The sweater was ugly, I guess. And Cearra was a trend setter. "This bench is so uncomfortable. I can't believe you sit here in the winter too. Join our table in future." I laughed, "Do you think you'll join your table in future? I'm sorry you got kicked off. I should've asked Austin if we could bring your friends to the party." "Nah, girl, I'm excited you invited me. If they're going to get jealous about it, that's their problem. You're too nice for this system, honestly. F*ck 'em." "It was a fun night, wasn't it?" I smiled. "Epic. I still can't believe he has an underground lair. It's insane," she exclaimed, popping grapes in her mouth, "Totally insane. And I wasn't even the one who got a song written about me." "Oh, yeah," I sighed, putting my tray on the bleacher beside me. My empty burrito wrapper almost flew with the wind. "I can't believe it either. I didn't realize he felt that way." "What are you talking about? He asked you out on a date." "Yeah, but it's a no-pressure, getting-to-know-you kind of date. The song he wrote was a love song," I exhaled, feeling overwhelmed. I hadn't spoken candidly to anyone about this. There wasn't really anyone I could speak to. Lately, I've been going to Luke but...not about this. He was involved. Cearra stared at me with a horrified expression on her face, "Are you... are you actually hesitating? You do realize he's the hot, mysterious new boy with an amazing voice and guitar skills. Not to mention, he's been a total gentleman towards you." "When you put it like that, I sound crazy." "Yeah, you do. A date with Jake will be great," she laughed, and checked the notifications on her phone. When she put it down, she focused on me again, "OK. Spill. What's holding you back?" I took a deep breath. Do I admit it? Do I say it to her? Once I put it out into the universe, I can never take it back... "I have feelings for Luke." My revelation fell flat. She looked at me, "OK. Everyone does." "Right," I had to accept that, "Well, so do I and... and that's what's holding me back." Cearra replied, "I'll phrase it differently. I love BTS and I'm already married to Jimin in my mind, but I'm not going to stop dating people in reality." "Ok but I am talking about reality. Luke is at our school." "You think he actually likes you? How?" she quickly added, "No offence. I mean, he's like the most famous senior of all-" "I get it. That's not what I-" "They're both hot. Both brothers are smoking," she said. "It isn't about the looks. I enjoy our banter. Luke makes life fun, he's honest as hell and we click." "I've never heard anyone talk about him like that." I realized then that maybe Luke was also lonely... if most people treated him like a commodity. Maybe that's why we found each other. "I think he's changing," I admitted, "I really think he's starting to be more considerate." "Isn't that what every girl says? I can be the one to change him," she mocked a high pitch girl's voice, "He's the player but I own the game." I sighed, "I know. That's exactly what I'm thinking; there's no way he can change his ways. His reputation is infamous... but I can't help how I feel. And I can't ignore the man I've come to know." "No way," Cearra leaned towards me like this was the gossip of the century, "Are you saying he's told you he's into you?" "No," I answered, "But he's shown me." Cearra screamed. I was waiting for Jake to reply to my message. I had asked for time to talk. I needed to tell him. We were not going on any date. I didn't want to have this conversation in whispers during our English Lit class to hear his side in the lyrics of a song. As poetic and cute as those scenarios are, I want to be honest. I want to be truthful. And my fear of hurting his feelings... has clouded me from that. Have you had lunch? - Jake I received his message just as Cearra and I returned to the cafeteria to put our trays away. My burrito belly and myself were very full, but... I could do with seeing you. Something to brighten my day - Jake "He's here," Cearra alerted me. I looked around and saw the rustle in the cafeteria as focus shifted towards the group that had just walked in. Luke, Austin, Chad and Bianca. He's here. She was talking about Luke. "Cearra! Is that your new friend?" a girl's voice mocked us. It was Lexi, taunting us from the table where LUCKY always sat at. Julia was sitting in Cearra's seat, eating a salad. "You saying I can't have friends without your permission? Get outta here," Cearra flipped them off, before she warned Julia, "Don't get too comfortable in my chair. Recognize who put you there." Savage. Cearra grabbed me and we walked towards the door. I saw Jake getting his lunch and told Cearra I'd catch up with her later. Jake was chatting with a lady who worked in the cafeteria. He had a bottle of kombucha on his tray. "You're not going anywhere," Cearra chuckled. She pointed at Luke and then at Jake. Luke was walking directly towards his brother. He hadn't seen me. I could not believe this was about to happen. After the fight that erupted on their living room floor, I could only imagine what'll go down here - in the cafeteria, in front of our entire school. Luke. does. not. care. He faces up to situations. And he got to Jake before I did. "You. Let's talk." Jake turned to his brother, looking somewhat surprised but mostly unfazed. "About time. You've been avoiding me at home." "I haven't been home." Bianca swept in, "Let's take this outside, boys. Everyone's watching. No need to make a scene." "We can talk outside," Jake accepted and then riled Luke up, "You talk better with your fists anyway." "OK," I exhaled and took a step forward. But two hands planted themselves firmly on my shoulders and pulled me back. I looked up and found Chad glancing down at me in amusement. "Not you, Millie. You have a rep for turning these situations into mayhem." Boys gossip, huh? I didn't realize he knew. Chad looked up and nodded to Austin who was already on the other side of the dessert bar. Austin took it as his cue to intervene. He shoved the dessert bar forward and mowed it into them. Since the brothers were determined to take each other down in public, Austin had resorted to this to stop them. But the brothers had fast reactions, and pressed down on it, forcing the dessert counter to stop. I scrutinized the cakes to see if anything had flipped over... "What are you doing?!" Jake called out. Austin slid over the glass counter and replied, "I'm making a scene. Let's go before the principal comes in." The chef was already exiting the kitchen with a giant ladle in her hand. A man who worked at the cafeteria called the principal's office, swearing. The boys had no other options except to leave. And behind them, Chad, Bianca, Cearra and I followed.