Last Lunch Together

The bell rang.

All the paired students grabbed their fabrics and got to work at their stations.

The classroom buzzed with the sounds of scissors snipping, machines humming, and fabric rustling everywhere.

Me and Lucas I glanced at him.

"Please don't mess around."

He looked back at me, surprisingly serious.

"Don't worry. I won't."

Then we moved as one.

"Help me!" Lucas clutched the fabric, trying so hard not to ruin it.

He was putting on his best behavior I'd never seen him so focused.

He could be the best assistant ever.

For the first time, I felt like I understood him.

And he understood me without me even having to say it.

Everything went smoothly.

And then done!

My royal blue dress with black accents was perfect!

Brring!

"That's your one hour and thirty minutes!" Ms. Marian called.

"Turn off your machines and dress your mannequins!"

One by one, we dressed the mannequins. Each dress looked stunning every single one.

"Well done! Wonderful! Soon it'll be lunchtime. I'll let you out early today. We'll announce the winner after lunch."

Everyone drifted out, whispering and giggling with their partners.

Then a tap on my shoulder Lucas.

"Hey... can we have lunch together? Just the two of us?"

Ugh! I hated this this serious version of him!

But he looked so earnest.

"...Yeah, sure," I answered softly.

We took our lunches up to the rooftop.

Lucas stared at the horizon no smirk, no teasing tone. Just... silence.

"Well? What's up?" I asked. "You look... off."

He looked at me eyes serious.

"You know... I could easily sabotage your work."

I blinked. "What?"

"I could ruin your work so you wouldn't win then you'd have to stay here. With me."

My eyes widened. That line... it felt like a confession he'd never dared to say.

"I don't want you to go, Rose. But... I couldn't crush your dream for my own selfishness."

My body went cold. My hands trembled as I fumbled with my lunch.

"I really love you, Rose. I don't want you to go."

My eyes burned with tears. I never thought his feelings were real.

"AAAGH!" I let out a strangled, panicked growl.

"I'm not going anywhere! Even if I go it's only three months! Then I'll be right back here!"

Lucas gave me a shaky smile. "Three months is a long time. Long enough to miss you.?"

"Agh! Come here, eat this!"

I shoved food into his mouth to shut him up.

Good job rose, he is just my loyal servant he deserve it.

....did he?....

In my rush, I knocked over our only bottle of water.

"Eek! I'm sorry!" We scrambled to wipe it up with tissues, laughing together.

Lucas let out a big sigh.

"I'll go buy a drink real quick. Don't go anywhere, alright?"

I nodded, watching him walk away.

Why did I feel like crying?

Would I miss him too?

Did I... love him?

My phone buzzed Zera.

"Rose! Come to the classroom. Now."

"W-What?"

"COME HERE! NOW." She hung up.

Confused, I ran downstairs and froze.

My dress my beautiful dress torn apart.

"What?! Who did this?!"

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I stumbled forward, trying to gather the shredded fabric.

"Help me!" I sobbed, trying to sew it back, shaking so hard my hands barely worked.

"Lucas! Lucas!" I kept crying for him but he wasn't there.

Then a voice behind me Ms. Marian.

"What is going on here?!"

"I-I—" I choked on my tears and bolted past her, unable to breathe.

"What happened here?" Ms. Marian demanded.

Zera stepped forward.

"We don't know who did it. When we came back... it was already ruined."

"Hmm... go find her."

Meanwhile, I hid in the girls' bathroom, crying until my eyes stung.

My dream everything destroyed in seconds.

Then... giggles outside the stall.

It was Enca and Toche.

"I can't believe this was so much fun. Did you see that dress?"

"I know! Sienna asked Lucas to do it!"

"Did he really do it?"

"Of course. He'll do anything for Sienna."

"Poor Rose."

They giggled let's meet them at the library.

and left, their voices fading down the hallway.

Lucas... did that?

Anger and betrayal blurred my tears.

That face I knew it. That devil face!

I burst out of the bathroom and stormed to the library.

And there I saw it.

Sienna and Lucas kissing.

"LUCAS!" I screamed. 

Sienna pulled back, smug.

Lucas turned, pale as death.

"Rose—!"

"What are you doing!"

Lucas walked toward me.

He grabbed my wrist.

"Rose! Listen! It's not what you think—"

"I SAW IT, LUCAS! How could you?!"

"My dream! My dress!"

Lucas looked truly confused.

"W-What are you talking about?!"

Then, before he could explain 

"THATS ENOUGH!" A teacher appeared.

"Lucas Sterling to my office. Now!"

Zera ran up, pulling me into a hug.

"I wanna go home..." I whispered.

At the teacher's office...

"Lucas Sterling what was your motive for ruining her dress?"

"I didn't do it!" Lucas shouted. "I didn't do that! Why would I?!"

Ms. Marian narrowed her eyes.

"Lower your voice. If you didn't do it, then who did?"

Lucas's face turned ghostly pale.

"How am I supposed to know? Just please, Ms. Marian, I need Rose to know it wasn't me. Expel me, give me detention, anything! Just prove my innocence please!"

"Then who did it?" she asked again.

Lucas hastened to say. But then. A low wishper he said.

"It's... Sienna..." 

Meanwhile, back at my house...

I slammed my door shut.

My mom called softly from the hallway, worried.

"Why so early, honey?"

She came in and found me curled up, sobbing into my pillow.

"Honey... what's wrong?"

I looked at her tears streaming down.

"Mom... it was Lucas..."

She wrapped me in her arms, hugging me tight.

"It's alright... you're safe now, my baby. Don't cry... I'm here..."

She held me and I broke all over again.