LAW OF ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 16 : FRIENDS

"No cheese, thanks," I say to the lunch lady as she serves me a plate of spaghetti bolognese.

"You can take a soda can if you want." She points out with a gentle smile, while I stare dubiously at my tray.

I guess today is a 'special' day, seeing as we're treated with sodas and decent food. Though that spaghetti doesn't really make my mouth water, set in the center of my plate like a big pile of... no! I'd better not compare it if I want to keep some appetite!

I nod, thanking the lunch lady, before taking my tray and following the line leading to the catering hall. I'm praying to find a free table in a quiet corner because today I'm eating alone. Lisa and Judy haven't waited for me, since I've had class of Literature optional like every Monday, and I've finished classes an hour later than them. So, once again, I end up all by myself. Something kinda dreaded in the jungle of high school because it means you're a loner, a loser... and you become an easy prey for the bullies. Though I'm used to it; that's how I've spent most of my lunches these previous years. Like in the wilderness, the key is to stay unnoticed, not draw any attention.

WHAM!!

Just when I enter the catering room, I bump into someone, making my heap of spaghetti collide with my shirt and my heart stop. Here goes the 'staying unnoticed'! I keep my eyes shut, not even daring to look at all the eyes that must be on me.

"Watch out where you're going, loser!"

A voice like nails on a chalkboard restarts my heart rate in a loud shudder, and I open my eyes to meet the face I've already guessed from the unmistakable voice of my nightmares: Olivia, one of the Queen Bitches, like I call them. They're cheerleaders who think they run the world just because they chant three rhymes in mini-skirts at the football matches, though they already run the school, and right now it's worse than if I had run into the lions' den; it is the hyenas' herd.

As any weak prey would do, I start trembling, wondering how I will end up being eaten and praying for a miracle.

"Sorry," I mumble, even if we both know it's not my fault. I've checked, and there has been no one when I've entered. She has clearly done it on purpose, and seeing her sneer, it confirms my hypothesis.

"Oh! Look what we have here!" She arches one of her perfectly painted eyebrows, looking down on me and then at my stained shirt.

I swallow the lump she creates in my throat with just one gaze, and I try to bypass her to avoid more drama. But it isn't as easy: I'm her prey and she won't let me go, so she stops me, stepping in front of me.

"Where do you think you are going?!" She snaps.

"Er... eating..." I reply quietly, my burning cheeks not helping when all I want is to become invisible.

She sneers, her eyes shooting daggers. "Oh! You think you're witty?! The loser talks to two popular boys and she thinks she's someone!"

I widen my eyes. Is she talking about... Alex and... Moose?! How does she even know I've talked to them?! Moose has talked to me only once at school, not even five minutes, and Alex... well, we've drawn closer, but it's because we work on our project, and most of the time we're only the two of us.

"But you're nothing to them! You're a nerd, they just use you to get good grades, or maybe... they took pity on you..." She mockingly pouts. "What do you think?! Do you really think they can be interested in a girl like you?!" she goes on, wrinkling her nose. "You're nothing to them!" she repeats with a sadistic smile as if to make sure the words are sinking deep enough to mark me.