The chatter around us began to die down.
"That's such a lie!" Evan shouted and then pointed at Sasha with a shocked laugh. "You...! You lying bi—!" Grey lunged for him. His fist clenched tightly to Evan's shirt.
"Watch your mouth," he said, his voice deeper than imaginable. Evan's eyes were wide as he raised his hands in defeat, and Grey shoved him back into his seat harshly. Together, they sat down at the table, Grey's arms wrapped around Sasha's slender shoulders. Their backs were to us, so we could see Evan's angry face as Grey ordered, "Get out of here." He stood, jerking his backpack over his back. He picked up his tray and lingered for a moment. We all went still and watched with bated breath.
In a flash, Evan threw all his remaining food onto Sasha. She snarled. Evan booked it out of there before Grey could even process what happened. Snickers erupted around the room from various tables. Grey gave them one death stare, and that shut them up. My eyes were too attached to the scene to look away for my good. Grey's eyes met mine, challenging and hard. He was so unrecognizable from the Grey in his dream yesterday.
"I'm sorry that happened," I signed and then faced my friends again before I could see his reaction or response. We all looked down at our food as if it were the most exciting thing on the planet. Mindy's body brewed with unspoken energy, her leg jittering excitedly from underneath the table.
Slowly, whispers turned into full-on conversations, and the cafeteria came to life again.
"Holy crap!" Mindy exclaimed. "That was wild!"
"I wonder what that was all about?" Blake whispered, peeking over his shoulder.
"Whatever it was, it's best not to get involved," Ana said, steering his attention back to the table with her fingertips. It was evident that they liked each other, and I can't believe I had been so blind to it before.
I don't think either of them fully processed what she did—or maybe they didn't care—because they chomped down their food as if nothing happened.
Mindy glanced at me from across the table, and I just shrugged as if it didn't bother me. It didn't—not really. I'm happy for them, just displeased that they haven't told me.
Andy and Arnold walked in, grabbed some lunch, and then sat next to Mindy.
"What's up, guys?" Arnold asked.
"You missed everything," Mindy whispered excitedly. "I'll tell you once they pass." Andy and Arnold glanced behind us, causing me to do the same.
Sasha walked with her head high, even though her clothes were drenched in ketchup and grease. Grey walked beside her, carrying their backpacks on his shoulders. He paused right behind us, and I spun away from him nervously.
A few seconds later, his breath tickled my ear as he whispered playfully, "Nothing I can't handle, Hazel, but thanks for the kind words." I smiled at him, relieved, before returning my attention to the table.
"How did you become friends with Grey? When did this happen?" Mindy exclaimed once they were out of earshot.
I wrote I don't think we're friends at all. He doesn't dislike me, I guess.
"Sure," Mindy said and looked around our friend group. "She has a tiny place in his heart now, all from attending one party. See, I told you it was a good idea to go."
Ana laughed. "I guess you weren't wrong, Mindy."
A few minutes later, a second presence appeared behind me, one that caused Mindy to grow white as a sheet. I looked back me to see Sasha. Her eyes held daggers and her lips were twisted in disdain. She bent over and cupped her hands together, whispering in my ear, "Don't get any ideas about my man, Mutey."
An intense, blinding rage overtook my senses for a second, causing me to shake with adrenaline. I glared at her as she walked away. She stopped at the cafeteria double doors before looking back at us. She held my eyes with a triumphant smile and blew me a kiss. She then made her grand exit.
I faced my friends, who I realized were all bombarding me with the question, "What did she say?"
Instantly, I burst into tears. Mutey... why does that hurt so much?
"Oh, no, what happened, Hazel?" Arnold asked. Blake rubbed my back and said to the table, "Sasha called her 'Mutey.'" So I guess he was close enough, or Sasha said it loud enough for him to hear.
"Who the hell does she think she is?" Ana exclaimed. She slammed her hand down on the table and went to stand, but Blake pulled her back down.
"Ana, what are you trying to do?" he asked.
"I'm gonna beat the crap out of her," she growled.
"No," I signed frantically. "It won't help anything. I'll be fine, I promise. It just made me feel so angry and humiliated." I wiped my tears quickly. "I'm sorry for crying."
Ana translated for the rest of the table, causing their support to pour forth.
"Don't apologize; it's not your fault she's nasty," Mindy snapped, and Andy added, "She's miserable with herself and jealous of you." The tears kept flowing out of me, so I put my head down on the table so no one else could see me and let the floodgates burst forth.
YOU ARE READING
Little Sweet Dreamer - Wattys Edition
Teen Fiction"Oh," he said, as my back hit the wooden wall. Damn it, of course. With nowhere to go, his arms locked me in between him and the wall. He stared down at me as he said, "So you're trying to piss me off?" His lips were surprisingly close to mine. No g...
