smile sharpened. “See, that’s the thing. Jace gets... distracted sometimes.”
Lexi’s heart pounded.
Savannah leaned in. “But you? You’re just another distraction.”
Lexi held her ground. “And you’re just another insecure girlfriend.”
For a split second, Savannah’s mask cracked.
Then she laughed. “Oh, you’re funny, Carter.”
Lexi crossed her arms. “Thanks. I try.”
Savannah’s eyes darkened. “Careful, Lexi. I’d hate for you to regret this.”
With that, she flipped her hair and walked away, leaving Lexi standing there—angry, nervous, and more determined than ever.
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- Writer
