Chapter 5
909 Words
The cafeteria was buzzing with life, voices overlapping in a chaotic blend of conversations, laughter, and the occasional shouting match over stolen fries.
Selene sat across from Emily, who, for once, wasn’t talking at light speed. She was too busy trying not to combust.
Leo Callahan had just sat down next to her.
It was casual—too casual, really. He had simply asked if he could join them, like it wasn’t the most important event of Emily’s life.
Selene, amused, raised an eyebrow. “You sure you want to sit here?”
Leo smiled, unbothered. “Why? Is this seat cursed?”
“Possibly.”
Emily, clutching her drink like it was the only thing keeping her alive, attempted human conversation. “S-So, um, did you… finish your new piece yet?”
Leo tilted his head slightly, considering. “Almost. I still need to figure out what it’s missing.”
Emily nodded way too fast. “Yeah, totally, I get that.”
Selene bit back a smirk. She absolutely did not get that.
Leo, as usual, seemed calm, unshaken. He had that quiet, effortless confidence that made him feel like he belonged in another world—like he saw things the rest of them didn’t.
Emily was visibly short-circuiting just from being near him.
Selene was about to save her from herself, but then-
Liam dropped into the seat beside Selene like he owned it.
“Ah, look at this. A secret meeting, and I wasn’t invited?”
Selene didn’t even blink. “You’re never invited.”
“And yet, here I am.” He grinned, stealing a fry from her tray.
Leo raised an eyebrow. “Do you always invite yourself to things?”
Liam smirked. “Only when it annoys Selene.”
Selene sighed. “It’s his favorite hobby.”
Emily, who had just barely recovered from Leo’s presence, was now stuck between him and Liam—which was probably her personal nightmare.
Leo, unfazed, just shrugged. “Well, if you’re here, might as well contribute to the conversation.”
Liam leaned back lazily. “Alright. What are we talking about?”
“Art,” Emily said immediately.
Liam snorted. “Wow, riveting.”
Emily glared. “You wouldn’t know real art if it punched you in the face.”
Liam smirked. “I know a masterpiece when I see one.” He gave a pointed look at Selene.
Selene kicked him under the table.
Leo, watching the exchange, looked mildly entertained. “So you two are...?”
“Enemies,” Selene said.
“Best friends,” Liam said at the same time.
Leo chuckled. “Right.”
Emily, deciding it was safe to breathe again, turned back to Leo. “So, uh, what’s your piece about? The one you’re finishing?”
Leo hesitated, then exhaled. “It’s hard to explain. It’s… unsettling. Feels like something I’ve seen before, but I don’t know where.”
Selene frowned. “What does it look like?”
He hesitated again. Then, finally, he said, “A hallway. Long, empty. Like it’s stretching forever.”
Selene’s stomach dropped.
That sounded… familiar.
Too familiar.
Liam glanced at her. “You okay?”
Selene forced a casual expression. “Yeah. Just—felt like I’ve heard that before.”
Leo studied her, then nodded slowly.
Emily, oblivious to the sudden tension, just smiled nervously. “Well, I’m sure it’ll be amazing!”
Leo smiled. “Thanks.”
Selene, though, couldn’t shake the feeling that she was missing something important.
"Enough about art" Liam snorted." Let's talk about something actually interesting"
Emily had gone lava red and was just about to defend a subject in which she had little inkling to as well but was cut short by his next words
"A little birdy told me, we're all going on a trip this weekend" Liam smirked.
"What trip?" the three of them asked in unison.
"The little birdy told me Ms. Danielle is organizing a trip to a local tropical resort to show us the beauty of nature and why it should be preserved."
"Why not just go camping instead?" Selene asked, confused as to why someone would pay so much for something free.
"Well, that'll have something to do with Tara" Liam smiled sheepishly.
Of course it did, Selene rolled her eyes.
"Hmm well I'm free this weekend so me and Selene will check it out."Emily literally chirped out.
"I'm offended by the assumption that I have no plans" Selene crossed her arms as she gave Emily a side eye.
"Well, do you?"
Silence
".......No"
"Yeah I thought so" Emily smirked like she just got give a huge pack of Oreos. I need a new best friend.
Emily turned to Leo. Probably to ask if he would come but I had other things to worry about.
Like the 6ft plus man child attempting to attach himself to my hip.
"Remember to pack a swimsuit" He leaned in and whispered.
I try not to quiver from the effect of feeling his hot breath against my ever so sensitive ears.
Before I could respond, the bell rang and just like that he muttered a 'see ya ' and he was gone.
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!! He's coming!!"
"You didn't have to screech it out like a banshee"
"I'm so packing something sexy"
"Good for you"
Selene thought back to Liam as she walked to her next class.
"Sigh. Hormones are a pain in my ass" She muttered
- Writer
