Break time had a different feel these days. Angel sat at the familiar table with Mimi, Kelly V, and Juliet, their conversations bouncing from funny teachers to who had the most boring classes. Karen, Angel's school daughter, hovered nearby, clutching a tray.
"School mother, please can I join you?" she asked with hopeful eyes.
Angel raised a brow, playfully. "Karen, don't you have people in your class?"
Karen puffed her cheeks. "They're always forming. And they don't let juniors sit with them."
Angel scooted over, and Karen beamed, settling in.
Victor passed by with Jayden and the rest of their crew. Angel didn't look up, but she felt his gaze. Moments later, he circled back with a bottle of water and dropped it in front of her.
"You forgot to get one," he said, then turned to leave before she could answer.
Angel blinked. "I didn't ask for that."
Kelly V leaned in, smirking. "He's trying. That's his way."
Angel turned to her. "Are you two really twins? Why are you so different?"
Kelly V grinned. "Because I got all the personality and he got all the hair gel."
The table burst into laughter. Even Angel cracked a small smile.
Later, at the sports field, the school buzzed with Friday Spirit—a tradition of short-break inter-house matches. Angel's group wasn't in the game, but they stood at the sidelines, cheering and chatting.
Mimi and Kelly V were discussing who had the most dramatic fall during the last dodgeball game, when Jayden came jogging toward them.
Mimi tensed but stayed cool.
"Jayden's here," Kelly whispered.
Mimi folded her arms and said loudly, "Some people think they're fast because they run from actual conversations."
Jayden raised a brow. "Was that for me?"
"Do you see anyone else running from conversations?" she replied sweetly.
The group laughed as Jayden blinked and laughed too, clearly unsure if she was flirting or threatening him.
On the other side of the field, Victor nudged Kelly V.
"Why is Angel always so cold?"
Kelly V chewed her gum and replied, "Maybe because she has standards. Or maybe because she doesn't pretend like you."
Victor scoffed. "You're supposed to defend me."
"She's my friend. Try again."
As the laughter died down and the game ended, Angel sat watching Juliet talk animatedly with Hannah, another girl from their year. Juliet had softened, even smiled genuinely.
Angel's phone buzzed.
A new message.
From Juliet.
"You've got people now. That's good. Let's hope they don't leave like the others."
Angel's heart skipped.
She looked at Juliet across the field. Juliet met her gaze, unreadable.
That message wasn't a joke.
There was a history somewhere. A connection. Or a secret.
Something that hadn't surfaced yet.
And Angel knew—it was only a matter of time.