𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐗𝐄𝐃 [𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐱𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥]

02. Cafeteria Conflicts

Monica's POV:
"And that's how you find the value of x..... Hurry up girls, I'll be moving on to the next numerical now. Turn to page number-"

I groaned, trying to meet the teacher's pace. Gosh! why'd the teachers always have to be in such a hurry! Nothing can be done perfectly , in haste. As I tried to follow the steps of the next numerical, I gave up, surrendering to the rush.

One can't teach a subject like Mathematics by rushing up the explanations and simply scrawling down solutions, because very little gets through the skull, then. But then again, who's going to teach a teacher how to teach? No one.

However, recalling that this chapter was particularly important, and that, it contributed to my final scores, I resumed   solving the following questions at my own pace— carefully noting down each step, neatly in my notebook.

That's when I heard the bell. Class was over, ughhh, finally! What a respite! I loved the bell, it made me happy.

Third Person's POV:

This was the last class before recess. As the teacher proceeded to tuck her books under her arm and leave the classroom, she wished the students farewell, "Good afternoon and thank you girls. Hope today's chapter was clear to all of you. It is an important one for your finals. So prepare well. You may all have lunch now."

All the students from all classes assembled at the cafeteria. It was extremely crowded. The warm, heavenly scent of cinnamon rolls and vanilla pudding hitting the nostrils and lightening the mood of the entire student body. The atmosphere and continuous bustling felt homely and welcoming, as it symbolized the beginning of the school year. Monica and her friends got ahold of a table next to another group of grade eleven girls.

No student was allowed to reserve a table and hence everyone just had to be quick and smart enough to grab a seat during lunch. It was especially difficult if you're in a friends' group and want to have lunch together.

This other group, as previously mentioned, was also quite popular and they were the absolutely opposite compared to Monica and her friends. Safe to say, that these two girl groups never really got along well. There are a myriad of reasons to support this claim.

The members of these two groups weren't really opposite, they were simply different and there was not even an ounce of similarity between them— so that they could mingle. Emily Rhodes and her friends, rather, should we say, minions, were the epitome of studiousness and righteousness. They were a bunch of obedient, rule-loving, snarky girls who were too full of themselves to even consider the other student as human beings.

They were led by the one and only, 'best of the best' , Emily Rhodes, who was another top student of Monica's batch and her academic rival. It's not like Sienna though, Monica and Emily were hated enemies. Ten minutes in a room, and both girls wouldn't think twice before lunging at each other and fighting to death. There was no tangible source or reason for their visible dislike towards each other. No one even knows how it started— Perhaps it was that moment, six years ago when Monica had offered Emily a friendly handshake, but the latter simply stared at her extended hand in disgust and sauntered away, sneeringly. Yes, that must be it.

Emily Rhodes was known for her great obsession for academic validation. She could kill to get the highest marks in class. She liked being surrounded by people who literally sucked-up to her and licked her feet. All teachers worshipped her because of her outstanding work ethics, passion, ambition, responsibility, and punctuality towards studies. And Monica disliked her for those very reasons. It was as if, Emily excelled in everything Monica lacked and it really intimidated her.

Emily, on the contrary, hated Monica and Sienna. She hated how they always stood in her way to becoming the top of her class. She was the one who deserved the crown of the top student. She was the worthiest of all. She was the one who deserved to walk the hallways, as the undefeated genius of Lady Queen High, and have the other students recoil under her glance and cower at her appearance.