I balanced the tray in my hands, took a deep breath, and began my apprehensive approach. Every step felt like a minefield.

"Hey," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, as I hesitantly waved. Standing before their table, I felt a sudden surge of self-consciousness. All eyes snapped toward me, their gazes like spotlights, making my skin prickle with nervousness.

" Hello," The group responded in unison, and I shifted my focus to the two people I knew, Lucas and Amber.

"Join us for lunch," Lucas offered, his warm smile putting me slightly at ease, despite my reservations. Amber chimed in, "Yeah, Corrine, join us," her tone friendly but slightly guarded.

I muttered under my breath, "Not like I have much of an option anyway," my eyes scanning the crowded cafeteria, still hoping for an escape.

One of Lucas's friends attempted to be helpful, saying, "You can sit next to me," his bright hazel eyes sparkling with kindness.

Another guy, who was seated close to Lucas, nudged him playfully, earning a warning glance from Lucas. "Guys, go easy on her, she's my best friend," Lucas cautioned, his voice low and protective.

The group parted, making room for me to squeeze in between the hazel eyed guy and Grace. Lucas's words stung, reminding me of our complicated past. His declaration of friendship felt like a slap in the face.

I sat down and I could sense the tension. Amber's gaze met mine, her expression a mixture of guilt and wariness.

I couldn't help but wonder, "What the hell is happening to me right now?" My mind reeled, feeling trapped and unsure how to navigate this awkward gathering.

"Aren't you going to introduce us to the pretty lady, Luke?" The guy with hazel eyes, asked.

"Yeah, Luke," the other guy chimed in, his brown eyes crinkling at the corners.

Lucas smiled, scratching the back of his head. "Uhm, Corrine, these are my buddies, Taylor and Ryan."

He gestured to each of them, and I nodded, taking in their contrasting features. Taylor's short, curly blonde hair framed his chiseled face, highlighting his deep-set hazel eyes, thick eyebrows, and full pink lips. Ryan, on the other hand, had an endearing quality, with big brown eyes and messy dark brown hair.

Both wore blue football jerseys with the school's crest emblazoned on the left chest, exuding an air of camaraderie.

I offered a warm smile. "Nice to meet you guys."

Taylor's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze lingering a fraction longer than necessary. "Likewise," he said, his voice low and smooth.

Ryan nodded, his smile warm and welcoming. "Welcome to our crew."

I forced a smile, not intending to join their group, but polite nonetheless. "Thanks."

Amber's friends chatted about something i wasn't interested in paying attention to while Amber watched me with interest.

"What's new with you, Celine?" Amber asked, plucking a French fry from her tray.

I shrugged, hesitant to reveal my true thoughts. Life was stagnant, mostly spent trying to figure myself out and dealing with my best friend's sudden abandonment.

"Nothing really," I replied, my tone neutral.

Amber's gaze lingered, as if sensing there was more to my story. Just as the weight of her stare started to suffocate me, Gia's timely question came to the rescue. "Are you thinking about tryouts?"

I turned to her. "No, not really."

Gia raised an eyebrow. "You should totally join the cheer squad," Paige suggested, her voice filled with uncontained enthusiasm.

I hesitated, uncertainty tugging at me. "I don't know."

Amber chimed in, "You'd be great, Corrine!"

But I knew better. I had zero gymnastics skills – I couldn’t even do a cartwheel, let alone master a flawless dance routine.

Taylor, sitting beside me, quipped, "I'd love to see Corrine in a cheer costume."

I bit back a retort, resisting the urge to snap at him.

Sophie rolled her eyes. "Do you ever think of anything else apart from girls in short dresses?"

Taylor grinned mischievously. "Only when I'm thinking about girls in even shorter dresses. Someone’s gotta appreciate the view."

Sophie shot him a withering glance, but a reluctant smile tugged at her lips.

Grace intervened, chuckling. "Okay, you two should get a room."

Taylor laughed, his eyes never leaving Sophie’s face. "You're just jealous because I'm not checking you out."

Sophie's smile grew wider. "I'd rather die than have you check me out."

Grace laughed. "You two are impossible."

Gia, in mock disgust, chimed in, "More like in love."

The group erupted in laughter at the playful jab.

Gia’s enthusiasm quickly shifted gears. "So, the back-to-school dance is coming up. Any plans?"

The girls flushed, while the boys remained stoic. I mirrored their silence, uncomfortable with small talk in large groups. I focused on my food, pretending to listen while mentally plotting my escape.

Gia’s excitement was contagious. "We should all dress up as baddies!"

"I'm thinking Harley Quinn," Amber said, her eyes sparkling.

"Ooh, I love it!" Paige exclaimed. "We could be a squad of villainesses."

