Lady Harmonia's Academy for Distinguished Young Women

Chapter 30: Lunch

Outside the dining hall, Ethan, Tyler, and Jace lingered, waiting by the towering marble columns that framed the entrance. The building was as grand as anything they had seen in Lady Harmonia's Academy so far—ornate chandeliers hung from high ceilings, casting soft light across the gleaming floors, while the smell of fresh bread and rich sauces drifted through the air, teasing their empty stomachs.

Jace leaned against one of the columns, glancing down the hallway, but there was still no sign of Nate. "Where is he? I thought he was right behind us after class."

Ethan, still visibly uncomfortable in his uniform, shifted from one foot to the other. "Maybe he got caught up with something? I mean, he's been taking this whole thing pretty seriously. Probably lost track of time."

Tyler, arms crossed and smirking, raised an eyebrow. "Knowing Nate, he's probably networking or something. Already making friends with the fashion girls."

They waited a few more minutes, but Nate still didn't appear. Eventually, Tyler rolled his eyes, uncrossing his arms. "Well, I don't know about you two, but I'm starving. Let's head in and find him."

As they entered the dining hall, the grandeur of the space seemed to close in around Jace, Tyler, and Ethan. The air was filled with the soft hum of conversation, the clinking of silverware, and the rich smell of freshly prepared food. The boys walked quietly, their eyes scanning the tables filled with girls, all chatting animatedly and moving with an effortless grace that felt miles away from their own awkwardness.

It didn't take long to spot Nate. He was at a table near the center of the room, surrounded by a group of girls, and to their surprise, he was in the middle of an animated conversation. They could hear his laugh, light and easy, mixing with the girls'. He sat comfortably, relaxed in a way that seemed foreign to the rest of them.

Jace paused, watching the scene with a mix of curiosity and something else—something that felt like relief, maybe. Nate caught their eye, waving briefly, but he didn't get up. Instead, he continued talking to the group of girls as though he'd been friends with them for years.

Ethan's face hardened immediately, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "Are you kidding me? He's just... sitting there like everything's fine?"

Tyler shrugged, glancing over at Nate but showing little concern. "Looks like he's making friends. Good for him, I guess."

Jace shifted uneasily, trying to find the right words. "I mean, maybe he's just trying to... blend in? He's good with people. You know how Nate is."

But Ethan wasn't having it. His face flushed with frustration, and he turned away from Nate's table, muttering under his breath. "We're supposed to be sticking together, not cozying up to them like it's some kind of social club."

Jace sighed, feeling the tension between them. He glanced at Nate again, who was smiling and gesturing as he spoke, the girls around him nodding and laughing along. It didn't look like betrayal to Jace—Nate had always been able to fit in wherever he went, but Ethan clearly saw it differently.

"I get it, Ethan," Jace said, his voice low and measured. "But Nate's just... doing what he does. He's making friends. It doesn't mean he's ditching us."

Ethan scoffed, shaking his head. "It feels like it."

Tyler, who had been scanning the room, leaned against the nearest table and crossed his arms. "Yeah, well, if he's gonna be the social butterfly, that's his thing. I'm not about to lose sleep over it."

Jace looked at Ethan, trying to soften the edge in his voice. "He'll come around. We'll talk to him later. Let's just... sit down and eat."

They found an empty table off to the side, away from the center of the room where Nate was still chatting with the girls. As they sat down, the difference in atmosphere hit them immediately. The energy at Nate's table was lively, filled with laughter and conversation, while theirs was quiet, isolated.