Chapter 4

“What on earth is wrong with you?” I blocked Donald's path. “You just appeared from nowhere and started punching Solomon, for God's sake, what's wrong with you?

I didn't peg you as the violent one, Damien is more like that than you!” I surprised myself with those words.

Frowning at him, I darkly glare at him.

Donald didn't reply, instead, he walked on towards the classroom as if I weren't talking to him.

*

The teacher was in the middle of explaining the topic when we both walked in.

Donald didn't spare me a glance as he walked toward two empty chairs at the back of the class.

Like I care? I scoffed as I took a seat near a blonde girl.

“Sorry, that seat's already been taken” the girl gave me a bitchy smile” find another one.”

I stood up as I would rather not create a scene, it's obvious she doesn't want me sitting near her as the only occupant of the chair now is her bag.

Oddly enough, all the once empty chairs were now occupied. How it was possible, I don't know.

I grudgingly walked towards the only chair that isn't occupied and sat near a smug-faced Donald. 

I didn't pay attention to the lecture as I was more focused on the boy next to me, he still isn't talking to me,

“Hey” I poked him, “why are you acting like a grumpy grandpa?" I whisper shouted. 

If the teacher heard us, he didn't say a word about it. Mr grumpy pants didn't reply, instead, he took out a jotter and started writing.

I guess he's set on not talking to me. Either because of what happened during the literature, or the fight. Either of them might be the problem.

*

The cafeteria was filled to the brim, with students either standing in line or chatting nosily with their friends as they walked towards their table.

I scanned the room to make sure I don't' sit on a table that was already *occupied*.

I took a seat, deciding to wait for the line to dwindle a little before I get my lunch. I can't afford to get trampled on my first day here. I just can't have that.

The once noisy hall quieted as the triplets walked in flanked by their handsome friends and, surprising enough, Bianca and another black-haired girl were with them.

They made a beeline for the counter, surprisingly but not surprising the students made way for them to order before them.

This is fascinating.

The triplets might be the most popular in the school, for them to get such attention and respect.

They ordered their lunch, but instead of taking it with them, they turned towards the table.

The triplets scanned the room and when their eyes landed on me, they started walking toward me.

Oh God no, I can't have them disturbing my lunch break, not when they're in all my classes.

I stood up and ran out of the cafeteria, it's better to die due to starvation than to die in the hands of those ruthless triplets.

Donald must have told them what I did.

Donald, whom I thought was the sweetheart of the trio, made me question my character judging based on his earlier behaviour.

“Hi,” a familiar voice spoke.

“Solomon!” I rushed towards him, intending to envelop him in a bone-crushing hug.

We're friends, and friends hug each other all the time.

“I wouldn't allow him to do that if I were you” a voice spoke, and Solomon, who was in a few seconds back spreading his arms for the hug, withdrew his outstretched arms.

“It's okay, Miguel, he did a number on me and I don't think my body is ready for any contact”. 

“Wise choice, buddy” Bianca spoke as she joined us.

“Miguel, I was apprehensive when you ran out of the cafeteria. Are you okay?” she looked worriedly at me.

I smiled

 “Am fine, I just remembered I…um… I…. I had an assignment to submit after the lunch break and I….was rushing to get it from my locker before I forget about it” I lied.

She smiled Knowingly at me “forget about it, I will remind you of it after we've had lunch, but meanwhile let's go back and eat am already famished,” her stomach growled right on cue and we both laughed a that.

I didn't ask a question I should have asked.

Why will she want to have lunch with me?

“Solomon, are you coming or_” I looked at the space he was occupying, but he wasn't there. 

“Where did he go to?” I asked Bianca.

Bianca smiled, “forget about him, he's a big boy who knows how to take care of himself. Well, I hope so”, she murmured the last words.

“What was that?”

“Never mind,” she replied.

I walked back to the cafeteria hand in hand with Bianca.

She dropped my hand that was in her grip like a hot potato when the triplets glared at our joined hands.

The red-haired guy looked ready to murder someone. I just pity the person.

What's with these guys and their creepy way?

I tried to hold her again, but she shook her head, alarmed at the thought. 

 “Does holding me embarrass you ?” I thought I've made a friend, but it seems that's wishful thinking.

She shook her head, looking straight at the red hair she said

 “Some people don't get it that friends can touch without having any negative thought about it, they think you are cheating with any person you consider a friend”.

She took the empty seat next to Mr red hair and gestured for me to take the seat opposite hers, which not surprising happens to be between Daniel and Donald.

“You know what? I will go back to my table.”

I turned to go back to the table I was occupying earlier. I can't afford to sit next to the triplets. I've had enough of them in class.

“No need to go back to an already occupied table,” Daniel said.

True to his word, the table was already occupied.

Not wanting to act like being affected by their presence, I took the empty seat.

If I endured our shared classes, I can equally endure this.

Daniel pushed a tray towards me, “that's yours, Donald ordered it.”

I smiled at Donald, “thanks”

But he point-blank ignored me. I guess we are still at the ignoring stage.

“Am Beatrice, but I prefer to be called Bea” the skinny black-haired girl smiled at me.

"Am Miguel" I smiled at her. Grateful someone wants to be my friend.

“Nice meeting you Miguel”

“The pleasure is all mine”

Donald snickered at that, but I didn't comment on that as I dug in on my food.

The cafeteria food at my former school didn't hold a candle to this, the food here is so thoroughly cooked and should I add, very delicious.

“So, Miguel, why did you transfer in the middle of the school term?” Bianca asked.

By the way, the triplet's eyes were focused on me, you would have thought they were the ones that asked the question.

“My father got an emergency promotion, which doesn't look that much like a promotion if you ask me”

Bring brought to a town like this is a demotion and not a promotion.

“Why is that?” Donald looked genuinely curious.

“Oh, it's now you know you will talk” I snickered at him.

He looked down, embarrassed.

“To answer your question, my dad was working in a prestigious hospital in New York City before he was promoted to the hospital in this Godforsaken town without a GPS location, no offence intended, but I won't mind getting the jelly out of here after graduation. “

The table grew quiet, I swear even the noisy cafeteria quieted down.

“Why do you want to leave so badly?” Dennis questioned.

“Who wants to stay in a place that isn't all that important, it wasn't included on the map? Not me, I tell you.”

“Don't you have an urge to….like stay?” this is the first time Damien spoke to me.

Urge to stay in a place like this?

“The only place I have an urge to stay in is Seattle, not this place, and I will do just anything to be in Seattle right this minute, even to the extent of selling my soul to the devil.”

It's like every ear is tuned in to our conversation as they held their breath waiting for the verdict

 “What's so special about Seattle?” Dennis asked.

“Well for starters, it's a city, and it has handsome and beautiful people in it. I can go on listing the reasons if you want me to, and don't forget about it being on the map”

“Excuse us,” the triplets stood up and left with the three boys hot on their heels, leaving me with Bianca and Beatrice.

“That was......intense,”Bianca sighed.

“What's wrong with them?”

Why did they suddenly leave?

Bianca and Beatrice exchanged a look. 

“Nothing!”

They said in unison, and thatrked my curiosity.

 “It's not nothing if it took you minutes to reply”

I don't think they would have shared a secret look if it was truly nothing.

“It's nothing worth knowing.”

She considered her words"  at least not for now, and it's better not to dig deeper, curiosity they said killed the cat.” her words made my heart skip a beat, but before I can question them, the bell rang.