chapter four
893 Words
CHAPTER FOUR
THE PRICE OF LUNCH
Eliana usually avoided the cafeteria.
There was no reason for her to go.
She had no friends to sit with, no money to spend, and no desire to be surrounded by hundreds of students who seemed to have everything she didn't.
But today was different.
Her stomach had been empty since yesterday afternoon.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten a proper meal.
So when the bell rang for break, she waited only a few minutes before making her way toward the cafeteria.
Maybe she could find something.
Anything.
She hurried through the hallway, keeping her head down and one hand wrapped around the strap of her worn-out bag.
Then—
Crash.
She walked straight into someone.
A bottle of milk slipped from the person's hand.
The open bottle hit the floor.
Milk splashed everywhere.
Including over Eliana's hoodie.
And Serena Reed's expensive school uniform.
The hallway seemed to go silent.
Eliana looked up.
Serena stared at the white stain spreading across her uniform.
Behind her stood Beatrice Collins and Kelsey Brown.
Their expressions changed immediately.
"Oh my gosh," Beatrice whispered.
Kelsey covered her mouth.
Serena looked down at herself.
Her expensive uniform was ruined.
Then she looked at Eliana.
Eliana's hoodie was already old and worn.
The milk barely seemed to make a difference.
That somehow made Serena even angrier.
"Are you serious?"
Eliana immediately stepped back.
"I'm sorry. I didn't see you."
"You didn't see me?"
"I was rushing. I'm sorry."
Serena looked around.
Students had started gathering.
Some were whispering.
Others were laughing.
Someone had already pulled out their phone.
"Serena just got milked!" someone joked.
Another student laughed.
A phone camera pointed toward her.
Someone uploaded the moment almost immediately.
#MilkedByEliana
Serena's face turned red.
She looked around at everyone staring at her.
Her embarrassment quickly became anger.
"You!"
She pointed at Eliana.
"You're paying for this."
Eliana's heart dropped.
"I—I don't have—"
"I don't care."
Serena shoved past her.
Beatrice and Kelsey followed.
But before leaving, Serena turned around.
"You're going to pay for this."
Then she disappeared into the crowd.
Eliana stood there.
The laughter slowly faded.
She looked down at her hoodie.
She suddenly wasn't hungry anymore.
She turned around and walked back toward her classroom.
---
Eliana sat at the back of the empty classroom.
She pulled her bag onto her lap and wrapped her arms around it.
You're going to pay.
The words kept repeating in her head.
She didn't know what Serena meant.
She didn't want to find out.
Her stomach growled.
Eliana looked at the clock.
She had barely eaten anything since yesterday.
She could go another day without food.
She had done it before.
But she didn't know when another opportunity to eat would come.
So she stood.
Slowly, she returned to the cafeteria.
This time, she avoided everyone.
She collected a tray and found the emptiest table she could.
Far away.
Behind everyone.
She sat down.
Nobody noticed her.
For the first time that day, she allowed herself to eat.
She ate quietly.
Quickly.
Almost as though someone might take the food away.
Then—
Brrrring!
The bell rang.
Break was over.
Eliana looked at the clock.
She hadn't even realized how much time had passed.
She quickly returned her tray and headed toward mathematics.
She didn't particularly like math.
Who actually enjoyed math?
But she was good at it.
Very good.
As she walked down the hallway, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her left side.
Eliana stopped.
Her hand immediately went to her ribs.
She closed her eyes.
"Not now."
She opened her bag and searched through it.
Her fingers found the small medicine bottle.
She pulled it out.
Empty.
Completely empty.
Eliana stared at it.
Of course.
She had forgotten.
She needed another bottle.
But medicine cost money.
And money was something she never had enough of.
Whatever she earned from working went toward helping her father or toward the savings she secretly kept for her future.
College.
Freedom.
A life away from him.
She had started working when she was twelve, taking whatever small jobs she could find.
Waiting tables at a tiny restaurant tucked behind an alley had been her first.
She knew she was too young.
She had done it anyway.
She needed money.
She needed a future.
And someday, she needed to be independent.
Eliana put the empty bottle back into her bag.
I'll get more on my way home.
She forced herself to keep walking.
---
Mathematics was already beginning when Eliana entered.
She quietly took her usual seat at the back, beside the window.
The sunlight fell across her desk.
For a few seconds, she watched it.
Outside, students were walking across the courtyard.
Everyone looked free.
Eliana wished she knew what that felt like.
Five minutes later, the teacher entered.
"Good afternoon, class."
"Good afternoon, sir."
The teacher placed a stack of papers on his desk.
"I hope everyone studied."
A collective groan filled the classroom.
Eliana almost smiled.
Almost.
The papers were passed around.
She turned hers over.
Then she looked at the questions.
Her expression changed.
They were difficult.
But not for her.
Eliana picked up her pencil.
For the first time that day, she felt completely certain about something.
She was going to ace this test.
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