Their Little Sunshine

[32] Lunch.

Third Person POV

The day went on without much fanfare. Kiara settled into the rhythm of the class, absorbing the material, not paying much heed to the whispers and stares. The other students seemed to relax as well, and by the time the bell rang for the last period before lunch, Kiara was starting to feel a little more at ease.

It was the English language—a subject Kiara didn't mind, though she was still adjusting to the rhythm of this new school. As Jake and Kiara walked into the classroom, Jake's friend Matteo was ahead of them chatting with Ethan.

"Man, I can't wait for this class," Ethan said, his voice light,

"Sophie's in the class today?" Jake asked, to which Ethan smirked, "Yes."

Matteo raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You got it bad, huh?"

Kiara couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Sophie, huh? Who's that?"

Jake gave her a knowing smile. "She's... something. One of my friends from school. Very confident. And a little flirt."

The moment they entered the classroom, Ethan's eyes immediately locked onto Sophie, who was already sitting near the back with her usual confident posture. Sophie was leaning back in her seat, looking relaxed as she scrolled through her phone. Ethan made his way over to Sophie with an easy stride, his smile widening as he approached. Sophie looked up just as he reached her, and her face lit up with a teasing grin.

Kiara stifled a smile as they took their seats just behind Sophie and Ethan. The two of them turned around shortly after, Sophie glancing at Kiara with a friendly curiosity.

"Hey," Sophie said, her tone light as she leaned on the back of her chair, her dark hair framing her sharp features. "Don't think I've met yet. I'm Sophie."

Kiara smiled slightly, "Kiara," she replied.

"Well, Kiara, welcome to the chaos," Sophie said with a quick smirk, her humor evident even in the simplest of remarks. "You related to him?" She tilted her head toward Jake with a knowing grin.

"Unfortunately, yeah," Kiara said, her voice tinged with mock exasperation.

Before Sophie could reply, the teacher walked in, making their attention shift slightly.

"So, I'll tell you what. If you ever need someone to show you the ropes here, I'm your girl. Not everyone is going to be as... chill as me though." She winked, before turning her attention to the teacher.

___

As the bell rang, signaling the lunch break, the classroom buzzed with activity. Students grabbed their bags and spilled into the hallway, and among them were Jake, Kiara, Ethan, and Matteo. The group walked together, their voices mingling with the chatter of others as they navigated the corridors. 

"So," Kiara asked, adjusting her bag on her shoulder, "where do you guys usually have lunch?" 

"Playground," Ethan replied casually, hands shoved into his pockets. "It's quiet, open, and away from the cafeteria chaos." 

Jake glanced at Kiara. "We can have lunch wherever you're comfortable, Kiara. If you want, we can check out the cafeteria. It's on the way to the playground anyway." 

Kiara shrugged, "I'm fine with whatever. " 

Jake nodded, smiling a little. "Alright, let's stop by the cafeteria first. If you like it, we'll stay there." 

The group turned a corner and entered the cafeteria, and Kiara slowed her steps as she took it all in. The space was massive, with high ceilings and sleek tables spread out across the room. Large windows let in streams of sunlight, giving the space an airy feel, but it was packed with students. Conversations overlapped in a chaotic symphony, and the sheer number of people made Kiara feel boxed in.