WHO AM I

UNIVITED GUESTS

Lila's heart raced as the tall, dark-haired figure stepped into the room, instantly drawing everyone's attention. He scanned the crowd, and Lila felt a mix of excitement and anxiety ripple through her. This was Jason—the guy she had heard whispers about, a former student known for his charm and a bit of a reputation that had made waves in the school.

"What's he doing here?" Lila whispered to Noah, who stood beside her, his expression darkening.

"I have no idea," Noah replied, his voice low. "But something tells me this isn't just a social visit."

Renzo, oblivious to the tension, bounded over to Jason with a grin. "Hey, man! Glad you could join the party! We're in the middle of a pizza showdown!"

Jason smiled, but there was something unsettling about it. "Thanks, Renzo. I heard there was a pizza party, and I couldn't resist. Plus, I have something important to discuss."

The crowd murmured, curiosity piqued. Lila exchanged glances with Kira and Phillip, who looked equally intrigued.

"Okay, this is weird," Kira said, leaning closer to Lila. "What do you think he wants?"

"I don't know, but it can't be good," Lila replied, her heart pounding.

Jason took a step closer, his eyes locking onto Lila's. "Lila, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Lila swallowed hard. "Uh, sure?" She glanced at Noah, who looked tense but nodded, encouraging her to go.

As she walked over to where Jason stood, the rest of the group watched, anticipation hanging in the air.

"Listen, I know this is a little unexpected," Jason started, his tone serious. "But I've been hearing some things about you, and I think it's time you know the truth."

"The truth about what?" Lila asked, crossing her arms defensively.

"About your friend, Eli," Jason replied, lowering his voice. "There's more to him than meets the eye. I've seen things that could change everything."

Lila frowned, confusion clouding her thoughts. "What do you mean?"

Before Jason could respond, Phillip sauntered over, his mouth full of pizza. "Whoa, dramatic! Are we breaking out the popcorn for this conversation or what?"

"Phillip, this is serious," Lila said, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her.

"Yeah, man! Let's keep the pizza vibes going!" Eric added, trying to lighten the mood.

Jason ignored their comments, focusing solely on Lila. "I'm serious. Eli has been involved in some stuff that could get him in trouble. You need to be careful."

Lila's heart raced at the mention of Eli's name. "What kind of trouble?"

"Let's just say he's been caught up in some things that could put him on the radar," Jason said, his voice low. "You need to keep your distance, Lila. Trust me on this."

At that moment, Noah stepped forward, his protectiveness kicking in. "What do you know about Eli, and how do we know you're not just stirring the pot?"

Jason met Noah's gaze head-on, a flicker of challenge in his eyes. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm trying to protect Lila. If you care about her, you'll listen."

Lila felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her. Was Jason right? Did she need to be worried about Eli? But then again, why would Jason suddenly show up after all this time, claiming to be the guardian of truth?

"Can we take this somewhere private?" she asked, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of the moment.

"Fine. Let's go outside," Jason replied, gesturing toward the door.

"Wait, I'm coming too!" Noah said, but Lila shook her head.

"No. I need to handle this myself," she insisted, her voice firm. "I'll be fine."

As Lila stepped outside with Jason, she glanced back at Noah, whose expression was filled with concern. She took a deep breath, determined to find out what Jason had to say, but a nagging feeling tugged at her gut.

"Alright, what's going on?" Lila asked once they were outside, leaning against the cool brick wall of the school.

Jason ran a hand through his hair, visibly torn. "Look, I know Eli seems like a good guy, but I've seen things that could ruin him. I'm not here to make trouble; I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Why should I believe you?" Lila shot back, feeling defensive. "You were never around when I needed friends. Why now?"

"I'm here now, aren't I?" Jason replied, his voice softening. "I've changed. Just promise me you'll keep your guard up."

Before she could respond, Jason turned to leave. "Just think about it, Lila. You deserve to know the truth."

As he walked away, Lila felt a swirl of confusion and frustration. She turned back to the party, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her.

Noah caught her eye as she reentered the room, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. "What did he say?"

Lila hesitated, feeling the tension in the air. "He's... worried about Eli."

"Worried? Why?" Noah pressed, his eyes narrowing.

"He claims Eli's involved in something dangerous, but I don't know if I can trust him," Lila said, her voice trembling slightly.

"Well, if he's a threat to you or Eli, we'll figure it out together," Noah said firmly, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, offering her comfort amidst the chaos.

Just then, a loud crash echoed from the pizza table, where Kira had accidentally knocked over an entire tray of pizza, sending slices flying everywhere. Laughter erupted, and the tension in the room broke.

"Guess we'll need more pizza!" Kira exclaimed, trying to salvage what she could, her face turning bright red.

Lila couldn't help but laugh, the ridiculousness of the situation pulling her back from the brink of anxiety. "Just when you think it can't get any crazier, right?"

"Welcome to high school," Noah grinned, leaning closer. "Where chaos reigns supreme, and pizza is the real MVP!" 

With new tensions and unexpected truths, Lila's world is about to get even more complicated. Stay tuned for the next chapter!