THIRD SEAT

The bell rang.

Chairs screeched, students poured out, and Luna was already halfway to the hallway before Luke even stood up.

"Let's grab food. If I don't eat in the next five minutes, I'm committing crimes."

Luke chuckled, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he followed.

They barely made it ten steps from the classroom before Kyren materialized beside them, all lazy swagger and infuriating timing.

"Lunch time, huh?" he said, grin sliding into place. "What's good around here?"

Luna didn't even break stride. "Are you following us?"

Kyren tilted his head. "Nope. Just migrating."

Then—smooth as a scam—he reached out, looping two fingers around Luke's wrist with mock ceremony.

"Guess I'll take Luke. He and I have chemistry."

Luke froze. Luna didn't.

She grabbed Luke's other arm like she was ready to arm-wrestle for him. "He's eating with me. Like always."

Kyren raised a brow. "Jealousy already? I'm flattered."

"Suspicion," Luna snapped. "Don't confuse the two."

He smirked. "Awfully possessive for someone who's just suspicious."

"Awfully smug for someone who wasn't invited."

Luke groaned, arms still hostage. "Can we just all eat together?"

Luna's grip didn't loosen. "Only if he stops being a stray."

Kyren let go with a flourish. "Fine. Let's all eat. A table for three. I can play nice."

Luna scoffed. "You don't even know what nice looks like."

He grinned. "Sure I do. I'm looking at it."

Luna looked ready to slap a tray into his face.

Luke, sighing like he aged ten years in ten seconds, muttered, "Great. Team bonding."

They started walking again, tension clinging to the air like humidity.

Then Kyren leaned in, voice low enough for Luke alone.

"You should pick a side eventually, y'know."

Luke blinked. "What?"

Kyren didn't answer. Just smiled—sharp, unreadable—and kept walking.

They made their way through the hallway. The cafeteria doors ahead, already crowded with students.

Kyren leaned slightly toward Luke.

"So… what do you want? My treat."

Luke blinked. "You don't have to—"

"Come on. First day in the same class—let me buy you lunch. A little celebration."

Luke gave a weak chuckle, unsure if he should feel flattered or manipulated.

Then Luna cut in, deadpan.

"You're kidding."

Kyren glanced at her. "Why are you still here?"

"I should be the one asking you that."

"And I thought you were just clingy."

Luna stopped walking. "I swear, if you say one more—"

"You'll what? Lecture me? Ground me?"

Luke sighed, grabbing a tray. "Can you two not do this in the middle of the lunch rush?"

"He started it," Luna said.

"No. You started," Kyren offered replied a grin.

Luke looked between the two of them and muttered under his breath.

"I should've eaten alone."

They found a free table near the corner—close enough to the windows to catch light, far enough that it didn't feel too crowded.

Luke slid into the bench first.

Kyren sat right next to him.

Practically touching.

Luna stopped. Blinked.

Luna's eyes narrowed. "You could've sat across from him."

"Too far. I'd have to yell just to talk with him," Kyren said with a grin.

Luna stiffened. "You're not funny."

"No," he said lightly, "but I am charming."

With nowhere else to go, Luna sat directly across from Luke—arms crossed, tray untouched.

She grabbed her phone.

[Luna → Luke]why is he still here?

Luke glanced down at his phone, then at her. She didn't look up.

[Luke → Luna]He's new. Doesn't have anyone else to eat with. Let's just bear with him for a while.

[Luna → Luke]

For a while? Doesn't look like that. Look Luke, He's trying to bribe you with food.

"Here," Kyren said suddenly, sliding something onto Luke's tray.

Luke blinked.

"Try this. I swear it looks cursed but it actually taste good."

"Uh... thanks?"

A second later—

Kyren stood up, stretching lazily.

"Wait here—I asked someone to pick something up for me earlier."He shot Luke a grin."You're gonna love this."

Before Luke could respond, Kyren was already slipping out of the cafeteria, leaving Luna and Luke alone at the table.

