LPS High School AU

Sweet Pepper

Zoe, Penny Ling, Pepper and Minka were seated in their usual lunch table, waiting for the guys. In the meantime, they had a conversation going on.

"So Digby told me to meet him by his locker after school!" Zoe had happily exclaimed to the group.

"Ooh! That's wonderful, Zoe!" Penny Ling clapped her hands together, giggling. Minka grinned at their enthusiasm.

"That's awesome! I wonder what he wants?" She asked.

"I'm not entirely sure...but seeing him is satisfying enough for me!" Zoe let out a lovesick sigh as she clutched her heart, obviously excited to see the guy she had fallen for.

Pepper smirked at her friend's excitement. "You sure about that?" Zoe looked up and turned to face her bet friend.

"Honestly, darling!" Zoe retorted, "you don't know what true love feels like!" She huffed.

"Well I mean...I don't think they do either..." Pepper added.

"She's right, Zoe." Penny Ling chuckled.

"I guess it's different between all of us." Minka sheepishly grinned.

"See?" Pepper smirked.

"Well either way, I can feel that Digby is the one for me!" Zoe crossed her arms and smiled.

Penny's gaze soon turned away from the table and noticed Russell, Sunil and Vinnie. They were already heading their direction. However, they seemed to be talking to another student. A male in fact. She's never seen before. They seemed to be deep in conversation.

"Oh look!" Penny Ling exclaimed to the girls, who halted their conversation and looked at their friend, "looks like they made a new friend?"

"Ooh! That's the new kid!" Minka grinned.

"Oh? There's a new student? Why was I not aware of this?" Zoe asked in surprise.

"Do you know him, Minka?" Penny Ling asked.

"Well, Russell said that he was from Europe!"

"Europe? Fascinating..." Zoe chuckled.

Soon, the guys arrived.

"Hey guys!" Russell greeted.

"I apologize for our late arrival, but as you can see, we're showing this new student around!" Sunil added.

"What they said." Vinnie grinned.

"Well if you don't mind, we'd like to meet this 'new kid.'" Zoe chuckled.

"Gladly." Russell gestured for him to come up. The boy stepped up, smiling. Pepper perked up from her food to face the new presence. He had gorgeous black hair with blue-green eyes that seemed to correlate with each other. He also had a red scarf wrapped around him. He was really attractive.

"Hello!" The boy greeted with a thick French accent. "I am referred to by many as Captain Cuddles. And as these fine gentlemen had previously stated, I am indeed new to your community." He smiled.

Russell gestured to each of his friends, "This is Zoe."

"Charmed." Zoe smiled.

"And this is Penny Ling."

"It's a pleasure to meet you!" Penny Ling giggled.

"Over here is Minka."

"Hi!" Minka grinned.

"And of course, Pepper!"

However, Pepper said nothing, for she was staring into the eyes of Captain Cuddles. Apparently he was starting back at her. The two had locked their eyes into each other and stared for what seemed like a long time, as if the world had stopped for this moment. As if this were a romantic movie scene, a song began to play in her head:

In your eyes the blue skies are calling your name...

Blue-green staring into rosy pink, Captain Cuddled smiled.

"Bonjour!"

The sound of his voice immediately startled Pepper, who shook her head immensely. He was still smiling at her. Her cheeks began to heat up.

What am I supposed to say?!

Pepper stood up, nervously. She was about to greet him back, but her stupid instinct had to kick in at the moment!

She punched his arm.

"Ow!" The boy yelped and gripped his arm.

The others looked really shock. They all turned to Pepper and didn't say a word. Pepper lightly gasped, horrified at what she had just done.

Now what?!

"I-I...." She gulped, not knowing what to say. She tensed up at the eye contact being made at her. Like before, she did the first thing that came to mind...

Pepper got ahold of her backpack and ran out of the cafeteria.

"Pepper wait!" Minka called out, but she was already out of sight. Russell quickly turned to the boy.

"Captain Cuddles I am truly sorry! I don't know what got into her I-"

"My...she certainly is a fascinating one..."

"Yes I know that but-wait what?..." Russell asked in surprise. The others looked shocked as well.

"Uh...shouldn't you be mad at the fact that she just punched your arm?" Sunil asked.

"Yeah! Knowing Pepper, she throws pretty mean punches." Vinnie sheepishly grinned.

"Oh I am not mad!" Captain Cuddles reassured them. His face formed a smile.

"In fact, I am now curious about this Pepper. She is certainly an interesting girl."

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