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In the rarest of times, I go to the cafeteria alone.
Liv is already there, Trey's somewhere with Vic, and apparently I have no other friends left.
The bustle of hungry, worn out teens and the aroma of oil-scented food hits me full-force. It's kind of overwhelming to enter a place where everyone is where they belong, and here I am looking like a lost puppy.
I'm already holding my tray, filled with my stomach's desires, when Justine calls me over.
"Addie!"
The whole cafeteria kind of stops. Like time is frozen. Hell, I am frozen. Why is she calling me over? For what logical reason? My head is quickly overthinking, but I can't find any possibility. Is this about the play? Trey? Or something else entirely?
Justine turns, raising an impatient eyebrow.
I gulp.
Walking to her tentatively, I realise Liv sits on my right. Our eyes meet, but instead of giving me a what-the-hell look — to which I would give her if she was in my situation — she gives me a thumbs-up instead.
I literally do not deserve that angel.
I feel like my head is about to burst when I reach Justine. It's not only her that makes me nervous, but it's her friends as well. She's with her usual girls, like Resting-Bitch-Face Iris and boring Yolanda included, and they've been scowling at me for at least ten seconds.
Why am I here again?
"Cute pigtails."
I'm startled again that it's Justine who speaks. She says it matter-of-factly, so I'm not sure if she's making fun of me or if it's a genuine compliment.
"Thanks." I pat one of my low pigtails, feeling self-conscious.
"What is that?" Iris scrunches up her nose in front of me.
Surprised, I look down on my tray. There's some spaghetti and meatballs, a carton of strawberry milk, and this chocolate pudding that I thought looked good when I first saw it under the glass.
"Edibles." I point to hers. "What's that?"
There's only a can of yogurt in her whole freakin' tray.
The other girls look offended by my validation, but to my curiousity, I see Justine pursing her lips. Like she's holding back a laugh. Or maybe she's secretly annoyed as well. I don't really know, and even Yolanda gives her friend a weird look, like girl, what even is your face?
