the truth(6)

The school cafeteria buzzed with life, a chaotic mix of students laughing, arguing, and devouring their lunches. The scent of greasy pizza, crispy fries, and overly sweetened fruit punch hung in the air, creating a familiar lunchtime atmosphere.

At the back of the room, away from the commotion, Michael and his friends occupied their usual table—a prime spot that offered just enough privacy while keeping them within earshot of the latest school gossip.

Michael lazily sipped on his drink, slumping back in his chair with a dramatic sigh.

Michael: "Man, I swear, today's classes felt like they lasted forever. Especially that math lesson. I thought I was gonna die."

Across from him, Emily smirked, taking a bite of her sandwich before replying.

Emily: "That's because you don't pay attention, Michael. Maybe if you actually studied, you wouldn't suffer so much."

Michael shot her a playful grin, unfazed by the jab.

Michael: "Why study when I have you to explain everything later?"

Emily rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smirk tugging at her lips.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, dramatically stretching his arms.

Ethan: "You guys don't know pain until you've had to sit through Mr. Hendrickson's history lecture. I swear, he's trying to kill us through boredom."

Marie, ever the composed one, calmly sliced a piece of her fruit and took a bite before responding.

Marie: "It's not that bad. If you actually listen, history is pretty interesting."

Ethan groaned, throwing his head back in mock agony.

Ethan: "Oh please, Marie, you'd find a dictionary interesting."

Marie raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable.

Marie: "That's because knowledge is power."

Alex, who had been quietly munching on his fries, chuckled.

Alex: "Alright, alright, let's not turn lunch into another debate session."

The group continued eating, trading jokes and lighthearted conversation. It was one of those rare moments of normalcy, where they could just be teenagers without the stress of schoolwork, exams, or personal struggles weighing them down.

But then Ethan straightened up, clearing his throat dramatically.

Ethan: (grinning) "Hey, guys… I met a certain girl."

Silence.

Michael blinked. Emily tilted her head in curiosity. Marie paused mid-bite. Alex raised an eyebrow.

Michael: (raising an eyebrow) "You? A girl?"

Emily: (smirking) "This is a first. Do continue."

Ethan laughed, shaking his head.

Ethan: "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. But I think I kinda like her."

Marie set her fork down, fully engaged now.

Marie: "Really? You actually like someone?"

Alex grinned, clearly entertained.

Alex: "Now this is rare. Who is she?"

Ethan shrugged, looking a bit sheepish.

Ethan: "I don't know… I think she likes me too, but I really don't know."

Michael leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Michael: "Oh, Ethan in love? This is legendary. We have to investigate."

Emily: (mocking) "Agreed. We must uncover this mystery girl."

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head.

Ethan: "Guys, chill, it's not that serious. I just… I don't know, I feel like there's something there."

As the group continued to tease Ethan, their laughter blending into the background noise of the cafeteria, another table sat in eerie silence.

A few tables away, Dakota and his team sat together, watching Michael and his friends.

They hadn't been paying attention to Michael's group at first, too focused on their own conversation, but the moment Ethan mentioned a girl, Dakota's demeanor shifted.

Ava, who had been stirring her drink absentmindedly, leaned forward with interest.

Ava: (curious) "Oh, a girl, huh? She must be nice. I wonder who she is."

Before anyone else could comment, Dakota spoke. His voice was quiet but sharp—like a blade cutting through the noise around them.

Dakota: (flatly) "A bitch."

The word dropped like a bomb on the table.

Lucas, who had been mid-bite into his sandwich, stopped chewing. Henry turned his head sharply, eyes widening in disbelief. Ava nearly choked on her drink.

Henry: (blinking) "Wait… did you just call a girl a bitch?"

Ava: (stunned) "Dakota… she's just a girl. That's kinda harsh, don't you think?"

Dakota's expression remained unreadable, but there was a glint of something cold in his eyes—something dangerous.

Dakota: (calmly but firmly) "Trust me. That woman is evil. I hate her. I hate her."

Lucas finally swallowed his bite, his frown deepening.

Lucas: "Whoa, whoa, what's with that reaction? What did she do to make you hate her so much?"

Dakota didn't respond immediately. He picked up his drink, took a slow sip, and then set it down carefully. His fingers tapped against the table, a slow and methodical rhythm.

Ava: (concerned) "Dakota… seriously. Why do you hate her so much?"

Dakota exhaled, a deep, steady breath.

Dakota: (quietly but firmly) "Oh… just wait until you we get into high school."

The way he said it sent chills down their spines.

Dakota: (darkly) "You will see. You will see."

The table fell into an uncomfortable silence. Even Henry, who usually had a smart remark for every situation, found himself at a loss for words.

Dakota rarely spoke with such raw emotion, and when he did, it wasn't something to take lightly.

Ava, Henry, Lucas, and the others exchanged uncertain glances, their previous lighthearted mood completely shattered. They wanted to press further, to demand answers, but the look in Dakota's eyes told them everything they needed to know.

This wasn't a joke.

Whoever this girl was… she wasn't someone to be taken lightly.

And if Dakota—who had faced things none of them could imagine—hated her this much…

Then maybe she was a name best left unspoken.

Dakota thinking: we will soon see this girl, we first met her in middle school... And I really thought she was just a nice and innocent girl... God was I wrong, I hate that bitch with all my being, if I could have had a chance to kill her back in middle school... I probably would have done it, the bitch is the reason my friends hated me, and the reason our group broke up... And she was the reason Ethan...