Pastel Punk [Phan] ♡ HIATUS

Chapter Eight

❀ Chapter Eight ❀

Even though I didn't want to admit it, school was about seven thousand times as boring as hanging out with Phil and his crew.

However, I didn't have time to think about that, as I had a plan to carry out. A plan to save my innocence (and quite possibly my entry into university). A plan that would take courage, expertise, and being effortlessly slick.

It was all very ironic, really. I was proving my innocence because I was assumed guilty when I was really innocent the entire time. Lying about the truth. That totally makes sense, I thought flatly as I stared at the clock in my fourth period classroom. For each second that didn't tick by, I sunk lower in my chair, sighing exasperatedly.

After I had come back to school campus, I was relieved to find Mr. Albert was in the break room (or just some place that wasn't his classroom). Quicker than I had ever moved before, I bolted to my chair, grabbed my satchel and textbook, and ran towards the period I was assigned for that hour, whipping my head around paranoidly.

Back to the present. My stomach growled, breaking the professor's train of thought in his lecture and he paused, confusion laced on his face. My face grew warmer and I stared at my notebook, avoiding all judgemental looks and attempting to block out the scattered snickers coming from my classmates. Ring already, you stupid bell, I begged silently. I had a roast beef sandwich in my bag calling my name.

Finally, finally, the class bell rang. I zipped up my pencil pouch and tucked away my notes into my satchel, securing the loop in the front. I waited patiently for the people to clear out of my desk aisle before standing up, whispering a timid 'thank you' to my teacher, and left the classroom.

Successfully avoiding being shoved around by the teenagers cluttering the narrow hallways, I speed-walked down the corridors and made it to the lunch room with little to no difficulty.

I took my usual seat in the cafeteria, where Aubrey was already waiting for me. She was eating egg sushi expertly with chopsticks. I rolled my eyes and didn't hesitate to crack on her choice of meal.

"You know, you're not even Asian," I clicked my tongue, reaching for my sandwich.

"Maybe not, but you're an animal murderer," She fired back, raising her chin at my choice of meal. "You are going to eat an innocent creature just for the sake of your own wants. Have you no shame?"

Aubrey was a die-hard vegetarian ever since the beginning of 5th form. She considered going vegan, but she dubbed it "too extreme" and knew that animal by-products weren't harmful to the animals and would therefore be alright to eat. Personally, I couldn't live without meat in my diet, and roast beef and cheeseburgers were too heavenly to give up.

"What can I say? I love my meat," I rubbed my stomach contently as I swished my tongue over my lip, winking. Aubrey scowled, shoved my side lightly, and took another delicate bite of her lunch. I stared at her plate (or should I say, portable sushi tray). This girl went hardcore with her dining experience.

I scarfed down a huge bite of my sandwich, knowing full-well it was a larger taste than I should've bitten off, but it was too delicious to pass off. I was chewing aggressively, looking off into space, when I noticed Phil walk into the cafeteria. We met gazes, and he did one of those acknowledgement head nods my way.

Needless to say, I choked on my sandwich due to the fact I wasn't quite expecting said head nod.

Blushing several dark shades of red, I hacked up my sandwich and, grossly enough, coughed it into my napkin. I kept my eyes averted from Phil, who I could only assume was watching the entire charade unfold with a mixture of bemusement and confusion on his face.