Moonstruck

Chapter Thirteen

I entered the cafeteria with Hanna and was immediately approached by Zev. "I want you to sit with us," He said to me. 

"Oh," I looked at Hanna, who just shrugged in response.

"Go ahead. I wanted to re-read a chapter for my History class anyway. I have a test after lunch." Hanna said. 

"Are you sure?" I asked, feeling guilty. "You could join -"

"No," Hanna said quickly. "I really want to get some studying in. Go on."

With a grin, Zev took my hand and led me to his usual table, where his friends already sat. I noticed their surprised looks when I took a seat and bit my lip, aware that I wasn't exactly welcome here.

"Hi Liana," Sarina said, her eyes flitting to Zev before she gave me a smile.

"This is Sarina, that's Rafe, Colt, Nash and you remember Priscilla," Zev introduced.

I noticed that while Rafe looked smug, the other two guys looked mystified. Sarina kept a friendly smile on her face but Priscilla looked irritated. "Hi," I said. I opened my lunch bag and took out the turkey sandwich I had made.

"You bring your lunch from home? How quaint," Priscilla said, an obviously fake smile on her face.

I shrugged, not going to let Priscilla bother me. "At least I know I'll like what I eat. You can never be that sure with the cafeteria food." I gave a pointed look at Priscilla's lunch tray, giving a fake smile in response to the red-head's sneer.

"That's true," Colt poked at his own lunch. "This pasta is disgusting. At least, I think it's pasta. It could be chicken."

Rafe leaned back in his chair and surveyed Liana and Zev, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Nothing like the food at Moonlit, right?"

I flushed and glanced at Zev, who grinned at me.

"The food at Moonlit is excellent. Didn't you think so?" Zev took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"You two went to Moonlit?" Sarina asked in surprise. "When? Like, as a date?"

"Yes," Zev said. "And we went last night."

Priscilla slammed down her soda can. "That rumor is true? You and her? You're seriously dating this hu-"

"Priscilla!" Zev barked out. "Watch yourself," He warned.

I narrowed my eyes. "No, what were you going to say?" I challenged Priscilla.

Priscilla folded her arms and looked away.

Frustrated, I turned to Zev. "What don't you want her to say?" What are you hiding from me? I thought with frustration. I had said I would give him time, but this was getting ridiculous. What was going on?

"Nothing, I just don't want her to be rude to you," Zev said in an calm voice. He suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Wait, what rumors?"

"Yeah, I haven't heard anything," Sarina said.

"Well apparently they aren't rumors since they're true," Priscilla muttered. "I'd heard earlier that you had taken her out to Moonlit but I thought it was just silly gossip. I mean, who would believe you would go out with her?" She wrinkled her nose.

"Priscilla," Sarina said softly, her eyes wide as she obviously noticed the anger on Zev's face. "Cool it."

I focused on my lunch, refusing to make eye contact with anyone, including Zev. Priscilla's words hurt a little, the obvious dig that I wasn't good enough for Zev but what really hurt that he didn't trust me, but, well, why should he? We were only just starting to get to know each other. We had only been on one date, he didn't owe me anything. But I felt like we had known each other for longer, there was a connection between us I couldn't explain. There had been from the first time we had made eye contact. I just wanted to know him, to understand him. Was that so wrong?