Ethan, do you guys mind if we join you?

" There you go. "

Zoey said with a flat voice placing his tray of food on the table and turned to leave.

Glancing at the blank faced girl, Ethan inwardly chuckled suddenly regretting his decision. Something was definitely cooking on that little foxy face.

He sharply inhaled his gaze darkening at the glass of lime water and a plateful of green and white veggies which with a proper and closer look seemed to have been clumsily sprinkled with half a bottle of chili powder.

' Tks, I knew it. ' He inwardly muttered hardening his jaws.

" Where do you think you're going? "

Zoey frowned at his cold voice scanning the large table that could fit a number of people.

His two friends Ryan and Jonas were already seated at the table with their food. They exchanged glances and looked downwards muffling their laughter when their gazes shifted from Zoey's puffed up face, to the bland on the table and finally to Ethan's dark and long face.

" What do you mean? "

Ethan pulled the chair next to him signalling her to seat.

Meeting his cold gaze which was clearly filled with range yet still restraining his temper she hesitated timidly trying to mask her guilty conscience.

" My... my friends, I can't leave them... "

" Ask them to join. "

She widened her eyes at him taken aback. Suddenly, she was fearful.

*

" W-what? You mean the school hunk asked us to join his table?! "

Ria blurted shock written all over her face. Zoey smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of her head.

" Look I'm sorry guys for getting you into this. I promise I'll explain it to you later, please... "

" What do you mean sorry, of course we'll gladly do it, right Liam?

Eating on the same table with my prince charming, how can I miss the chance? "

Ria half shouted her eyes glistening with excitement.

Liam and Zoey exchanged glances and rolled their eyes at her shameless antics.

*

" Ethan, do you guys mind if we join?"

A sweet soft voice sounded few minutes after Zoey and her group had settled on the table joining Ethan, his cousin and friend.

Glancing at her back, Zoey felt overwhelmed seeing the college's beauty queen, Sophie Reid standing behind her.

Let alone sitting at the same table, she had never stood so close with her. To say she didn't respect her would be a lie. She was good looking, a supermodel and came from a very important background.

She had idea whether it was because in her mind she had already branded Ethan Hale as a shameless hooligan thus she didn't fear him but being so close to such noble figures like Sophie was certainly overwhelming.

She was also dying in nervousness because she wasn't sure whether Sophie would apply for the contest. If she applied, she'd have a very slim chance of winning. So far, there wasn't any news about her entering the competition.

Lost in her thoughts, she realized that no one had replied to her. Seconds passed and Sophie was still standing smiling awkwardly with a friend of hers, Kelly Brooks.