Chapter 9: A Seat at the Table

Ariana's POV

Something felt off.

At first, I wasn't sure what it was. Maybe it was the way Alex and Mark suddenly seemed less hostile toward me. Maybe it was how the other guys, who barely acknowledged my existence before, were now actually talking to me.

Whatever it was, I noticed it. But I ignored it.

Because, for the first time since stepping into Class D, I wasn't just the new girl anymore. I wasn't the outsider.

I was one of them.

Or at least, that's what they wanted me to think.

"Yo, Ramirez!" Luca called from the other side of the classroom, grinning like we'd been friends for years. "You up for a game?"

I looked up from my desk, raising an eyebrow. He was holding a crumpled piece of paper in his hands. Around him, the rest of the guys were watching, waiting for my reaction.

"A game?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.

"Basketball," he clarified, tossing the paper ball into the air and catching it. "Class D rules. No fouls, no mercy."

I smirked. "Sounds fun."

Luca's grin widened as he threw the paper ball toward me. I caught it with ease, spinning it between my fingers. The guys let out a few approving chuckles, and for a moment, it felt... natural. Like I belonged here.

That was new.

I didn't know why they were suddenly so welcoming, but if they thought I'd just be some pawn in their little games, they had another thing coming.

"You sure you can handle it?" Tony, one of the quieter guys, teased.

I rolled my eyes. "You sure you can handle losing?"

That got a reaction. The guys laughed, and even Mark smirked slightly from his seat near the window.

"Alright, alright, let's do this," Alex finally said, standing up. His presence alone was enough to get the others to take things seriously. "But we're making this interesting."

Oh?

I tilted my head. "How so?"

Alex's eyes met mine, and for a brief second, I saw something there—something unreadable. "Winner gets a favor from the loser."

The room went silent for a second before the guys let out a chorus of "Ooooh!" like we were back in middle school.

A favor? Now that was dangerous.

But I wasn't about to back down.

"Fine," I said, standing up and tossing the paper ball back to Luca. "Hope you're ready to owe me one."

The game was chaos. Loud, fast, and way rougher than it needed to be. I got shoved more than once, but I gave it right back. By the time the "match" ended, I was breathing hard, my uniform slightly disheveled.

And I won.

Luca groaned dramatically, dropping onto his desk. "I can't believe I just lost to a girl."

"Correction." I smirked, crossing my arms. "You lost to me."

The guys laughed, but I noticed something else. The way Alex watched me. The way Mark stayed silent, just observing.

They were planning something.

I could feel it.

But instead of calling them out on it, I did the smart thing.

I played along.

If they wanted me to feel comfortable, to lower my guard—fine. Let them.

Because if there's one thing they didn't realize, it's that I wasn't just some clueless girl walking into their trap.

I was watching them just as closely as they were watching me.

And when the time came, I'd make sure I wasn't the one being played.