6. Cafeteria Hell

Serena

"Brace yourself."

On the way to the cafeteria, I was telling Julie about all the insane moments that have happened in there so far, and the many fights.

Not sure why people think that's the best place to suddenly start acting like their in a fight club, but it happens quite often. As if there's not an open space outside that would be much better, than around the place food is served.

When I look to Julie, I saw a worried expression on her face, her brows knitted together and a frown, where she was smiling before.

I heard her take a deep breath, I thought that maybe I had scared her a little too much.

When we approached the big cafeteria doors, I opened them for Julie and I to walk through, trying to give her a reassuring smile as well.

I looked over to Julie as we entered the cafeteria, and saw her look a little wide-eyed as she took in the surroundings and all the people in the room.

Our cafeteria is quite big. Last year they had some renovations done to make the place a little more easier on the eye, and a place that students would actually want to eat at.

The school newsletter asked for suggestions and the cafeteria was the main thing that people wanted changed. Now it looks a lot better and bigger.

I looped my arm within Julie's, so that she didn't bump into anyone, and walked towards the usual table that my friends and I sat at.

As usual high schools, everyone tends to sit within their own groups, which is natural.

Julie and I both had packed lunches, so there was no need for us to be standing in the lunch line. Those lines can seem so endless when your stomach is empty.

I could hear Julie whisper to herself, whilst looking around and I quietly laughed at that. It felt like we were in a new land and she was seeing everything for the first time.

She just seemed so amazed, I wondered what her old school was like. Our cafeteria can't be that different to her old one.

Finally, we got to our table where everyone else was already seated.

Two chairs were left unseated, which Julie and I then took for ourselves.

I sat, and the looked on amusedly as Sara smacked away one of Danny's hand.

"Danny, get your dirty hands off my fries," Sara warned him, pointing a finger in his direction as well.

Sara is quite possessive over her food. She loves food in general, but only her favourites, she wasn't crazy about all of it.

Fries were quite high on her favourite food items list, and everyone knew not to mess with her. Well, except for Danny. He knew it, but still did it anyway.

Danny rolled his eyes at Sara's warning. "Sara, it's just one fry," he told her.

One fry or ten, it was basically the same to her.

"Stop it, both of you," Mel then scolded them both.

Sometimes Mel had to take on the Mother Hen type of role for the group, especially between Danny and Sara. Other times, it's me that fills that role.

I cleared my throat, getting everyone's attention, clearing it once more to get Danny and Sara's attention, since they were just glaring at each other.

"I invited Julie to come sit with us for lunch. Hope that's cool?" I said.

It came out as a question, but it really wasn't.

"Of course. Hi, Julie." Flo was the first to greet her.

Before Julie, Flo was the new girl at our school.

Not long after she joined, Max asked her out and they became a couple. After that, she became part of our group as well.

"Hi," Julie then said, in a timid voice.

I looked over to her, and could see her cheeks had on slightly red and she was just smiling at everyone.

We all then carried on with our lunch as usual, talking amongst ourselves.

However, most of the talking was directed towards Julie, and by talking, I mean everyone was basically firing questions at her from left, right and centre.

I knew that my friends were trying to be nice, and just wanted to include Julie in the conversation by asking her questions. Although, I don't think they've learned from past experience with Flo, that shooting questions at her, may not exactly be the right approach.

When Julie started to go a deeper shade of red, I felt a little worried for her. She looked quite overwhelmed with all the questions, and so I tried to help her out in deflecting them and changing the top of the conversation.

She looked at me with a thankful expression and I smiled at her.

I mean, when she has that 'deer caught in headlights' expression on her face, I can't not do anything.

Just when things were going well, I heard the not so unfamiliar sound of the devil's spawns... Amy, Quinn and Becca.

I don't exactly want to call the girls bitches, however, they definitely weren't angels of any kind either.

They basically have this personal view, that they own the school and walk around as if they have a stick up their...but I don't really want to be too rude about it all.

I actually think they're quite beautiful. Amy has beautiful red hair, so vibrant and full of life. Quinn, with her high blonde ponytail, it's always so shiny and perfect. Becca actually had flawless skin, no blemishes at all.

All their looks are beautiful, it's just their personalities that kind of make them ugly on the inside.

I've also seen them hang around Liam and his friends too. But then, it seems kind of forced when I see the girls around him.

I try to act indifferent towards them, hoping that someday they get the message that no one gives a flying fuck about who they are.

"Hi Flora," Amy greets her, in an overly-sweet sarcastic tone.

That girl can literally get on my nerves by just breathing. Hearing her voice just makes it all the more worse.

"It's Flo, and Florence for you," she then replied confidently.

Back when Flo was the new girl, the little trio of 'wannabe goons', tried to pick on her, with your usual name calling and pointing out useless things to make fun of.

It was then, that Max interfered with it all, and helped her out. Not long after, he asked her out and she fell for him.

"Leave, Amy." Max ordered her, in a tone that we rarely ever heard from him.

The trio of 'hell's keepers' just stood by our table, looking down on us, as if we were the gum at the bottom of their show.

