CHAPTER FIVE

"Well, lastly but definitely not the least, actually the best place, Cafeteria." Steven said while spreading his arms wide as I looked around the cafeteria. He toured me around the school and heck, this school is sure big or maybe I'm just amazed because this is my first time in a real school. Most of the time we toured around the school, almost every student we bumped into would greet him. He surely is famous, well he's the Student Body President after all. Now, finally, we're in the school's cafeteria. 

And woah! So this is what a school cafeteria looks like in life. Damn, they even have a vending machine full of foods that I'm unfamiliar with. It's tempting the hell out of me.

"You okay there? Ellie?" Steven snapped me out of my heavenly yet sinful thoughts.

"It's Elle." I snapped at him.

"What's gotten to you, Ellie? I thought we're already friends." He said.

I scoffed, "Friends? You probably just trying to swoon me for whatever plans you have there inside your head. I know people like you, varsities to be exact. And it's not working, Steven." 

"Ouch." He put a hand in his chest as if he really did get hurt with my words but I just rolled my eyes at him and he chuckled.

He looked at me intently and I just gave him a puzzled look.

"Have you been watching those romcom teen films lately?" He teased but I froze and felt my cheeks heated up.

His eyes went wide and chuckled, "Oh, oh no, Ellie. Tell me, you're not one of those girls who are crazy about romcoms? Don't tell me you're one of those girls who've seen A Cinderella Story for like a hu--"

"I've seen it for 19 times. Now, shut up, will you? And stop calling me, Ellie. Why do even keep calling me that? Do you want me to call you Stevie?" I said as I turned away from him to hide my now tomato face.

"Oooh, I like that. Stevie sounds great. Call me that. And I like calling you, Ellie. Does anyone else call you Ellie?" He asked while he closely trying to search for my face, clearly teasing me for my tomato face. I didn't answer his question and continued on avoiding his gaze.

"I'd take that silence as a yes. So, from now on, you're Ellie to me. I'm Stevie to you. And oh, by the way, don't worry, liking romcoms doesn't make you any less cute." I turned my head at him and he winked. See! He's flirting at me!

"S-See! Y-you're flirting at me. Stop it! I just wanna have a normal high school life." I exclaimed and feeling my cheeks getting redder. He laughed at me. "I thought it's not working?" He raised an eyebrow at me. I shook my head and started walking away from him.

"Hey, hey, wait. Ellie!" He followed me and stopped in front of me. I looked at him lazily. "Aren't you going to have lunch? Let's go grab some food." 

"I have my own food. My mom prepared it for me. I'll just find a seat or eat outsi--What the hell are you doing, Steven?! Hey! Let me go!" Steven dragged me as I tried with all my might to free myself from him but he won't let me.

I can feel the eyes of the students on us. "Come on, just have lunch with me and our classmates then I'll let you go on your own. Come on, Ellie!"

"I told you to stop calling me Elli--oooow!" He forced me to sit down and the whole table went silent. This is awkward. I sighed and cursing Steven in my head. 

He sat beside me, squeezing me to the other person on my other side. I glared at Steven and mumbled sorry to the person on my left. 

"It's cool. Luke here, sis. You're the new girl, right? Rachelle Fernandez?" Surprised that he knows my name, I just nodded.

"Nice to meet you, Rachelle. Luke Browne here. I hope you don't mind me asking, are you biracial? I mean, your surname is Fernandez." Still surprised by him knowing my whole name. I just nodded again.

"He's our classmate." Steven whispered at me. Steven gave me a reassuring look as if telling me it's fine, that Luke is harmless. And that look.. His eyes, those chocolate eyes--What! No! Steven is a bad news! What were you even thinking, Ellie? Ellie?! Jeez! Elle! I shook my head and turned my head back to Luke.

"U-uh, yeah. My dad's a Half-Filipino." I told Luke and lowered my head again when I noticed Luke is staring at me.

"Don't worry, sis. I like boys. I just like your eyebrows, it's so thick, you don't even need a pencil for it." He winked at me. I nodded, gave him an amused smile and chuckled lowly.

"Just gonna get some food. Be right back. Stay there, Ellie." Steven said as he went to get his food and I just sat there quietly.

After minutes of painful silence, I tried to look around the table but then saw everyone's eyes were on me. I gulped, gathered some strength to finally mumbled a quite hello to everyone.

"Finally, she decided to speak! Hi, Girl! Seriously, don't be shy around us, okay? We don't bite. I'm Meghan Scott, by the way. Cheer cap of Roselake." She offered her hand for me to shake which I took and others introduced themselves too.

"Delilah Brooke, here. Science Club."

"George Wayne, here. Normal dude club." Delilah rolled her eyes at him causing everyone in the table to laugh.

I noticed Meghan has her full attention on me and squinting on me like she's trying to figure me out. 

"Hmmm.. Let me guess, you think we're like those jerk seniors who run the school?" Meghan asked me with a smirk. Startled with her question, I shook my head no quickly, obviously lying to avoid her question. "It's fine. But trust me, we're just like any other normal students. You'll be fine."

"I told you.." Steven whispered into my ear. I looked at him and was surprised that he was back already with loads of food on his tray that he's holding. He sat beside me again and looked at me again. He smiled at me genuinely but I blinked a few times before giving him a small smile.

I looked back at Meghan and the others, and gave them an apologetic smile, "Sorry, I-I'm just not really good with socializing. I-I haven't met new people i-in awhile."

They all just nodded and gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Don't worry, sis. We got 'cha!" Luke exclaimed beside me. I just smiled and felt a little bit relieved.

"Do you want to get food? We can come with you." Delilah asked nicely. Meghan nodded eagerly at me. I took out the salad my mom prepared for me, "U-uh.. Well.. My mom prepared my lunch. 'Cause, u-uh, I-I have these weird allergies and body sensitivity, you know. So, uhm, yeah." They just nodded. I looked at their food and their food looked so good. I sighed quietly in envy.

"Are you allergic to burgers? Say, beef?" Steven asked me. I shook my head no, "But my mom prefers organic beef--" Steven took my salad away from me and switched it with his burger.

"Stev--"

"You guys saw anything?" Steven asked our classmates with a knowing look and a smile.

"Nope."

"Nah."

"No."

"Nuh uh."

"Just eat, no one saw. You'll be fine." Steven said with a wide smile as he started eating my salad and winked at me.

I looked at everyone who was giving me knowing smiles, Meghan even zipped her mouth in a joking manner, and they nodded their heads like telling me it's okay. So, I started eating the burger while internally praying and hoping that nothing will happen to me. But damn, this burger tastes so good!

I looked at Steven who was looking at me with an amused look. I gave him a sheepish smile, "This is the best burger I've ever had!" The whole table laughed.

Maybe high school in a real school isn't a bad thing at all.

And...

Maybe Steven Hayes isn't bad news after all.