Silvia sat in pre-cal alongside Lucita, Blake, and Jason. They all seemed to be together this year, their classes lining up perfectly. But math, ugh, Silvia hated that she had to start the day with math, unlike Lucita, who looked way too happy to be there.

“How can you be so happy?” asked Silvia, leaning down on her desk, trying not to fall asleep.

“She’s a geek!” snickered Blake, pushing his hair out of his face.

“I’d rather be a geek than a guido. You’re gonna go bald if you keep wearing all that hair gel.”

“Nah,” he said, biting down on his eraser on the end of his pencil. Luci shook her head, her curls bouncing. It was weird to see her with not only short hair but curly hair as well. Silvia was just so familiar with her long, straight hair.

“Totally. It has something to do with chemically damaging and clogging the hair follicle…or something like that. My uncle does the same shit, and my mom promptly educated him. Besides, it makes you look unattractive.”

“Oh, you think I look attractive now, huh.”

Luci groaned, sparking a laugh from Silvia. “Look what you did now,” she joked.

“I’m attractive,” said Blake, nudging Jason’s side with his elbow. Luci rolled her eyes, pulling the math book from under her seat.

“God, your ego knows no bounds.”

“I know. It’s almost as big as yours.” They each stuck out their tongue at one another.

The second bell rang, announcing the start of class. Blake took his seat behind Lucita while Jason sat behind Silvia. And then there they were, a perfect square. But to Silvia, it felt like they were missing something.

People began bleeding into the classroom while Ms. Noval stood at the front, waiting for everyone to take their seats. Lucita was eager to start and get on track. Ms. Noval had allowed her to take a math course online to help her get back on track after the debacle that had been her homeschooling her freshman year. But Ms. Noval had noticed that math hadn’t challenged her and wanted the best for her.

Silvia noticed how the teacher waved at Lucita and was happy that her friend was happy. It was a nice change since last year. And she was glad that the morning events hadn’t dampened her shine.

The door opened again, and everyone turned. Lucita almost choked on her spit, and Silvia almost swore. There, on the threshold, stood Rebecca.

Silvia and Lucita exchanged looks, mentally asking each other what the hell?

“Shit,” muttered Blake, uncharacteristically loud.

Everyone looked at him while Becca made her way to the far left of the room by the window that revealed the overcast sky.

“Okay, let’s start with the attendance; then, we will review the class policy and what I expect from each of you.” Ms. Noval smiled. Lucita closed her book, Blake leaned back into his chair, Jason sat forward while Silvia stared straight ahead, and Becca sat, stiff as a board, eager to escape.

The bell rang, signaling the end of third period. Blake and Lucita had lunch together, while Jason and Silvia had lunch-A together. Together mostly, but separated for lunch.

“This sucks,” said Lucita, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “I liked when we all had lunch together.”

“Now you’re stuck with him,” snickered Silvia.

“You mean I’m stuck with her. She tried to choke me last year, remember.”

“I’m pretty sure you deserved it.”

Blake slung his arm over her shoulder. “Regardless, not cool, chica.”

“Ew, don’t call me that. Never call me that.”

They both waved goodbye, heading to their next class. A small part of Silvia was glad Luci had Blake to enjoy lunch with. If anyone tried to harass Luci, she knew he would have her back.

“Hey, let’s head out. I think we’ve got lunch with Liz.”

Her head shot around. “What?” But Jason was already walking on ahead. Silvia ran after him, holding the straps of her bag.

“Yo! Wait up! Jeez.”

“Huh, oh, sorry. I thought you were following me.”

“Sure. Are you sure you weren’t just running away from the ex?”

Jason gave her a side-eyed glare. “Oh, you mean the petty, vindictive girl who used to be my friend? Yeah, I’m sure.”

“You did cheat on her,” she said, pulling up to his side as they exited the building.

“Yeah, I know I did a bad thing—”

“With a girl who looked like a miniature version of Lu.”

“Thanks for that reminder.”

“Look, I’m not saying the way she acted was right. I’m just pointing out what you did wrong.

“I fucked up, I know. But that’s no excuse for how she treats Luci.”

“Oh hell no, it’s not. Liz took everything out on her. No matter how she felt, Luci didn’t deserve that.”

“Liz is just a bitch. But I would rather she have lunch with us instead of her, though.”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.”

Jason looked at her, giving her a sly smile. “So what’s for lunch?”

“I don’t know. I usually only ate whatever Luci picked up.”

“I privilege that now goes to Blake.”

“Lucky bastard. Now you have to pay for lunch.” The pair of them laughed, getting glares from Liz as she passed them by. This still didn’t stop them from laughing.

“Let’s get some pizza.”

“Always a good choice. I don’t think I’ll ever eat burgers here again after last year.” Silvia shivered, remembering the mold in Lucita’s burger. The one time the girl decided to eat lunch, and it had mold in it.

Looking around, she stared at Evia and Liz in the salad line, and they scrunched up her eyes, confused. “Where’s Becca?”

“Hmm?” Jason looked around, finally shrugging. “She must have b-lunch.”

“So she’s all alone.”

Jason gave her a sidelong glance. “No, she’s not alone. Becca can have lunch with Lu and Blake if she chooses.” He walked ahead towards the pizza line, and she followed close behind. He wasn’t wrong, but Silvia knew that there was no way Becca would sit down with Lucita and Blake. At least not today.