Luke glanced at Luna, who stared at him deadpan over her drink.

She narrowed her eyes.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Luke stifled a smile.

Luke bit back a smile. "Not really."He chuckled. "Maybe a little."

Luna narrowed her eyes.

"I'll poison his dessert."

"Please don't."

"No promises."

Luke took a sip of his drink, then glanced at her.

"You really hate him that much, Luna?"

She didn't answer right away. Just stared across the table, tapping her fingers against the plastic tray like she was debating something.

"I don't trust people who smile that much."

Luke snorted. "So… me, either?"

She shook her head. Slowly.

"No. You smile on the outside…"Her voice dropped just a little."But inside? You're just trying not to fall apart."

Luke froze for a beat, her words settling deeper than he wanted to admit.

But then he spoke—quiet, thoughtful.

"Kyren's like that, too."

Luna looked up.

"What?"

"He smiles like nothing touches him," Luke said. "But the burden he's carrying... it's heavy. You can feel it when he talks. Or when he thinks no one's watching."

Luna didn't answer, but her stare sharpened. Still unconvinced.

"I'm not saying you have to like him," Luke continued. "But maybe try not to tear him apart."

A pause.

"He might not even have a friend. Not a real one. And maybe that's why he keeps bugging us."

He met her eyes, steady now.

"Maybe it's not about liking us. Maybe we're just the only ones who haven't shut him out yet."

Luna blinked.

"Just you Luke, not us"

Luna looked away, jaw tight, but something in her expression flickered. Not guilt. Not sympathy. Something quieter.

Recognition.

Kyren returned a few minutes later, balancing a small paper cup topped with pale green ice cream.

"Peace offering," he said, sliding it in front of Luke. "Pistachio."

Luke blinked. "How'd you know i like this one?"

Kyren just smirked, settling back into his seat without answering.

Luke narrowed his eyes. "Seriously. How?"

"What matters more—answers, or dessert?" Kyren said, nonchalant.

Luke looked down at the cup, then back up—his brows slightly drawn together, like his thoughts had drifted somewhere else.

Kyren noticed.

"Okay, wait." He pointed a spoon at Luke. "That face again. What's wrong now? Luna yelled at you while I was gone?"

"Why is your first instinct always me?" Luna snapped.

"Because you've got resting murder face," Kyren said easily. "I'm just being logical."

"And you've got resting idiot energy."

"A little harsh. I prefer 'charmingly chaotic.'"

Luke groaned, half-laughing into his hand. "Can you both not do this while I'm holding a spoon?"

"Sorry," Kyren said. "Didn't realize verbal combat was off the menu."

"We can add it," Luna muttered.

Luke took a bite of the pistachio, sighing.

"You two are gonna kill me one day."

"Probably," they said in unison.

Before either of them could fire off another insult, Luna's phone buzzed on the table.

She glanced at the screen, her expression tightened.

"It's my cousin."

She picked it up, stepping away for a few seconds.

Luke and Kyren sat in tense silence—Kyren still picking at his dessert, Luke watching her back.

She hung up and slid her phone face down on the tray.

Kyren raised a brow. "Everything okay?"

Luna didn't look at him. She took a breath before speaking.

"My cousin's friend's been missing for two days. No messages. Parents don't know where she is."

Luke frowned. "You think it's related?"

"I don't know," Luna cut in. "But it's possible."

Kyren glanced between them, clearly confused. "And you're telling us because…?"

Luna finally looked up.

"I'm telling Luke. You just happen to be here."

Kyren rolled his eyes, but didn't press further.

"Should we be worried?" Luke asked, quietly.

Luna gave a noncommittal shrug.

"Not yet."

Kyren muttered, "Vague much."

Luna's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You don't need to know everything."

Kyren leaned forward, unbothered.

"I'm literally sitting here."

"Then sit quietly."

None of them spoke after that.

The noise of the cafeteria carried on around them.

But at their table, something had changed.

And none of them knew what to do with it.

 | None of us said it out loud—but we all felt it.

 | Something just changed