It's a freaking high school, not medieval times where we're peasants. We're literally on the same level, I don't get why they seem to think otherwise.

I saw Amy roll her eyes. "Whatever, either way I don't care," she said in a bored tone.

She really didn't understand the concept of leaving people alone.

After hearing her words, I gave her a confused look. "Then why the hell did you even say hi to begin with?" I questioned her.

For someone who didn't care, she seemed to be around us a lot.

"Because I wanted to-," Amy then said, in a slow tone, as if I was the stupid one here. "-And never talk to me like that, bitch."

Did she just..?

She was smirking after her comment, crossing her arms, as if she'd just had some sort of triumphant moment.

She used a rinsed out curse word. Was she expecting an applause?

I saw Danny turn his head to look at Amy, anger etched on his face, with his jaw clenched.

"You did not just...." he began to say, gritted out the words between his teeth.

An angry Danny isn't good for anyone, mostly because it takes forever to try and calm him down.

Plus, I can defend myself.

I smiled at Amy, feeling incredibly unaffected by her words.

If I cared about her, or her opinion, or presence in general, then I might've been a little effected.

"Feel better now that you called me a bitch?" I asked her, interrupting Danny before he lost his temper.

Danny can be a protective of me.

"Why don't you go stuff your face, back in your food where it belongs," Quinn then said.

Oh great, now she piped up.

"It took you how long to think of that?" Sara asked her, holding a chip in her lazily and raising a brow at her.

I wanted to laugh at the expression that she had on her face right now. She looked so bored with it all, it was hilarious.

Sara also carried quite the temper herself. Like Danny, you wouldn't want her to lose her shit either.

Amy stepped forward, dropped one of her hand by her side, whilst the other was pointed directly at me.

"Rena, I'm warning you..." Amy started off saying.

"Rena?" I cut off her 'warning'. "It would be Serena for you, since I don't recall us being close enough, for you to use my nickname," I told her.

Everyone did call me Rena, and I didn't really care, but then again, it's my name and I can chose who I want to use the nickname.

"You little-" Amy began to say, but was once again interrupted by Flo.

"You done?" Flo asked her, before she could say anything more.

I couldn't help but smile at Flo. She'd become a lot more confident than she was back when she started.

In the past, she would never have even looked in Amy in the eye, let alone speak to her like this.

Of course there's nothing wrong with being shy or an introvert, since I'm not the most outspoken person either. But having a little confidence helps a lot in life, especially with people who think they can shit all over you, and you'd just take it.

"Oh look at that girls, they have another little member of their pathetic little group," Any then noticed, staring down at Julie like a vulture.

I could see from the corner of my eye, she was squirming in her seat, and wringing her hands together.

"Look at Goldilocks there..." Becca said.

"She looks like she wants to cry already," Quinn continued.

I smacked my hand on the table. "Leave her alone," I warned them. "Besides, at least she can still express emotions on her face instead of you three botox bitches. Now leave."

I'm generally a nice person, but I've really had enough for one lunchtime.

"Rena, you..." Amy was about to go off on one again, but the slamming of doors distracted her, and I'm pretty sure I know why.

There is only one reason that would distract Amy like that, and create that look on her face.

I turned myself in the seat, to look towards the doors and saw Liam, Holden, Andre and Chris laughing and walking into the cafeteria, towards their usual table.

Why we sit at the table next to them, I have no clue. It was not my doing.

"Babbyyyy..." I heard Amy call out.

I rolled my eyes at her voice and then turned back towards the table.

Any was like a cat with string, dangle a few hot boys her way and all she'll think about is them.

"Don't ever call me that," I heard Liam tell her.

A little smile came over my face involuntarily from his words. At least he didn't go for her. He was making a least a few smart decisions.

When I heard laughter ring out, I knew that Amy must've been scowling at this point.

Being called out like that, in front of everyone...must be embarrassing.

Finally, we could carry on our lunch. In peace.

I glance at Julie next to me, with an apologetic expression, hoping that she didn't find us completely crazy after all of that.

Julie instead gave me a smile and a little shrug.

I did tell her to brace herself, since things often seem to go this way before lunch.

It's become an irritating tradition we can't seem to get rid off.

When I looked to Danny, he was already looking at me. I grinned at him playfully and he just shook his head in amusement and carried on eating.

Basically, real reason Amy hates me is because she used to like Danny, but Danny never went for her. Amy seemed to think that the reason Danny didn't go for her, was because of me, seeing no fault in her own personality. Funny that.

As I was eating, I got this strange feeling of eyes on me.

I looked over my shoulder, trying to figure out where it came from, and ended up locking eyes with Liam...again.

Instead of staring, I quickly turned back.

I'm so confused. He won't talk to me, yet feels happy to keep staring at me? Weird.

"I'm meeting you at the bike stand, right?" Julie then asked me and I nodded at her.

Having Julie over will be fun. I don't have siblings and I can't always have the rest of the group over, so it'll be nice.

The bell than rang again, and we all started to get up out of our seats.

I already want this day to be over with.

What I didn't realise, was that Amy and Co wouldn't be the worst part of my day.