The Troubled Ones | ✔

Chapter 5. Unraveling

[a/n]: urgh. please tell me honestly if the ending of this ch. is okay.

Chapter 5. Unraveling

                The worst feeling in the world is probably being rejected; but in this case, I would say the worst feeling is to have your entire school hear about the dreaded rumor that got you expelled because of two idiots who think they rule the world. As of this moment, I can officially say that I have never been more self-conscious in my entire life, because just as I walk into the school cafeteria, most of the students go into hushed whispers as they share glances here and there.

I sigh, wishing Aspen had second lunch with me instead of first period lunch.

It's been three days since the fiasco with Kade and Jasper. I told Aspen about Kade and Jasmine, my old foes, but decided to leave out the part of my story that included Jasper. 

 I take a deep breath, shaking off my thoughts, and trot towards the lunch line with a tray in hand and cash in the other. 

"Hey, hun, what can I get you?" the lunch lady, Miss Lansen, smiles.

"I think I will just have one of the small cartons of milk, a salad, and that's it." I smile and she nods, grabbing my order and placing it over onto my tray as I hand her my money.

"Thank you, dear." she nods once and I leave the lunch line and turn around to observe the lunch tables that are filled.

I ponder on whether or not I should just eat out in the school hall like some kids do, or go sit by someone. Thinking that being more outgoing and social is the best thing to do, I head straight for a somewhat available table where three guys and two girls sit at.

"Is this seat-" I begin to ask until one of the girls slams her purse down on the chair.

"This seat is taken, sorry!" she tilts her head with a fake smile.

"Oh, come on, Noelle, let her sit down." one of the boys says with a lop-sided grin.

"Noelle" rolls her eyes and moves her purse angrily while pushing the chair away from her own in the process. I hesitantly sit down and place my lunch tray on the table, feeling awkward about being here.

"I'm Jason," the boy who allowed me to sit down greets me from across the table and I give him a small smile in return.

Jason points to the guy on his left, "this is Matt," and then Jason points to the guy on his right, "and this is Alec."

"Hi," I say to them all and they nod in response as they chow down on their food like cavemen.

"I'm Julia and this is Noelle." Julia says as she sits on the other side of Noelle and I sit on the left side of Noelle.

"Hi," I smile at them all just as I did with the guys sitting across from us.

"Isn't your name Aria, or something?" Alec speaks up and I swallow visibly.

Now that practically the entire school has heard about me and my tricky situation at my old school, it won't be easy to give them all a fake name now that they know who I am. Unless this small group I am sitting with doesn't know the full story about my old school and what I got framed for and just think I got expelled or moved schools.

"Aria is a beautiful name." Jason comments with a smile and Noelle kicks his leg under the table and he winces.

So I am guessing they're dating or something.

"So.. how do you know my name?" I ask hesitantly, trying to figure out if they know about me.

"We heard some people talking that you moved schools because your parents went to jail and you live with your grandma now." Matt says.