Swapped By Fate

My Worst First Impression

Chapter 5

My Worst First Impression

"Hazel, are you even listening to anything I’m saying?” Summer asked when she realized I hadn’t been paying attention.

” I’m sorry I didn’t catch what you said. Can you repeat it?” .

She placed a hand on her forehead and shook her head as if she didn’t know what to do with me and my habit of zoning out. Nevertheless, she decided to start from the beginning , gesturing towards the four guys who had entered the cafeteria and were settling down around the table at the centre.

“ Well, the one sitting at the end of the table is Julian. He's quiet. You barely even notice he’s around cause he doesn’t talk much . Then there’s Ryan, the one with the ear piercing. He’s usually the most cheerful in the group, but he has a temper and everyone knows better than to annoy him when he’s angry.”

” Then there’s the really handsome one with jet black hair, just like yours.”

The blush spreading across her cheeks didn’t escape my notice. Clearly, there was more to that story than she was willing to share.

“That’s Luke, Evie's twin brother. He’s really protective of her, and everyone knows it. And the last one sitting beside the brunette, is Sebastian. He’s the captain of the basketball team, so he’s practically the leader of the group.”

The moment she mentioned his name, all my doubts disappeared.

It was him. The same guy whose mother had insulted me after I accidentally spilled wine on her dress. And Sebastian? He’d made it clear that I couldn’t afford to replace it.

I couldn’t believe my luck. Of all the people I could have run into at Ashford, why did it have to be him? After our first encounter, I’d already decided he was arrogant. The last thing I wanted was another embarrassing interaction with him.

The servers soon returned with the boys’ meals. Meanwhile, Evie, the brunette sitting beside Sebastian couldn’t stop talking to him.

Luke placed more food on her table encouraging her to eat.

“Luke, you’re trying to make me fat” Evie complained, turning towards Sebastian as though expecting him to take her side.

The entire group burst into laughter clearly accustomed to her tantrums.

It was a surprisingly cute sight.

Watching them joke around so comfortably reminded me of how I’d never really had friends. The few people I’d befriended in the past had avoided me like the plague after their parents discovered that my dad was into shady dealings. Apparently being his daughter made me bad luck too.

It had hurt at first but eventually, I'd grown used to being alone.

The bell rang. Signalling the end of lunch break, and I’d never been so relieved to hear it. It wasn’t that I was particularly excited about returning to class. I was simply glad to leave the cafeteria before Sebastian noticed and recognized me as the poor girl who’d spilled wine on his mother’s dress.

Summer noticed how quickly I was leaving and called after me.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I just need to use the restroom. My stomach feels a little uncomfortable. Maybe it's something I ate,” I replied with an awkward laugh.

“Should I come with you?”

“No, don't worry. I’ll be fine on my own. I think I can find my way. Thank you”

“Oh, okay if you say so.”

I hurried out of the cafeteria, blending in with the other students heading towards their classrooms.

It wasn’t long before I found the ladie’s restroom. I went inside, did my business and was about to leave when I heard a group of girls approaching, chatting among themselves.

Without thinking, I hurried back into a stall and waited for them to leave. I didn’t want to attract any unnecessary attention, especially not after everything that had happened at lunch.

Once the restroom fell quiet again, I stepped out and headed for the door.I was still trying to calm my racing heart when I accidentally bumped into someone.

“Oh my gosh! Why does it feel like I just bumped my head against a wall?”, i complained , rubbing my forehead.

A laugh came from above me.

I looked up immediately and regretted opening my mouth.

It was Luke.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to bump into you. I’m new, and I don’t really know my way around yet. I'm really, really sorry.”

I kept rambling until he could no longer contain his laughter.

My face burned with embarrassment. I’d just compared him to a wall out loud!

“Why were you being so sneaky?” he asked when he finally managed to calm down.

I froze. How was I supposed to explain that I’d hidden in a restroom stall because I’d heard his sister and her friends approaching?

My social life is ruined, I cried silently in my head as I desperately searched for a believable excuse.

“ Ohh. My gosh what’s that behind you?” I blurted out. Luke turned around instinctively, the moment he did I dashed past him and hurried down the corridor.

By the time I returned to class, I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he’d laughed at me or how I’d managed too embarrass myself in front of one of the most influential people in Ashford.

My social life at this school is officially over, a voice in my head screamed. This was so embarrassing.