Chapter 2
1129 Words
The cafeteria was a war zone.
Not the kind with actual fights—though Selene had seen a few food-related casualties in her time—but the social battlefield kind. Tables were unofficially assigned based on hierarchy: the athletes near the windows, the overachievers in the back, the outcasts by the vending machines, and the rest fitting in wherever they could.
Selene and Emily had a safe spot somewhere in the middle.
It wasn’t glamorous, but it was close enough to eavesdrop on drama without being caught in it.
Selene plopped down across from Emily, dropping her tray with a sigh.
“Rough morning?” Emily smirked.
Selene stabbed at her fries. “Chemistry was a nightmare.”
“Let me guess. Liam?”
Selene groaned. “Of course it's Liam.”
Right on cue, Liam Carter slid into the seat beside her, grinning like he’d just been summoned.
“You called?”
Selene scowled. “I did not.”
Liam stole a fry off her tray. “And yet, here I am.”
“Uninvited.”
Emily snickered. “This is fun. Please, go on.”
Selene sighed dramatically and shoved her tray toward Liam. “Fine. Since you’re already stealing my food, just take it.”
Liam held a hand to his chest. “Generosity? From you? I must be dreaming.”
“Trust me, you’re not that lucky.”
Emily leaned in, eyes glinting. “Speaking of lucky, Liam, when are you gonna ask Tara out?”
Selene nearly choked on her soda. “Wait. Tara Reed? The Tara Reed? Wow finally.”
“The one and only.” Emily smirked.
Liam groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Why does everyone think I have a thing for Tara?”
“Because you do,” Selene said, narrowing her eyes. “You look at her like she’s a limited-edition collectible.”
“I do not.”
“You do,” Emily and Selene said in unison.
Liam scowled, shoving a handful of fries into his mouth as if that would end the conversation.
It didn’t.
Because, as if summoned by the sheer force of gossip, Tara Reed herself appeared at their table.
Selene internally groaned.
---
Tara was effortlessly perfect. Or so she thought.
Long, sleek brown hair. Expensive nails. That natural, unbothered confidence that made people fall at her feet.
And, of course, the ability to ruin someone’s entire day with just a few words. Not mine though.
She stood beside their table, arms crossed, flanked by her usual posse of perfectly curated followers.
Selene braced herself. This was never good.
“Well, if it isn’t the charity case,” Tara said sweetly.
Selene blinked. “Huh?”
Tara’s gaze flicked to her tray—the one she had given to Liam.
“Aww,” Tara continued, voice dripping with fake sympathy. “That’s so sad. Can’t afford lunch today?”
Emily immediately tensed. Liam’s expression darkened.
Selene, however, just leaned back and smiled.
“Charity case?” she repeated. “Oh, honey. I would rather be that, than a fancy booty call.”
Emily gasped audibly. Liam choked on his fries.
Tara’s smile twitched.
Selene wasn’t done. She tapped a finger against her chin, tilting her head.
“But I get it,” she continued. “Your daddy’s money can only buy so much, huh? A new car, a new phone, but no amount of cash is gonna fix that personality.”
Tara’s followers shifted uncomfortably.
“Oh, and that nose job?” Selene added. “Whoever did it—go back. You got scammed.It's a little....hmm I don't know. Crooked, maybe?” Selene tilted her head slightly as she blinked innocently.
A collective gasp from the surrounding tables.
Tara’s nails dug into her crossed arms.
She recovered quickly, flipping her hair. “Cute,” she said flatly. “But I don’t waste my time on people who still shop in the discount section.”
Selene shrugged. “Well, that explains your sense of style. Someone should’ve told you designer labels can’t cover bad taste.”
Emily slapped a hand over her mouth. Liam just stared.
Tara’s jaw clenched.
Her voice dropped, all fake sweetness gone. “You think you’re funny?”
Selene smiled. “No, I think you’re pathetic.”
Tara’s face flashed with something ugly. But before she could snap back, she caught sight of people watching. Listening. Waiting for her reaction.
So she did what she always did.
She scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Whatever. You’ll be irrelevant in two years, anyway.”
And with that, she turned and sauntered off, her followers trailing behind her like trained poodles.
"Watch out! Your ass might drop!"
Giggles filled the cafeteria as Tara stomped off all devil red in the face.
Selene exhaled, taking a sip of her soda.
Emily clutched her chest. “I think I just ascended.”
Liam let out a low whistle. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
Selene smirked. “Smart choice.”
---
The moment the tension faded, Selene realized something wasn’t right.
Her head felt light. Not dizzy, not sick—just... strange.
And her stomach ached.
Not in the normal way.
She stared at her food.
Her fries sat untouched. Her sandwich looked... unappetizing.
Which was weird. She had been hungry all morning.
Now?
Now, her stomach twisted at the thought of eating.
She swallowed, pushing her tray away.
Emily noticed. “You good?”
Selene forced a smile. “Yeah. Just... not hungry anymore.”
Liam, who had absolutely zero sense of boundaries, reached over and stole her sandwich. “Cool. I’ll take it.”
She didn’t even argue.
Her skin prickled again, like something cold crawling down her spine.
She glanced around.
And then—
For the briefest second—
She saw something.
Across the cafeteria, a guy in a hoodie was looking at her. The hoodie was pulled down so low she couldn't see his eyes but she just knew he was watching her.
"Selene? What are you looking at?"
Selene whipped her head back.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"How could you be staring at another guy when you have me right here?" Liam pouted, unaware of how much that act deserved a smacking.
Selene rolled her eyes at him and glanced back.
He wasn't there anymore.
"Oh it's nothing"
---
The rest of lunch passed in a blur.
The voices around her faded into static, her brain half-listening as Emily ranted about an upcoming test and Liam argued with someone about video games.
Selene felt... off.
Not sick. Not tired. Just... wrong.
Something she didn’t understand was going on.
This wasn’t the first time it happened
It was just the first time she noticed it.
- Writer
