By lunchtime, Maya had already memorized every crack in the school floor, mostly because she spent the entire morning looking down. Anything to avoid the stares. The curiosity. The whispers.
But whispers had a way of reaching her anyway.
"…that's her."
"The scholarship girl."
"The one Liam talked to."
"I heard he smiled at her."
"No, no, he leaned toward her."
Maya wanted to melt into the ground.
The cafeteria was huge more like a hotel dining hall. Chandeliers, long polished tables, food stations serving things she couldn't pronounce. It was overwhelming… and empty in a way. Everyone already had their established circles. Their territory.
She held her tray, scanning for a free spot.
Then she saw her. a short girl with long dark hair tied in a high messy bun, glasses slightly crooked, hoodie oversized. She was eating alone, typing furiously on her laptop, a half-eaten cookie beside her.
A normal person. Finally.
Maya walked over. "Um, is this seat taken?"
The girl looked up, blinked, and instantly brightened. "Oh! New girl. Yeah, sit. Please. Before one of the vultures decides to bite you."
Maya laughed despite herself and sat. "I'm Maya."
"Brooke," the girl said, pushing her glasses up. "I like your energy already."
Maya relaxed for the first time since the morning. Brooke talked fast about classes, teachers, weird cafeteria food and Maya listened gratefully.
But halfway through their conversation, Brooke suddenly froze.
"Don't turn around," she whispered.
Maya's pulse jumped. "Why not?"
"Because the entire royalty squad just walked in."
Maya didn't need to ask who that meant.
She heard them before she saw them: confident steps, loud voices, fake laughs. Then the scent of expensive perfume.
Vanessa.
Leading the pack like a queen with her court behind her.
Maya tried to keep her face neutral as Vanessa stopped right beside their table. Brooke's fingers tightened around her cookie like she was ready to throw it.
"Well," Vanessa said, looking directly at Maya, "I guess even charity cases need a lunch break."
Maya's jaw tightened. "Do you need something?"
Brooke let out a tiny gasp.
Great.
So much for staying invisible.
Vanessa smirked. "Just wanted to warn you. People who try too hard to stand out around here… usually get crushed."
Before Maya could reply, someone else approached. The cafeteria actually quieted.
Liam.
Of course.
He walked up behind Vanessa, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable. Vanessa instantly softened, flipping her hair like she'd been waiting for him.
"Liam," she purred, "we were just…"
He didn't look at her.
His eyes were on Maya.
Sharp. Focused. Too intense for comfort.
"You're in my English class," he said to Maya, as if stating a fact he had been thinking about for a while.
Maya swallowed. "Yeah. I noticed."
His lips twitched, almost a smile. "You, uh… forgot your pen."
Maya blinked. "No, I didn't."
"I know," he said calmly. "But it was the only excuse I could use."
Brooke choked on her water.
Vanessa went completely still.
Maya felt heat rush into her cheeks. "Why would you need an excuse to…"
He leaned slightly closer, voice low enough that only she could hear:
"Because if I talk to you directly, it'll turn into a whole drama. And you seem like the type who hates drama."
He stepped back, giving her space, eyes still on her. "See you in class."
And just like that, he walked off.
The cafeteria erupted into whispers.
Brooke stared at Maya like she had just witnessed a UFO landing. "WHAT was that?!"
Vanessa stood frozen, face flushed with fury, the quiet, dangerous kind.
Maya's heart wouldn't slow down.
"I…" She shook her head. "I don't know."
But she did know one thing.
No matter how much she wanted a quiet life at Ridgewood…
Liam Kingston wasn't going to let that happen.