"You look good, girlfriend"
Lucas was the first to compliment me when I stepped back into the private, luxurious Salvatore cafeteria.
"Thank you, boyfriend."
He grinned at that.
"Those legs are really hot."
Zach winked and I chuckled.
I took slow steps forward.
Trenton just glanced and went back to his phone. I wonder what he always found so interesting in that device of his. And that cold demeanor, when will he ever melt all that iciness and just smile? He was a good looking guy, very attractive and a smile would make all those breathtaking handsomeness come to life.
"Thank you, Aaron. Though you did not need to do it. I could have managed until I got home."
"You're welcome. And you look good."
Was all he said, and from his eyes I could tell his compliment was genuine.
"No Salvatore would be found dead in a dirty wear, girlfriend."
"It's girlfriend now, Lucas?"
"Yes. I can switch at anytime though. Girlfriend today, sissy tomorrow. Depends on my mood. Today, I'm in the girlfriend zone."
I beamed, shaking my head at his weirdness.
"Alright, if that's what you want. To the dirty wear, it was just a stain."
"A big, ugly, stigmatizing stain."
"Stigmatizing?"
"Yes. You'd be known as the Salvatore who walk round campus wearing dirty clothes and a sticky hairdo. Don't you like your new look?"
"It's really refreshing to be in something new."
Turned out Aaron had asked for many clothes to be delivered and I make my choice. I had chosen a pair of jeans and a very expensive looking designer t-shirt. My heels were replaced with a pair of converse. An hair stylist had been called to wash my hair - I would never believe a spacious room to be in this cafeteria. On the door, it had read 'For Salvatore Emergency'. She had washed my hair, gave it a another wonderful style. All these happened following a quick shower, of course. I truly felt refreshed and smelled good again. No more killing my own nose with smells of what would have been lunch and juice.
"Good. Now let's go."
"I wish we could just skip this one and watch TV or just laze around until it's closing. Maybe we should."
Zach whined as he eyed Aaron. I realized they depended on him and his decision. They were close and behaved more like best friends than brothers, and there was this bond about them that no matter how hard you tried, you would be unable to break it. Could not be broken. They still understood their position and gave each one their deserved respect. And collectively, the three of them respected Aaron as the eldest and would not want to do anything to disappoint him. He was like their second father. I hope he would grant this request and let us stay here the rest of the day. I loved school and learning but today had taken unexpected turns and I needed to recover from them. Moreover, I was not sure I was ready to face or be in the same environment with Katelyn.
We all looked at him expectantly, except for Trenton who was staring at him blankly. I could not even tell if he was with the notion of skipping class and staying here till school ended or against it. His expression was just unreadable.
"Let's go to class."
Aaron announced.
Only Lucas and Zach groaned out loud.
I stifled mine and braced myself to go meet my new nemesis and her crazy group of bitchy friends.
Trenton still retained the impassive look and stood up. He was always the first to stand. I noticed they were not carrying their bags.
"Where are you bags?"
I looked at the three people who I knew might answer me, Trenton would not.
"We don't carry bags around."
Lucas was the one who had answered.
"So you guys don't carry your bags when you're going for lunch?"
"Exactly."
"What if they steal something?"
"Steal what? And who would dare steal from us?"
Zach had this confident, cocky expression. As though he was daring anyone to touch his things when he was not there.
"Why do you carry your bag? Keep it in your seat whenever you're coming for lunch."
Lucas said.
"Is it safe?"
"No one would steal anything from you, girlfriend. You're a Salvatore, no one can dare you to that extent."
"Except you just want to keep stressing yourself."
Zach commented.
"Just next time you're coming into the cafeteria, drop your things there in the class, no one would steal anything."
Aaron put in.
And leading the way, he walked out of the cafeteria. We dispatched to our classes. It was a bit difficult finding the way from the cafeteria to my class. I was almost regretting not allowing Lucas show me the way to my class, insisting that I was familiar with the many passages and lookalike doors. But after fifty minutes of finding myself in wrong hallways and intruding in classes, I finally found mine.
Proud of myself for finally figuring it out, I stood at the door to catch my breath. Thankfully, the lecturer was running late. I walked in and tried to stay away from my first seat. I was avoiding Katelyn and her friends. I had just found a spot that was quite hidden but still close enough to hear the lecturer and see they were teaching, something hit me. My stomach churned nervously. Hoping it was a random accident by a random student, I ignored and was about to go to my seat when it hit me again. I ignored and went to my new found seat.
"Well well, see who changed her clothes."
Katelyn and three of her friends walked up to me. I ignored them and tried to read up on the morning lecture they had made me lose concentration on.
"And we have a nerd."
I watched her chase the girl sitting before me out of her seat and took it.
I sighed. She was determined to bring me hell.
"So because you are a Salvatore, you think that changes anything? You think you can dine with the boys and I can't? That you get to be close to Aaron and steal him from me?"
She questioned.
I did not reply and I guess my lack of response was annoying her because the next thing she did made me gasp in shock.
She poured a jar of black ink on my new t-shirt.
Where in the hell did she get a jar of ink?