The bell couldn’t ring fast enough. Lucita was starving, and the Krispy Kreme donuts from whatever organization had not filled her up.

Grabbing her book out of her bag, she held it close, slipping her bag over her shoulder.

“Always a book in your hand, huh,” remarked Blake, holding the door open for her.

“Why am I stuck with you again?” she joked, clutching it tightly to her chest.

“Because we’re both smart people in honors and AP classes, and you’re currently a social pariah in need of protection.” He winked at her, wrapping his arm over her shoulder.

“I’m quite capable of defending myself, thank you very much.” But still, she didn’t leave his side as they headed to lunch. “And don’t think this means you can copy my homework.”

“Seriously? Damn, well, now this friendship sucks.”

Lucita barked out a laugh. “All I know is that I’m glad Liz had A-lunch instead. I don’t think I could stomach a lunch period with her.”

“Agreed. Hard enough stomaching class with her.”

“Hey, you two!” Blake and Lucita spun around, enveloped by a mass of wild red hair and a group hug.

“Olive!” Lucita hugged Olivia back tightly. She wondered when she would see this girl who had helped her when she needed it. “Where were you this morning?”

Olivia pulled back, rolling her eyes. “There was a mix-up with my schedule, so I had to go to the guidance office this morning. I also wanted to adjust my schedule and have fewer classes with Evie. Unfortunately, after today, I’m gonna have A-lunch.”

Lucita watched Olivia pull her wild hair to the side and begin plaiting it effortlessly. Sometimes, Lucita wished she could braid her hair that ease. Although, now that her hair was cut short, she didn’t have to worry so much about it being wild and in need of taming.

“Damn, talking about pulling the short straw, chica,” said Blake, shoving his hands into his pocket.

“Did you just call me chica?”

“It’s his new thing, apparently,” said Lucita, rolling her eyes.

“Ew. Don’t do it.”

Lucita threw her arms up in validation. “See? No one likes it, Blake.” She grinned at him. “Anyway, how was your summer in Barcelona?”

“It was good. My grandparents can be such a drag, though. They love commenting on how much I take after my Irish father and look nothing like them. Repeatedly. In English and in Spanish.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I see you cut your hair! I love it!”

“Thanks.”

“Liz had some shit to say about it,” said Blake.

“I’m sure. Especially if she’s been hanging out with Evie. Evie is pretty nasty. Unfortunately, I couldn’t change my whole schedule, so I have a class with both of them. Joyness. They didn’t really have anything nice to say to me either.”

“How petty can she be,” remarked Lucita, making her way out of the hallway towards the cafeteria.

“Evie makes things worse,” commented Olivia, instep with her.

“Nah, Liz has always been like this,” said Blake, stepping up to her side.

“No,” began Luci, “Liz was always a cold fish, not a petty one. This is low even for her.” Lucita stopped walking for a moment. Why the hell was she defending her former friend, who called her a slut for everyone to hear? Shaking her head, she continued on. “Look, let’s just not talk about her, okay?”

Olivia and Blake shared a look before nodding. None of them needed to waste their time thinking about people who didn’t deserve it.

Rebecca grabbed her lunch alone. Evie and Liz had A-lunch, leaving her all alone. Not that they cared. Liz had always been her friend. She had been her first friend in elementary school, so Becca had to stick by her. Even if she made it hard and acted like Becca’s friendship didn’t matter, Becca would stick by her. All Becca really wanted was for everything to go back to the way things were.

Across the cafeteria, she saw Luci, Blake, and Olivia standing together in line for lunch. There was another problem. Blake. The breakup had been nasty. He hadn’t liked how she had sided with Liz, how she hadn’t trusted him. After crushing on him for so long, she finally had the chance to be with him, and it all fell apart.

A part of her was still hung up on him. Some of her was still angry at him for choosing Luci over her, just like Silvia. Everyone had abandoned her for Lucita.

“Hey Becca, you okay?”

Speak of the devil. Becca stared at Luci with her former friends, a fried chicken in hand, as she headed towards the salad line, old resentments resurfacing.

“I’m fine,” she said shortly.

“Okay. You know, if you want, you can join us for lunch. We’re eating in our usual spot.”

Their usual spot was on the third floor, overlooking everyone else.

“I don’t need your pity. I can eat lunch alone.”

“Geez,” stated Blake. “She wasn’t offering you pity; she was being nice. See, I told you, Lu, waste of time.”

“Blake!” scolded Lucita. Blake just rolled his eyes and walked off, leaving the cafeteria. Lucita sighed, looking at Becca apologetically. “Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find us.”

Becca watched Lucita follow after Blake, leaving only Olivia behind, staring at her, eyes wide.

“What do you want?” she snapped, wishing Olivia would leave.

“Evie’s not a good person. She’s not your friend. She’s no one’s friend. This whole thing is just twisted fun for her. She doesn’t care about Liz, and she’ll turn on you or turn Liz against you the first chance she gets. Just know that.”

Olivia ducked her head, then ran off after Lu and Blake. Maybe she was right, but Becca had made her choice, and she had to hope Liz wouldn’t let Evie change her or any of them.

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