A Seat Saved
473 Words
By the end of the week, Lila had settled into a routine. She still kept to herself during class, but things were different now. Emma always waited for her outside each classroom, and somehow Noah always seemed to appear whenever they were together.
Friday morning began with a surprise.
As Lila opened her locker, a folded piece of paper fell to the floor.
She looked around before picking it up.
Have a good day. 😊
There was no name.
She frowned.
“What’s that?” Emma asked, walking over.
“I don’t know.”
Emma read the note and smiled.
“Ooo… secret admirer.”
Lila laughed. “Don’t start.”
“I’m serious! Someone likes you.”
“It could be anyone.”
“It could also be Noah.”
Lila felt her cheeks turn pink.
“It isn’t Noah.”
“And how do you know?”
“I just do.”
Emma only smiled.
When lunchtime arrived, Lila walked into the cafeteria expecting to eat alone again. Instead, she noticed Emma waving excitedly from a table.
“Over here!”
Lila smiled and walked over.
“You saved me a seat?”
“Of course.”
As she sat down, Noah arrived with his lunch tray.
“Is this seat taken?” he asked.
Emma looked around dramatically.
“I don’t know… let me check.”
“There are only three chairs,” Noah laughed.
“Then I guess you’re lucky,” Emma replied.
He sat beside Lila.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
“So…” Noah said. “How are you liking Riverside so far?”
Lila thought for a second.
“It isn’t as scary as it was on Monday.”
Emma smiled proudly.
“See? I told you she’d survive.”
“Thanks to you,” Lila said.
“And maybe a little because of me?” Noah teased.
Lila smiled.
“Maybe.”
Noah grinned.
“I’ll take that.”
The three of them spent the rest of lunch talking about teachers, homework, and their favorite movies. Most of the conversation came from Emma, but every now and then Lila joined in. Each time she did, Noah listened carefully, as if what she had to say really mattered.
Across the cafeteria, the same group of girls watched them.
The girl with the long blonde hair folded her arms.
“Since when does Noah hang out with the new girl?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” one of her friends replied.
“Well, I don’t like it.”
She picked up her tray and walked away, her eyes never leaving Lila.
Lila didn’t notice.
She was too busy laughing at one of Noah’s terrible jokes.
It was the first time anyone had heard her laugh that loudly since she arrived at Riverside High.
- Writer
