WE ARE THE D.S (Somos la D.S - English version)

6. THE NEW FRIENDS

We get to the foot of a table where only five of the nine seats are occupied. Everyone suddenly seems to put the spotlight on us and for a minute I feel like I'm in the middle of an auditorium.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I had Professor Garcia, he always seems to forget that the class only lasts two hours," explains the girl next to me. "Anyway, let me introduce you to my stepbrother, this is Roman," I wave my hand in greeting and receive a smile from everyone.

"Welcome to the institute, Roman, my name is Luttia."

A girl with copper hair darkened enough to turn brown hands me her hand and balancing it with the tray in mine, I respond to the gesture. I hope she hasn't felt the small bandages on my palm, because even though it's been a week since the beating and my body has already begun to heal, I still have telltale traces.

"You know the lovely Luttia," Baelee seems to exaggerate her tone and I notice her friend's flirtatious look. "Next to her the girl with beautiful green eyes, is Talissa," the girl can't help but fill her cheeks with blood and has a sweet face despite hiding behind a lit lipstick, "My friend with a unique style here, Malton Rivera," a boy with short curls and excessively green eyes raises his hand and I smile, "This is François," she points to a somewhat thin but honey-colored eyes boy.

"Thanks for the bland introduction," François complains.

"I'm sorry, the incredibly handsome François Charpay of French descent," the blue-eyed boy I haven't heard from yet, crosses glances with Baelee as if he doesn't understand what she'd just said.

"Incredibly handsome?" He looks indignant, but his intent is akin to a joke, I highly doubt he's being serious.

"Oh come on, Bernard! You just ruined my presentation," Baelee complains and I discover the name of the fifth and last guy on the table, "besides you can't be jealous, I just brought you a coffee," Baelee hands him the coffee and when I least expect it his lips fall on it.
I freeze for a few seconds in surprise.

I didn't know Baelee had a boyfriend, and she just never talked about him. I'm an idiot at the same time if I thought she wouldn't be skilled enough to get someone to fill her heart. I should start accepting that I'm not the only man as close to Baelee as I thought I was. Because even though we always got along like two mortal enemies, she was always the closest thing to a friend, dysfunctional yes, but she was company nonetheless.

"It's nice to meet you, Roman," Bernard offers me his hand while Baelee sits at the end of the table next to him.

"You can sit here," Luttia says and I settle down next to him but to the right of Baelee at the table.

"Thank you."

Everyone seems to have started on their food, so I simply decide to do the same with mine.

The rest of the lunch all boils down to conversations about pure eccentricities, trips to Italy, expensive cars, crazy parties and a whole world that no matter how hard I try, I'm never going to be a part of. It seems that despite laughing and joking, I have almost nothing in common with them. I don't have millionaire grandparents in France like François, I don't own a nightclub or a bar like Luttia and Bernard, or am heiress to a big honey company like Baelee. In my case I am just a simple human being with luck and a love for numbers.

Despite not quite fitting in, I can't overlook and treasure the effort Baelee makes to make me part of her group. Each of her comments she passes on to me so that I contribute something and am not left out.

I also can't ignore the way Luttia flirts with me, this is something new I didn't expect. The last feminine gesture I received was when Baelee healed my wounds but that doesn't count because she is my stepsister. But even though it can get awkward her looks at times, it's nice to get some attention deep down.