I make my way through the halls to get outside. Countless females are chatting and shoving their way to the lunch building. All I can focus on is the argument I and Chantel just had. I've never seen her cry before. She's always been the strong one but I guess even bricks turn to powder eventually.
I bite my lip as guilt crept up on me. Dark, dangerous, and ready to pounce. I felt sick to my stomach. I don't think I want to go to lunch today but I need to explain myself to Shae so she doesn't think I'm ghosting her.
I look up at the lunch building. It's separated from the school with tables and chairs inside and out. Its scenery is beautiful with cherry blossom trees framing the front. It reminds me of a Cafe building but with a twist. The twist was the giant statues made to honor the elites. Every elite got their likeness carved out in stone. They stood in the middle of our school courtyard. Four of the elites look out to a different building, while Aimiah's mother, the top elite, stands in the middle on a pedestal looking up with her hand raised holding up a stone diorama of our town. You have to pass them to get anywhere outside the main school building.
I can't help but gulp as I look at the elite statue facing toward the lunch building, or as I like to call it, "The Hash House". The goddess of the ethereal light, or as other elites and their children call her, Tati. This statue of her does not do her justice, then again what would I know, it's rare to lay eyes upon her. She only comes out at night. The only time anyone other than the elites and their children ever sees her is during sacrifice rituals.
I shake off the intimidating feeling I get looking at her and the rest of the statues. I continue my walk into the beautiful building as I search for Shae.
After what felt like hours, I finally spotted Shae and, funny enough, Diara. I walk over to their table at the far corner and have a seat next to Diara and across from Shae.
"I was looking forward to having lunch with you yesterday...you never showed. So I texted you...you never answered." Shae spoke in a dull voice. Her luscious blonde bangs overshadow her face.
I can't help but gulp as I notice her grip on her fork tightens. Her knuckles turn a ghostly white as she stabs into her salad.
"I-I got l-locked i-in a locker by C-Chantel. I w-wasn't let o-out til the e-end of the d-d-day."
I cursed myself for sounding so meek and timid. I could barely speak a word without tripping on my tongue. Ridiculous.
Shae looks up at me finally gracing me with her gorgeous hazel eyes. I thought she was mad by the tone of her voice but her eyes showed more of a hurt, almost disappointed expression.
"Why didn't you text me? I would have left class to let you out. You know that right?"
She looks like a kicked puppy. All that charm she had to her seemed to have vanished into mid-air. Even her frizzy hair looked more deflated to complement her depressed expression. I never took Shae to be the emotional type.
"I left my phone in my locker," I spoke with more confidence.
Shae's eyebrows furrowed as she contemplated what I said. After a few minutes, she nodded her head and smiled at me. I could tell she was still a little upset but she seemed to be in a better mood than she was before.
As Shae silently continued to eat her salad rather than violently stabbing it, I looked over to Diara. Diara was already looking at me, observing me. Once our eyes connected she frantically adjusted her glasses and ate her dumplings.
Her hands are once again in the sleeves of her hoodie but from the way her chopsticks and spoon are shacking, I could tell she is beyond nervous.
I lean a little closer to Diara, shoulders slightly touching. "How are you today Diara". I spoke in a light whisper not to frighten my old friend.
She lets out a little squeak as she shakes a little more vigorously. Her face turns a bright red as she whispers back to me.
"I-I'm d-doing o-okay. H-how a-a-are y-you."
I thought my stuttering was bad. Hers is terrible. I give her a light smile to try and ease her mind and slowly back away from her as I straighten my back.
"I'm doing quite well"
She looks at my smiling face for a second as the red on her face only becomes more intense. Diara eventually bites her lip gently as she finally looks down and goes back to eating. I thought maybe she was upset until I noticed a small hint of a smile as her trembling dies down.
Unfortunately, the comfortable silence didn't last as my stomach growled. Diara and Shae looked up at me finally realizing I never got anything to eat. Shae opens her mouth only for a more poised and elegant voice to come out.
"Did I hear my cute little yeti's stomach growl"
Oh please, for the love of the elites tell me that beautiful arrogant voice came from a bird outside. Unfortunately, the elites either didn't hear my prayer or just didn't care as Aimiah makes herself known.
"Here y/n. Lucky for you I noticed you never got lunch so I ordered the finest cuisine at the lunch bar." Aimiah whispers into my ear as one of her hands glides up and down my shoulder and the other places the food down in front of me.
I could feel both Diara and Shae watching me. I gulped as I whispered a thank you. As I went to pick up my fork Aimiah's hand stopped me.
"Let me y/n."
Aimiah forcefully shoves Diara off of her chair and pushes her dumplings onto the floor. Glass could be heard breaking as the plate shatters against the ground. The Hash House goes silent as everyone has their eyes on us.
Shae lets out a gasp as she feels bad for Diara. She goes to stand and help Diara but one look from Aimiah had her fearfully sitting back down.
Aimiah sits down in Diara's chair, clears her throat and flashes a beautiful smile, ignoring Diara's gathering tears and sniffles as she slowly gets up.
"Oh get over it Diara. You've always been such a child." Aimiah spoke as she upturned her nose Diara. With an annoyed huff, she begins to delicately cut the steak she got me with precision.
Diara sniffles a few more times, her bottom lip quivering as she tries to hold in her sobs. She turns on her heel and begins running off.
No. It's one thing to treat me badly but why does Aimiah always have to mess with Diara? She does nothing wrong. Is it because of her rank? It has to be.
I stand up with determination, dodging Aimiah trying to feed me with the fork.
"...y/n. Y/n! Y/N! GET BACK HERE! WHERE ARE YOU GOING? SHE IS NOT A BABY, STOP TREATING HER LIKE ONE!"
I could hear Aimiah yelling and throwing a tantrum to get my attention but all I care about right now is making sure Diara is ok. Maybe if I'm lucky I could find Chantel and talk to her as well.
I continue to run to the bath hall in the third building west of the main building and the Hash House. Rarely anyone goes to that building so Diara would most likely go there.
Once I finally make it to the building I bend over to catch my breath for a second and decide to walk to the bath hall. Once I enter the giant room filled with luxurious baths, showers, soaps, toilets, and ext. Sobbing can be heard. It sounded like a loud wail with a few hiccups now and again.
Oh, Diara. I can't help but feel sympathy for her. She's always been a good person yet some people treat her like a bug worth crushing under their shoe. All of this is because of a stupid ranking system. I shake my head as I make my way toward the crying.
"Diara. It's me y/n. I'm sorry for what Aimiah did. You didn't deserve to be treated that way. Y-You can come over to my house today and I can make you more dumplings if you want. I'm not the greatest chef but for you, I'm willing to give it a try."
I was met with silence. No wailing. No sobbing. Not even a sniffle.
"Diara?"
Next thing I know a little ginger blur comes hurtling towards me. I quickly caught her while I stumbled back almost falling on impact. She sniffles slightly as she buries her head into my stomach due to our significant height difference.
"I would love that" she mumbles against my stomach as her grip on my shirt tightens slightly.
I sigh in relief as I hold her feeling a few wet tears soak my baggy button-down shirt.
I guess I'm cooking dumplings today.