Taylor, still quiet, raised an eyebrow. "You're going to dress up as bad girls?"

Gia grinned mischievously. "Why not? It'll be fun."

Sophie chimed in, "We could get fake tattoos and leather jackets." The girls all agreed.

"Lucas and Amber would look smoking hot dressed up as Harley and Joker," Grace said, her voice almost infectious.

I choked on my hamburger, eyes widening in shock. The room fell silent, all eyes on me.

"Bless you, babe," Taylor muttered under his breath, but I was too stunned to respond.

My gaze locked onto Lucas, my voice barely above a whisper. "You guys are going together?"

Lucas’s expression turned sheepish, his eyes darting away from mine. Amber’s smile, however, grew wider, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Yeah, I hope that's okay with you?" Lucas asked, a hint of hesitation in his tone.

I swallowed hard, forcing the last bite of my hamburger down. "Yeah, whatever," I mumbled, trying to sound nonchalant.

Grace chuckled, her tone tinged with suppressed amusement. Lucas’s eyes darted to her, narrowing.

"What?" he asked, sensing her unspoken meaning.

Grace shook her head, her smile still tugging at the corners of her lips. "It’s nothing."

"Doesn't sound like nothing," Ryan interjected, his curiosity piqued.

Lucas shot him a warning glance, but Ryan’s words had already sparked a chain reaction.

"What's going on?" My heart raced, sensing a revelation that could shatter me.

Amber’s gaze shifted to Lucas, her eyes accusing. "You didn’t tell her?"

"Tell me what?" I pressed, my voice firm, demanding answers.

Lucas’s eyes locked with mine, his hesitation palpable. His gaze pleaded for silence, but Grace wasn’t swayed.

"That Lucas and Amber are a thing," she revealed, her voice steady.

"A thing… Like they’re dating?" I asked, needing clarification.

"Exactly like that," Grace confirmed.

Taylor's irritation flared. "Why do you have to be such a bitch, Grace?"

"Excuse you?" Grace shot back, her tone defensive.

Amber intervened, her voice soothing. "Guys, guys, let’s calm down."

I sat frozen, my gaze fixed on Lucas and Amber. My mind reeled.

"This wasn’t the right time," Sophie murmured, shaking her head.

Numbness washed over me as the truth settled in. All my suspicions had been correct. They’d been secretly dating, and their silence had been a betrayal.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I met Lucas’s regretful gaze and Amber’s guilty expression.

"Corrine, are you okay?" Lucas asked, his voice laced with concern.

Amber quickly jumped in, attempting to justify their secrecy. "We were going to tell you."

I stayed frozen, struggling to separate the pain of betrayal from the ache of heartbreak.

Sophie's worried voice broke the silence. "Is she okay?"

Taylor’s gentle inquiry cut through my thoughts. "You okay?"

I looked up at him, humming a response, forcing a facade. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just shocked," I lied, deciding to pretend to be happy for the couple, even as turmoil brewed inside me.

Amber exhaled in relief. "Thank God, you looked like you were having a seizure."

I forced a chuckle, dropping my gaze to my tray. "Yeah, I’m good."

"Anyway," I said, looking up at Amber while carefully avoiding Lucas’s gaze, knowing he'd see through my facade. "I gotta go. I’ve got this crazy English literature assignment, and I promised a friend we’d study together at the library."

The lie rolled off my tongue effortlessly. Everyone nodded, buying into my excuse.

"Congratulations, you two," I said, the words tasting bitter on my lips. "You make a perfect couple." Amber snuggled closer to Lucas, radiating joy, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at him. His eyes, however, locked onto mine, his jaw tense in a mix of intensity and warning. I swiftly averted my gaze, focusing on the others to escape the uncomfortable tension. It felt like Amber was deliberately pressing her proximity to rub it in my face.

"Sure you're okay?" Grace asked once more, concern etched on her face.

I reassured her with a forced smile. "I'm fine. Just need to tackle this assignment. It was great meeting all of you."

The girls echoed in unison, "You too."

As I backed away, Ryan called out, "There’s a party this weekend. You should come!"

I swiftly fabricated an excuse. "I have a family dinner that weekend, but you guys have fun."

"Want to hang out tomorrow after school?" Ryan persisted.

I seethed, irritation surging. Couldn’t they just let me leave in peace?

"Can’t, busy!" I called out, picking up my pace.

Taylor intervened, signaling Ryan to back off. I shot him a grateful glance.

I discarded my tray and rushed out of the cafeteria, my strides lengthening into a sprint.

Just as I turned the corner to the bathrooms, I collided with someone, sending their books scattering. "Sorry!" I muttered, already racing toward the bathroom.

I burst into a stall, slamming the door shut behind me. Tears erupted from my eyes, and I sobbed uncontrollably.