Strings of Fate: The First Loop

CHAPTER 9

I glance over my shoulder just in time to see Tim grinning in her direction before giving her a lazy little wink of his own.

Of course.

I shake my head, scoffing under my breath. “It’s undeniable why they’re friends.”

Inez clutches her heart like I just told her the greatest love story of our time. “Two best friends dating two best friends? Babe, we’re giving fate.”

“I think you’re giving delusion,” I say, but there’s a smile tugging at my lips now. Something about her makes it impossible not to.

“I’m giving lunch, actually,” she says, grabbing her wallet. “You want anything?”

“I’m good,” I lie. I’m not even sure I could taste food right now.

“Cool. I’ll be back. Don’t fall in love while I’m gone!”

And with that, she disappears into the lunch line, already texting someone, probably Tim.

I’m left at the table with two girls I barely know: Ednalyn and Faye. I think they’re in my science class, but we’ve never really talked. They're mid-conversation, something about a group project gone wrong, and I sit there quietly, nodding once or twice, but mostly staring at the condensation sliding down my water bottle.

The cafeteria is loud again.

But inside, I still feel like I’m somewhere else.

Somewhere softer.

Somewhere dreamlike.

Inez is mid-rant about her new favorite lip tint, something from a local shop called BLK Cosmetics that “literally lasts through a breakup and a buffet", when something lands on the table in front of me with a soft thunk.

A small paper cup.

Black forest ice cream.

I blink.

Then I look up.

James.

He’s standing there with that lopsided, movie-star grin, the kind that makes it hard to breathe for half a second.

In his other hand, he holds up a crumpled quiz paper.

7/10. Math.

He points at it like it’s a medal and mouths, Thank you.

I don’t know why, but I can’t stop smiling.

He turns and walks back to his table, sliding into his seat like nothing happened, like he didn’t just make my day with ice cream and a quiz grade that technically isn’t even great.

I shake my head, laughing softly to myself. Seven out of ten isn’t exactly an academic miracle, but maybe for James… it is.

And somehow, that makes me proud.

I glance back down at the ice cream, then up, and of course, Inez is already staring at me with the kind of grin that could split the sky.

“Don’t,” I say, before she can even open her mouth.

“I didn’t say anything,” she says, eyes wide with fake innocence. “But just so we’re clear, if I die before you two start dating, I’m haunting you.”

I roll my eyes and take a spoonful of the ice cream.

It’s sweet. Soft. Exactly right.

The bell rings before I can respond, echoing across the cafeteria like a reminder that the real world is still spinning.