The Price Of Loving You

Chapter 3: Confrontation In The Cafeteria

In the school, whenever it's time for lunch or break, there is usually two options. Its either the students carry their own lunch which is prepped by their family chef as they could not trust the school lunch meant for the charity cases, as they called us, or they either you just get the lunch from the cafeteria directly. Elsa and I had already bought our lunch which consisted of spaghetti with sauce and steamed vegetables before we proceeded to take a seat. At first, it was going smoothly, with me eating while completing my assignments while Elsa ate silently. She sighed, earning my attention and looked up at me after I caught her staring at the elite groups all around us. " Must be nice being born in a rich household. You never have to worry about anything," she stated casually before turning to her lunch.

" Don't start that again Elsa. Sometimes,the successful ones start from humble beginnings and even though I don't like them, some have there own problems... like loneliness or,, they are probably sad a hundred percent of the time but that shouldn't concern you. You are smart and you are just as important as any of them ever will be, so let's drop this topic because now I'm getting bored," I said. That seemed to get to her because she smiled. Elsa comes from a struggling background and I've known her long enough to call her my sister. And she's super smart, not that I'm praising her or anything but because she managed to win a scholarship in this school. And I couldn't be any prouder.

" I really wish I could be like you sometimes," she said.

" I'll always be here for you but there can only be one me. So just be you because you are perfect in your own way." I paused, finishing the last bite of my food. " Besides, you promised to take me to the Library, so let's go." I concluded, getting up and dragging her away from the place. We were walking outside, when Elsa suddenly lost her balance and bumped into someone,and to say it was Ethan, didn't surprise me at all.

The attention in the cafeteria immediately shifted. Apparently, the sauce on Elsa's lunch tray had spilled onto Ethan's shirt, which had everyone gasping as if it were a limited edition of global designer brand.

" I am so sorry, Ethan. I didn't mean it, I swear!" Elsa said in panic, staring at her shoes. She didn't even seem to mind that her phone had suffered from the collision effect.

" Do you have any idea what you just did? You ruined my expensive shoes and shirt!" " I'm really sorry. I'll clean them for you, I promise!" Elsa cried, her voice shrinking as seconds passed by.

" What's the point of cleaning? my shoes are ruined. You can work for the rest of your pathetic life but you will never afford them!" he said smugly, Crossing his arms on his chest. I had already had enough. Another reason to hate entitled heirs.

" She said she was sorry. No need to make such a big fuss about it!" I countered, stepping up to shield Elsa, who looked at me with her tearful eyes. She grabbed my hand, shaking her head as she said, " Please don't, Serena. I don't want you getting into more trouble because of me," Elsa pleaded. poor girl didn't know the lengths I would go to teach Ethan a lesson, just because he comes from a rich family. " You heard her nerd, this doesn't concern you. Stay away from this!" he shouted stepping up close till we were nose to nose. " You should know that I won't sit back when it comes to her,, so yes, it does concern me. And my name is Serena... at least get that right if you call yourself my arch nemesis," I replied, giving no care to the other students as they burst into laughter. I could here some of there gossip fly as they whispered among each other not to mess with me. I couldn't blame them, I mean, you have to be tough to survive in this school or you are going to be eaten alive and disposed. I had earned my reputation, which is why they dared not to go against me. And standing head on with Ethan right now, just reminded them that I was no pushover.

" All of you shut up!" he paused turning to the whole cafeteria. They listened, but that doesn't mean the phones recording the clash went down. He then turned to me. " I'm school President, which means that my word is law." he stated, his smirk back on his face. " Can't you mind your own business? or is it that you want to get me new shoes?" he asked. I rolled my eyes at that and bent down to pick Elsa's phone which was now broken. That phone means a lot to her, since it was her brother's last birthday gift to her and all she had done was nothing but cherish it.

" Look who's talking... it's the stalker. Here flaunting the school President title, like he didn't win it using Mommy and Daddy's money. You all know that I'm better than him, that's why he couldn't think of losing it to me. Mr President my foot! Now he's here making a big deal out of last season's Nikes like I can't find this pair if I walked into a forever 21 store for thirty dollars." I replied smugly. The air shifted, Ethan wasn't happy with what I had said. I could see it in the way his jaw tightened, the veins in his head popping but I cared less. Turning to Elsa, I grabbed her hand and we turned to leave. A hand shot out and grabbed mine in a fierce grip. " You still owe me new shoes, Delgado," Ethan stated, anything but calm at the moment. " We all know where this is going, so do yourself a favor and leave me and my friend's life out of your pathetic drama. Understood, Mr President?"I asked.

" SHUT UP!" he finally shouted, raising his hand to strike me but I caught it midway. " Stop wasting your energy and our time. We all know I'm telling the truth. So I dare you to lay a finger on me and I swear you are not going to like it. You can even call your parents but their money isn't going to help you in any way. I have enough proof to get you expelled!" I didn't have to raise my voice, he knew I meant every word, or maybe it was the fact that he had nothing left to say to me anymore.

" Let's get out here. People like them are a waste of oxygen," I said as I dragged Elsa out of there, for the washroom. Elsa was still a crying mess, so I threw my arms around her to comfort her. " I'm sorry for getting you into this mess," she said as her sobs turned down to sniffles. " You are my best friend, if I can't protect you, then I don't have the right to call myself that. I miss him too, Elsa," I replied, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall.