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I got a few dirty looks, especially from girls, but that was the worst of it. Even Serena didn’t bother me. She seemed to hate me more than ever, but she didn’t so much as say a hello or goodbye to me.
It was such a relief, and such a huge change from how things had been that I almost couldn’t believe it. The only thing Bishop, Misael, and Kace had needed to do was tell the school I was off limits, and suddenly I was. I was allowed to study in peace, walk the halls without incident, and come lunchtime, I was actually feeling hopeful that maybe I could get through the rest of my time at Slateview with relative ease.
And all I’d had to do to achieve this peace was give myself over to the three boys who terrified and intrigued me in equal measure.
Was it ideal? Hell no.
But it didn’t have to be ideal. It just had to work.
I walked into the lunch room, very aware of the space I was allowed to have. Where people had actively put themselves in my way the first day, jostling and shoving me, no one bothered me today.
Damn. A girl could get used to this.
Without having to worry about watching my back, I slid into the back of the line and waited. I could have gone for another Burger King burger, actually, but fast-food wasn’t exactly the standard of quality the cafeteria was boasting—which in all honesty, was a bit sad. I picked up my tray of unappetizing food and turned to scan the cafeteria. I spotted an empty table across the room and headed toward it, intending to capitalize on the peace I’d been afforded by eating alone and hopefully not being bothered.
But before I could reach the table, I was waved down by a girl with black hair and choppy bangs. She was sitting with a boy who had mocha skin and closely shaved black hair, and I vaguely recognized them both but didn’t know their names. The boy was broad in the shoulders and looked easy-going compared to most of the people that went to Slateview.
Nervousness settled in my stomach, but I changed course nonetheless. I was learning that resistance was an action best suited for a last resort—and besides, I felt a little more confident knowing I had the Lost Boys on my side. So far, no one had dared to mess with me.
I slowed as I approached the table, chewing my lip apprehensively.
“Hello…?”
“Oh, don’t look at us like that.” The girl laughed. She had a throaty, raspy voice that made her sound older than she probably was, and her brown eyes danced with amusement. “We’re friends with Bish, Reaper, and Misael. I’m Jessica; this is Liam. Bish told us to make sure you had a place to sit if they weren’t at the table yet when lunch started.” She smiled, her red lipstick shining with gloss under the harsh florescent lights.
There was something about her that I liked instantly, an openness that none of my friends back home had ever had, but I still hesitated. I wasn’t sure if she and the boy beside her were genuine or not, and my first instinct these days was to distrust everyone.
Jessica shrugged.
“Hey, you can stand there until they show up, of course. I’m not gonna force you.”
She went back to eating, forking a bite of meatloaf into her mouth. At least, I assumed it was meatloaf. It was hard to tell with school lunch.
Liam looked up to me, deep brown eyes understanding.
“Promise we’re not gonna pull any shit,” he said. “But people are gonna stare if you just keep standing here.”
I flushed. I’d been doing well without too much attention focused on me, and although I felt safer with the Lost Boys’ protection, it seemed wise not to present an easy target. Against my better judgement, I slid onto the bench across from Jessica and Liam.
“See, not so hard, is it?” Jessica smirked. “You really aren’t all that trusting, huh?”
“Bit of an understatement,” I muttered. Why was she being so nice?
“Well, since the guys decided to take you under their wing, you could probably do with being a little more relaxed,” she continued. “No one’s going to hurt you. And if they do, well.” She drew her thumb across her neck, her grin turning feral; I didn’t need to ask what she meant.
“You giving her a hard time already, Jess?”
I jumped, almost knocking my tray off the table. When I glanced up, I saw Bishop, Misael, and Kace walking over with their own trays of food. Bishop sat to my left, Kace to my right, and Misael situated himself—obnoxiously, I might add—between Jessica and Liam. The broad-shouldered boy shot him an annoyed look, and Misael grinned. Liam just rolled his eyes and looked to me.
“See the shit I gotta deal with? Can’t even have lunch with my girlfriend in peace,” he said, but there was no anger in his voice. This must’ve been a typical thing among the group.
Feeling suddenly very surrounded, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and started to eat.
“So, you show New Girl the ropes yet?” Jessica asked. “I hope you three are being nice to her.” She gave them all a look, like she was lecturing them more than anything.
Bishop huffed a breath beside me, but when I glanced at him, he was looking at Jessica, not me.
“Nice enough,” he said evenly.
