Chapter 4: Conversations

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Liam rounded up what he was doing. "I hope you feel a lil better," he said, his voice a little softer than before.

Lucinda nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly as she asked, "Why are you suddenly nice to me?" She tilted her head, her tone curious.

"This is me," he replied, his expression calm.

"No, this morning when I went to the PSQ room or whatever it's called to ask for my tag, you clearly said 'leave' in a cold, brutal way," Lucinda said, emphasizing the word "leave" as she imitated his earlier tone.

"It's PSR," he corrected, his voice matter-of-fact. "Private Squad Room."

"Whatever," Lucinda said, rolling her eyes. She looked down at her ankle, wincing slightly. "Oh, Lucas is gonna talk for hours," she said in a low tone, a hint of resignation in her voice.

"Lucas?" Liam raised his eyebrow, his interest piqued.

"Yeah, my brother," Lucinda replied. "He hates seeing me getting bruises."

"That's a nice brother you have," Liam said, standing up, his movements fluid.

"I have to go now, and you should always mind your own business," Liam said, his tone firm but not unkind.

Lucinda looked at him, confusion etched on her face.

"Huh?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

Liam's expression turned serious. "See what not minding your business got you into? You should just leave her alone and let her be."

Lucinda knew exactly who he was referring to , Angelina.

Liam's words were laced with a hint of warning, his eyes locked on hers for a moment before he turned away.

He put his headphones back on, his hand slipping into his pocket as he walked away

She watched him go. Maybe she had misjudged him, or at least, maybe there was more to him than she initially thought. But Alex and Ethan? They were still a different story altogether - complete pains in the ass.

Shaking off the thoughts, Lucinda managed to stand up, her ankle still throbbing slightly. She took a deep breath and made her way back to the school

~~~~~

(At the school cafeteria)

In the bustling school cafeteria, the aroma of various foods filled the air as students chatted and laughed while eating.

Lucinda joined the queue, taking a tray and waiting her turn. When she reached the front, she was served a steaming hot meal. The last person in the row, a tall and charming guy with his apron who had caught the attention of several admiring girls, added an extra sausage to her plate. Lucinda smiled and mouthed a silent "thank you" before walking away.

Scanning the crowded room for a place to sit, Lucinda spotted Xena, but her table was already packed with other students.

She looked around again and noticed Angelina sitting alone, her eyes fixed on her food.

Lucinda wondered how Angelina had managed to return to school, but didn't dwell on it. Instead, she decided to join Angelina, gently placing her tray on the table.

Angelina looked up, her expression unreadable, but Lucinda didn't try to strike up a conversation. They ate in silence, the only sound the clinking of utensils on their plates.

Angelina broke the silence, "There are other places to sit, you know." She said and didn't even glance at Lucinda, her eyes fixed on her food.

"And I chose to sit here."Lucinda shrugged, her tone nonchalant.

Angelina's expression turned icy. "You sitting here doesn't mean we're friends, and I don't want to have anything to do with you." Her voice was firm, her words laced with a hint of venom.

Lucinda sighed, her shoulders rising in a gentle shrug. "Did I say anything? If you don't want to be friends, then fine. I'm just here to eat, so ignore me like I'm not even here." She spoke calmly, her eyes fixed on her own food.

Angelina's gaze flickered, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "You just make me lose my appetite," she said, standing up abruptly, her tray clattering slightly as she lifted it.

"Suit yourself." Lucinda said as she watched Angelina walked away, her thoughts whirling with questions. Why was Angelina so hostile? What was she hiding? Lucinda remembered the scar she saw in the bathroom, and the way Angelina had jumped over the fence, disappearing into the unknown. She must be going through something tough, Lucinda thought, but pushed the thoughts aside, choosing to remain detached.

~~~

After lunch, Xena approached Lucinda, who was gingerly leaping on one foot. "Are you okay?" Xena asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

Lucinda glanced down at her ankle, "Just sprained my ankle, that's all," she replied, trying to downplay the injury.

Xena's eyes widened with sympathy. "You should get it treated, how about we go to..." she began, but Lucinda cut her off.

"It's been treated already," Lucinda said quickly, not wanting to reveal Liam's involvement.

Xena's curiosity was piqued. "By who?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.

Lucinda hesitated, unsure how to respond. She didn't want to mention Liam's name, knowing Xena's crush on him. She didn't want to risk jeopardizing their friendship or sparking unnecessary drama. "Me... I treated it myself," Lucinda said finally, trying to sound nonchalant.

Xena smiled, her expression skeptical. "But you should still get it treated," she said, her tone gentle but firm.

Lucinda reassured her, "Trust me, I'm okay." She hoped Xena would drop the subject, not wanting to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding her injury.

Xena handed Lucinda a ticket. "I met the principal, and she asked me to give you this," she said.

Lucinda took the ticket, examining it. "What's this?" she asked.

"It's a welcoming ceremony ticket for tomorrow, for new students" Xena replied.

Lucinda nodded, tucking the ticket into her pocket. "Okay, thanks."

Xena smiled. "And can I get your number? I want to add you to the school's general group chat and the project group chat."

Lucinda shared her number, and they both smiled as they walked together, enjoying the warm sunshine.

"So, what's the deal with Ethan, Alex, and Liam? When I arrived late to my first class, the teacher was strict, but when they showed up late, she didn't say a word." Lucinda asked

"They're like family. Their parents are best friends from childhood, and they own the largest shares of the school, contributing to its development." Xena replied

"Oh, that explains it."

Xena nodded. "Yeah, they're all heirs to their parents' company."

Lucinda raised an eyebrow. "But it seems like you have some kind of influence over them, or something."

Xena smiled enigmatically. "Maybe they just can't resist my charm, or maybe I hold a key to a door they don't want anyone to know about." Her words were cryptic, leaving Lucinda puzzled.

Xena's curiosity got the better of her. "So, how about you? Are you an only child?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.

Lucinda shook her head, her ponytail swaying gently. "No, I have an older brother," she replied, a hint of a smile on her face.

Just then, Angelina walked by, her eyes fixed on some point ahead. Xena's gaze followed her, her expression thoughtful. "She seems a little bit off," Xena said, her voice low.

Lucinda glanced back at Angelina, who was now several feet away. "Yeah, I guess," she whispered

There was something about Angelina that didn't quite add up, but Lucinda couldn't quite put her finger on it.

~~~

A/N: The next chapter will start in an omniscient POV but will switch to Lucinda's POV later in the chapter.

Enjoy reading!

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