Scorched Earth: A Revenge Romance

Chapter Six

4 Years Earlier

"Oh my god, Lyra, I wish you could have been there," Emily tells me from across the wooden table. "Felix Ludlow dressed up in a dinosaur costume and tackled the headmaster during his speech; it was wild," her eyes light up as she stifles a laugh behind her hand.

"I also heard that Victoria Prescott and Soren Montgomery broke up. At the picnic," Harper leans in closer, her voice low but betraying her amusement.

"They did. We all saw her run off crying," Emily nods enthusiastically.

I poke at a piece of chicken from my homemade lunch, half listening to their conversation. "Sounds like a lot went down. Sorry I missed it—family stuff, you know how it is."

"That's funny. Most of our families send us here because they can't wait to get rid of us," Harper says with a playful smirk, "But yours? They don't seem to want to let you go."

"I think that's just you, Harp, mine phone every weekend," Emily points out with a roll of her eyes.

Harper shoots her a death glare, and I have to look away to hide my giggle. We're in the dining hall today to escape the unusual cold snap gripping the Northeast. The deceptive late September sunshine streaming through the grand gothic-style windows warms the hall—almost making me forget the chill.

A chorus of excited chatter and bustling activity echoes around the dining hall. Every sound, from the scraping of wooden chair legs to the clatter of cutlery, reverberates off the high vaulted ceilings. Huddled around long wooden tables, students are absorbed in lively conversations, their voices rising and falling in irregular bursts. From their places on the walls, the stern portraits of the school's founders and notable alumni watch over the youthful banter. Their painted eyes hold haughty disapproval.

Suddenly, loud, spontaneous laughter punctuates the air, drawing my gaze to a corner of the hall. I spot Kian at the center of the group, a subtle smile dimpling his cheek as he claps one of his laughing friends on the back. My eyes sweep over the group, but Benji is nowhere to be seen. Maybe he isn't at school today.

Just as I resign myself to that thought, I catch sight of Benji strolling into the dining hall. Instead of heading towards his friends, he makes a beeline for our table. I offer him a welcome smile as he approaches, drawing the girls' attention.

"Why is Benji coming over here? Do you know him?" Emily asks curiously as she looks over her shoulder.

"Sort of? We met in my Media Studies class last week. "

"Remember when you used to have a crush on him in 9th grade, Em?" Harper remarks slyly.

"Keep your fucking voice down," Emily hisses as he approaches.

Our conversation dies as Benji settles himself beside me. "Hey. Missed you at the picnic this weekend."

"Hey. Yeah. Sorry, I couldn't make it. You know Harper and Emily, right?"

He tilts his head to them, giving them a lopsided grin, "For sure."

He turns his attention back to me, "You really should have come."

"The girls were just filling me in on that. Seems like I missed a lot."

"You also missed me winning you a prize from ring toss," He says with a smirk.

Emily and Harper exchange a curious glance while he fishes for something in his backpack.

"You didn't have to do that," I look away shyly, tucking a loose curl behind my ear.