Lily's pov
After I stormed out of the classroom, I fully expected Avelyn to follow me, maybe beg me or something. But nah, she didn't even leave the classroom. I had to go back to check on her and thank god I did cause… There she was hugging Zane! Of course, my blood boiled instantly. I didn't stick around for that nonsense. I turned on my heel and stormed straight to the cafeteria.
Stress eating was the only thing that could fix this mess. I grabbed everything I could find….fries, chips, cookies, candy, soda, and started devouring it like a mad person. People were staring, but honestly, I didn't care. "What? Never seen a pretty girl eat?" I snapped, glaring at everyone before diving back into my food.
Maybe I'm going mad but who won't? When the girl you called your best friend seduced the man you've loved for over 5years! Which she knew how much you do.
"Can we sit here?" A girl's voice broke through my food coma and I looked up. Two couples were standing there, looking all polished and annoying, like they belonged on some magazine cover.
"Yeah sure, I don't own the place remember," I said, not even pausing, then went back to shoving food in my mouth.
"I'm Mirabel and this is my best friend, Karl," the girl said, smiling like she expected me to be impressed.
"Nice to meet you, lots," I replied, sarcasm dripping from every word. "You guys already know my name anyway, so I guess that's why you're here to sit with me." I leaned back, giving them a smug little grin before taking another bite.
Mirabel sat down beside me like she had been waiting for that moment her whole life. Karl dropped into the seat across from me and kept staring at me like I was some art piece or whatever. I pretended not to notice because please, I had food to finish and a big fat betrayal to process.
Mirabel leaned in a little. "So… you and Avelyn are close right?"
I almost choked on a fry. "Yeah, something like that." I kept chewing because I was not about to start crying in front of these two.
She nodded slowly, pretending to care. "You looked upset earlier."
"Did I?" I said, raising my brow. "Thought I hid it well."
Karl laughed a little under his breath like I had just said the funniest thing on earth. Mirabel shot him a look but he didn't care. His eyes stayed on me. I could feel it even when I wasn't looking at him.
Mirabel smiled again, a bit too sweetly. "We were thinking maybe we could all hang out sometime. You seem cool."
"Yeah I know," I said and reached for another cookie. "But sure, whatever. I don't mind."
Karl leaned forward a bit. "So, Lilian… what do you like to do? You seem interesting."
I shrugged. "I don't know. I just exist. I'm not deep like that."
He kept smiling at me like he wanted to say more but didn't know how. It was weird but not in a bad way. Just confusing. I wasn't used to boys actually looking at me like that. Not when I was busy fighting for my sanity because my bestie was out there hugging my man.
Mirabel tried again. "We could show you around after school. There are some cool spots."
I wiped my hand on a napkin and looked at her. "We'll see. Let my mood decide."
She laughed like I had said something adorable. Karl kept staring like he wanted to memorise my face. And me? I just kept eating because honestly food was the only loyal thing around me today.
Someone walking past our table suddenly stopped and smiled at Karl and Mirabel. "You two look good together. Cute couple."
I looked at them and nodded. "Wait, so you guys are together? Thought so. You look good together."
Karl's eyes went wide. "What! No… no… we aren't a couple. Besties. Besties. That's what we are."
He sounded nervous, like he was trying really hard to convince me for some reason.
"Oops. Okay." I shrugged and turned to Mirabel who had been weirdly quiet since the comment.
"Hey, something wrong?" I asked.
She forced a tiny smile. "No, no I'm fine. It's just… I've got to go. See you some other time."
She grabbed her backpack like the building was collapsing and rushed out of the cafeteria.
I blinked after her. "Is something wrong with her?" I asked Karl, honestly confused.
"I'm sure she had something urgent that came up," he said with a shrug like it was normal.
I honestly felt like he should have gone after her but I didn't say anything. I just faced my food because my food doesn't stress me.
He cleared his throat. "We have this uh… cabin welcome back to school party at the back of the school. Do you… wanna come?"
Bro said it like I was going to bite him.
