Not My Type

''Fine if that's how this is''

Ryder: "Weird."

Tyla smirked behind them. "Maybe he finally realized things."

Charlotte: "What things."

Tyla shrugged dramatically. "Who knows."

But inside?

She was celebrating.

Charlotte pulled out her phone and opened Tom's chat.

It looked normal.

No messages. No arguments. No drama.

But Tom was acting like she'd insulted his entire family.

Charlotte frowned. "He's being weird."

Savannah: "He's acting like you stole his hoodie."

Ryder: "Or his lunch."

Charlotte shrugged. "Whatever."

But inside?

She was confused.

Tom wasn't emotional. Tom wasn't dramatic. Tom wasn't sensitive.

But Tom was definitely annoyed.

And she had no idea why.

From across the room, Tyla sipped her juice box and smiled.

Her plan was working.

Charlotte was confused. Tom was annoyed. Savannah and Ryder were suspicious. And Tyla?

She felt powerful.

For now.

The dining hall buzzed with weekend energy. People were laughing, eating, arguing over cereal brands — the usual Saturday chaos.

Charlotte sat with Savannah and Ryder, picking at her toast.

Tom sat across the room with his basketball friends, hoodie off now, hair messy, already bouncing a ball under the table like he couldn't sit still.

He still hadn't said a word to her.

Not even a nod.

Not even a grunt.

Just silence.

Charlotte frowned. "He's still ignoring me."

Savannah narrowed her eyes. "Something's off."

Ryder: "He's acting like you stole his shoes."

Charlotte: "I didn't steal anything."

Savannah: "Exactly. Which means something happened."

Charlotte shrugged. "Whatever."

But she kept glancing at Tom.

And Tom kept not looking back.

After breakfast, Tom stood up, grabbed his basketball, and headed outside with his friends.

Ryder perked up. "Basketball time."

Savannah: "You can't play."

Ryder: "I can watch."

Charlotte: "I'll come too."

Tyla, who had been eavesdropping from two tables away, immediately stood up as well.

"I'll come," she said, flipping her hair.

Savannah muttered, "Of course you will."

The sun was bright, the court was warm, and Tom was already shooting hoops with his friends.