PAPER RINGS || MARCUS LOPEZ.

𝙏𝙒𝙊

❝ Okay, so Dylan this is Petra and this is Lex. ❞

After wandering into the cafeteria alone and standing in the corner spam texting Devon, Billy had approached Dylan and invited her to sit with him for lunch. An invitation she welcomed gladly as she didn't know anyone else outside of him and Devon.

She offered his friends a smile as she slipped into a seat. Petra was the kind of goth every girl aspired to be at one point in their life, she was gorgeous and suited her style almost too well. Lex was harder to define, spiked hair and chains, tattoos here and there and a scruffy uniform, he reminded her of the kind of boy that the girl next door would date to rebel against her parents.

❝ Blimey, who did you in? ❞ Lex questioned, gesturing towards his face in reference to Dylan's bloody nose and split lip.

With a shake of her head the femme shrugged it off ❝ Black Arts test. ❞

Dylan didn't offer any further explanation of what exactly the test consisted of and instead used a napkin to wipe the blood from under her nose. She was tempted to ask about the boy from the night before, from class, but how could she bring something like that up with a group of strangers?

The trio were enveloped in their own conversation as she tried making her thoughts make sense. Saya was probably her best bet, Devon mentioned something about her recruiting a new boy and, well, she would bet her money that he was in fact the new boy. But, again, how would she even go about questioning it? What did she even want to question? They were drunk and hooked up, he was actually a pretty nice guy and they hung out afterwards, what they talked about she didn't know.

Maybe they could be friends, set aside the awkwardness and just be friendly. If not, civility would do. She wondered if Billy and Lex were the same Billy and Lex he told her he came with, surely they would have said? But then again, did they even know about it?

The seat beside her scraped along the floor, making her cringe and look up from playing with her food.

It was him.

❝ Marcus, this is Dylan. ❞ Billy introduced the pair, unaware that they knew each other very well ❝ She's our new friend. ❞

Despite the awkwardness Dylan smiled at way Billy introduced her, offering a weak wave to the newest arrival.

❝ Oh, I already met Dee. ❞

Dylan nearly choked on her lunch, his admission and the nickname simultaneously catching her off guard.

Petra shot the boy a confused look ❝ Didn't know you guys were on nickname basis, when did you even get the chance to talk to her? ❞

❝ Class. ❞

❝ A party. ❞

The two looked at one another, Marcus confused as to why she would lie and Dylan confused as to why he'd tell the truth.

❝ Well, we first met at a party last night then again in class. ❞ Dylan rephrased, telling them half the truth, but the truth nonetheless.

There was a silence as the group nodded, accepting their explanations. However, the silence was short lived, being interrupted by Billy leaping out of his seat and grabbing a hold of Lex.

The Brit tore his arm away as soon as there was contact made ❝ What the fuck are you doing, you tosser? ❞

❝ I know there's a vacant space between your ears, but did you not hear them!? ❞ Billy near shouted, shaking his friend ❝ They met at a party last night! ❞

❝ I could not give less of a — ❞ almost as if he was joining the dots Billy had shoved in his face, Lex too leapt from his seat and grabbed Billy, the two freaking out momentarily before looking at the two ❝ It was you! ❞