To be honest, this is the first time anyone has ever asked me to something like that. In my old school, nobody invited a nerd to parties. And there's no way I'm going home early to face Donna. Plus free drinks and a chance to be far away from snake Avelyn? Yes please.
"Of course, yeah!" I said without thinking too much.
He smiled like he was relieved. "I'll come by your dorm to pick you up at 5:00."
"Yeah, 5:00 it is," I replied.
He walked off and I sat there alone with my mountain of snacks, feeling weirdly excited and annoyed at the same time. Honestly the perfect Lilian combination.
….. Mirabel's pov…..
I and Karl has been referred to as a couple since middle school and we didn't for once deny or agree to it, we just love people's assumptions cause it made us their center of attention and we got popular. I've had a thing for Karl since like forever and I thought the feeling was mutual not until I heard him blatantly denying what he'd never bother to clear, it just seems he's trying hard to present himself to Lilian and I couldn't take it anymore so I left them. I should have known something was fishy when he asked us to go befriend the new girl, we've never had to befriend anyone, they had always come wanting friendships with us!
I don't even know why I ran out of the cafeteria like that. It wasn't that deep, but it felt deep in the moment. My chest felt tight and my head was just flooded with thoughts I didn't want to think. Like, since when does Karl act nervous around a girl? Since when does he stutter? Since when does he look… interested?
And of all people, Lilian? The new girl? The girl who just walked in today acting like she's the main character of some movie? I barely know her but something about her annoys me. Maybe it's the way she talks. Or the way she carries herself like she's above everyone. Or maybe it's just because Karl suddenly can't stop looking at her.
I got outside the cafeteria and leaned on the wall, trying to breathe normally. I didn't want anyone to see me looking bothered. I hate looking bothered. I'm supposed to be the girl everyone stares at, not the one staring after some boy.
I kept replaying how Karl denied the couple thing. He didn't just correct it. He practically jumped. Like he needed to impress her. As if being linked to me was suddenly embarrassing. That part hit harder than I expected.
I should've gone back to ask him what the hell that was about, but my pride wouldn't let me. So instead I just paced around the hallway pretending like I was looking for something. Anyone who walked past probably thought I was on the phone or waiting for someone. Good. Let them think whatever.
The truth is, I'm confused. I don't know if I'm angry or jealous or just irritated because something is changing and I don't understand why. Karl and I have been the same for years. Same seats. Same jokes. Same routine. And now one girl shows up and everything feels different.
I hate changes I don't control. And right now, everything feels like it's slipping out of my hands.
So yeah, I walked out. I needed space. I needed air. I needed to think. And I needed to figure out what exactly I'm feeling and why I even care this much.
But one thing I know for sure is this: if Lilian thinks she can walk in and take what's mine without even blinking, she's got another thing coming.
I didn't see Karl at the end of the classes we had for the day so I decided to go to the male's dorm to go checkup on him, he's not one to miss classes without any tangible reason.
I got to his door and knocked " Karl, Karl are you in there"
"Come in Mira, the door's unlocked " I heard him say from the other end of the door. I opened the door to see an unorganized room, with clothes scattered on the bed.
"Mira, what do you think about this shirt?" he asked holding a white silk shirt over his chest.
"What's the occasion, babe?" I asked cause I've never seen Karl so worked up about dressing up unless he's trying to impress someone which is often the teacher or principal during some school project.
" the party Mira don't tell me you forgot!" he said clicking his tongue dramatically
"Of course not, Karl!, let me start going so I'll be dressed up when you come to pick me up" I said looking at the watch on my wrist for time and it was 4:00 already
" Sorry Mira, I've to pick up Lilian, I invited her and she doesn't know her way that much around here" he said feigning a disappointed look. Of course, Lilian! She's the one who made him so worked up on the cloth he's wearing to the party.
"No problem Karl, enjoy the party with your Lilian " I said storming out his room. I could hear his voice calling after me but I ran with tears threatening to fall off my eyes. What's this I'm feeling? I want it to go away, it hurts!