Cafeteria Trouble

'Weird fact number one about me: my name has been as unique as I can remember. I never asked where it came from or if it actually meant anything. In my mind, it was an insignificant detail. Why bother?'

Dead leaves fell from the trees outside.

The sound of the chalk scraping against the board had Szeina clutching the pen she was holding on tightly.

A few more minutes of the boring lecture and she will beg Granola to get her out of Alwreck High as soon as possible.

'Five.'

Szeina counted in her head.

'Four.'

The teacher, a man in his forties, squinted his eyes at the class. Round glasses sat on the bridge of his nose. His khaki pants matched the brownish hue of his irises.

'Three.'

Those same eyes eventually fell on Szeina.

'Two.'

The muscles around his mouth twitched. He clicked his tongue.

'One.'

Szeina's name would have come out of his lips if not for the ringing of the school bell.

It lasted for a good two minutes before Szeina could finally breathe.

Her ears could use a break from all the bothersome noises.

For some reason, her hearing was amplified. Everything would appear too loud.

Granola assured her that it was normal. Yet, Szeina knew it wasn't.

"Saved by the bell." She muttered and waited for everyone to leave the room.

Metal scraped both harshly and lightly against the tiled floor. Szeina silently watched the other students pile out using the front door and the back door.

When the last person left, the Professor turned to Szeina and raised a questioning eyebrow towards her.

"Thank you, Professor Carlos. That was a very informative class."

"Nonsense. It bore you out of your mind."

"Sorry."

"No worries. Shantel Academy, right?"

"Yes," Szeina replied softly. She wanted to run out of the room then.

"Forgive me for asking, Miss Clementine. You are in good hands here. Welcome to Alwreck High."

--

'With all the eyes cast on her like nets, she walked on like she was the main attraction on the set.'

The crowd was never her favorite, and the cafeteria was filled with it.

Forfeiting the packed lunch, Szeina promised Granola that she would try her best to mingle.

Upon seeing the place, though, her hunger left her in an instant.

After what happened at Shantel Academy, Szeina didn't enjoy coming to places with so many people.

But a promise is a promise.

For Szeina, a promise is a commitment. Hence, she tries her best to honor them.

Dragging her feet towards the stack of trays, she silently joined the small array of students forming a line.

Chicken. The faint smell of chicken wafted through her nose.

Chicken and some salad with broccoli were what they have for lunch.

It wasn't enticing. But Szeina could live with that. She's keeping her promise to Granola. That's what matters.

Tapping her foot in a slow rhythm, the commotion that broke out didn't register to her until the entire cafeteria fell into utter silence.

The sound of broken glass scrunched against the heel of a black ankle boot. The owner was a blonde head in a leather plaid skirt.

Two other girls stood beside her. The three of them were towering over a crying brunette whose eyesight had become nothing but a blur.

Without needing to ask what was going on, Szeina could picture out how the scene unfolding before her would end.

She shifted her gaze and tried to ignore the nagging in the back of her mind.

It wasn't her place to interfere. That was what a sane person should think and do.

Yet sanity was never a friend of hers.

"Why are you such a loser?"

Loser.

The word instantly elicited unwanted memories in Szeina's mind's eye. It had her clutching the side of the tray she was holding and biting down on her lower lip.

"Don't." She murmured, convincing herself to stay put.

Letting out a sigh, she knew there was no use in resisting what her conscience was pushing her to do.

Coming to a decision, she returned the tray and briskly walked right into the scene.

She'd surely have regrets later, but that was something she'd think about for later.

"I think that term would suit you better." Szeina commented. Her sudden intrusion caused the three girls to eye her up and down.

The blonde one flipped her hair and narrowed her eyes at Szeina.

"And who the hell are you?"

"I'm someone you do not want to cross and I happen to hate people who abuse others just to make themselves feel better."

"Is that so? Well, let me break it to you, whoever you think you are, people like me prefer someone like you to mind your own business."

Szeina clicked her tongue and smirked at the blonde-haired cocky princess.

"I'm actually giving you an easy way out of here, Miss I-own-the world. If I were you, I'd take it."

"Are you threatening me?"

Disappointed, Szeina was done playing nice. She let the hum of the cafeteria completely disappear as she tapped on what she called power of persuasion. The tingly sensation buzzed through her body.

It was time.

The rest of the people in the cafeteria disappeared in Szeina's peripheral vision. To her, there was only cocky princess and her two goons ready to pounce on her command.

Szeina's boots echoed in a silent rhythm while she walked towards cocky princess and whispered in her ears.

"You. Are. An..." she paused and lowered her tone. "Abomination."

Straightening her posture, Szeina looked at blonde-head and smiled upon seeing the arrogant demeanor leave her face and was replaced by a bewildered one.

"You better be careful. I don't like people crossing me." She warned, her voice clearly ringing in their ears.

With a snap of her fingers, Szeina smiled innocently at the blonde head and her minions.

"Was I threatening you?"

"N-no. I--" cocky princess glared at Szeina, realizing something happened to her but not knowing what to call it.

She pointed an accusatory finger towards her.

"I don't know what game you are playing, but we are far from being finished."

Fury fired in her eyes and she made sure that Szeina got her message before stomping away.

Szeina watched her and her minions head for the exit.

At the last minute, before walking out of the cafeteria's double doors, she turned to Szeina once more.

"Mark my words. You will regret this!" she shrieked.

After they all left, Szeina offered a hand to the subject of cocky princess and her minions bullying earlier.

She accepted it warily.

"I'm sorry about your glasses."

"T---" Szeina immediately shook her head. She didn't let her finish.

"Don't say it. If she or they ever try to bother you again, tell Principal Dawson. If she doesn't take action, tell your parents."

"Bu---" Szeina smiled warmly at the brunette, but took that as her cue to leave.

Eyes followed her as she left. Szeina was oblivious to the stares, though.

What was running through her mind was something entirely different.