By lunch, nobody was pretending to focus anymore.
Sam packed her books the second the bell rang.
"Let's go," she muttered.
Emily followed beside her, nervously.
Michael walked on the other side, silent, hands shoved into his pockets.
They didn't talk.
Didn't complain about class.
Didn't joke.
Which, honestly, made the silence louder than any argument.
The cafeteria doors swung open, noise hitting them instantly—voices, laughter, trays clattering against tables.
Emily scanned the room out of habit.
And spotted them.
Liliana.
Cameron.
Same table as always.
Liliana noticed them the second they walked in.
She leaned forward before they even reached the table.
"Guys," she said quickly. "Did you see him?"
Sam dropped into the seat beside her.
"Yeah," she muttered. "We saw."
Liliana let out a sharp breath, shaking her head.
"I swear to God," she said, voice tight, "after everything he caused, he still has the nerve to walk in like nothing happened."
Cameron reached over and grabbed her wrist lightly.
"Lili," he murmured. "Relax."
"I'm not relaxing," she shot back instantly, pulling her hand away. "Who even allowed him back here? Like seriously- after that mess?"
Sam leaned back in her seat, jaw tight.
"Yeah," she muttered darkly. "Fucking moron."
Michael slid into the seat across from them without saying a word.
Not even a glance.
Just sat there, shoulders stiff, staring at the table like it had answers.
Emily sat down slowly beside Sam.
Her eyes moved between them.
Liliana crossed her arms.
"He shouldn't even be allowed here," she muttered. "After what he did? They should've thrown him out for good."
Sam scoffed quietly.
"They don't care," she said. "As long as paperwork says he can come back, they act like nothing happened."
Cameron rubbed the back of his neck.
"Can we not start yelling about this in the middle of lunch?" he muttered.
"I'm not yelling," Liliana snapped.
"You're about to," he replied dryly.
Emily swallowed.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the table.
She didn't want to ask.
Didn't want to step into whatever this was.
But sitting there, hearing half-sentences and anger with no explanation?
That was worse.
She took a breath.
"What… exactly did he do?" she asked quietly.
The table froze.
Liliana turned slowly toward Sam.
"You didn't tell her?" she asked.
Sam shook her head immediately.
"I didn't know how," she said. "And honestly? Why drag her into this mess? It's better if she stays out of it."
Emily felt that hit harder than expected.
Out of it.
Like she didn't belong in whatever truth they were protecting.
Liliana frowned.
"No, Sam," she said firmly. "That's not how this works."
Sam sighed sharply.
"Lili-"
"She deserves to know," Liliana continued. "You can't just pretend this didn't happen."
Cameron shifted in his seat.
"Maybe not here," he muttered.
Liliana ignored him.
"She should know what the hell that damn criminal-"
"Babe."
Cameron grabbed her hand suddenly.
Tight.
"Keep your voice low," he said under his breath.
She stopped.
Jaw clenched.
Breathing hard through her nose.
For a second, nobody spoke.
Not at their table.
Not inside Emily's head either.
Everything just… paused.
Then Emily felt it.
Not heard.
Felt.
Like the air shifted.
Slowly, her gaze drifted past their table—
Toward the center of the cafeteria.
Toward James.
He stood a few tables away, surrounded by people.
Laughing.
Talking.
Like this was any normal afternoon.
Fiona stood beside him, leaning slightly toward him, saying something with a small smile.
Terra stood on his other side.
Terra leaned closer to him now, whispering something under her breath.
Emily couldn't hear it.
But she didn't need to.
She knew.
"They're talking about you."
James didn't react.
Didn't turn around.
Didn't snap back.
Didn't even shift his posture.
Nothing.
Like he hadn't heard a thing.
Or like hearing it didn't surprise him anymore.
Emily's stomach tightened.
Because he had definitely heard.
Liliana's voice hadn't been loud—
But the word had carried.
Criminal.
That word didn't disappear once spoken.
It stuck.
Hung in the air.
And still—
James didn't react.
No denial.
Nothing.
Just silence.
Like the word didn't scare him.
Like it didn't hurt him either.
Like he was used to hearing it.
Sam noticed Emily staring and nudged her arm slightly.
"Stop looking," she muttered quietly.
Emily blinked, snapping back.
"Sorry," she whispered.
Michael finally moved.
Just slightly.
His fingers curled into a fist against the table.
Not hard enough to slam.
But hard enough to show restraint.
Cameron noticed.
"Mike," he said quietly.
No response.
Michael didn't look up.
Didn't speak.
Just stayed there, jaw tight.
Liliana exhaled slowly.
"We can't just ignore this," she muttered.
"He's back. That changes things."
Sam scoffed.
"It changes nothing," she said. "He's still the same idiot."
Michael finally spoke.
Quiet.
Flat.
"Yeah," he muttered.
A pause.
Then—
"But now he's closer."
That line landed heavier than anything else said so far.
And somehow—
That made lunch feel a lot less like lunch
and a lot more like the beginning of something nobody wanted to deal with.
Emily kept glancing at Michael.
Just sat there stiff, staring straight ahead like the table in front of him was suddenly fascinating.
Sam followed her gaze and scoffed quietly.
"Look at those two," she muttered.
Emily frowned.
"Who?"
Sam tilted her chin toward the middle of the cafeteria.
"Fiona and Terra," she said. "Still talking to him like nothing happened."
Emily turned slightly.
Fiona laughed at something James said, leaning closer like she didn't have a care in the world.
Terra nodded along beside them.
Too relaxed.
Too normal.
Liliana noticed them too and shook her head.
"I can't believe her," she muttered.
"Fiona?" Sam asked.
"Who else?" Liliana snapped. "She knows exactly what happened. She knows what he did."
She leaned forward, voice lowering but still sharp.
"And she knows how Michael feels about him. Still standing there smiling like it's just another day."
Sam sighed heavily.
"Like she ever cared about his feelings in the first place," she muttered.
Emily glanced at Michael again.
Nothing.
No reaction.
Just silence.
Cameron shifted in his seat, watching him carefully.
"Why don't you stop her, Mike?" he asked.
Michael didn't answer.
Didn't even blink.
Sam turned slightly toward him.
"You heard him," she said. "Why don't you?"
Cameron leaned forward again.
"You could just call her over," he added.
"She'd come."
Michael moved.
Just barely.
He dragged a hand across his face, slow and tired.
"She can talk to whoever she wants," he said.
His voice was calm.
Liliana frowned.
"That's not the point," she said. "You know exactly why she's doing that."
Michael let out a quiet breath.
"She always does whatever she wants," he muttered. "Nothing new."
Sam stared at him.
"You're seriously just going to sit here?"
she asked.
Michael didn't answer.
Instead, he finally looked up.
Straight ahead.
Toward Fiona.
Toward James.
Emily followed his gaze.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Just enough to notice.
Cameron noticed too.
"Mike," he said quietly. "You good?"
Michael didn't respond right away.
His fingers curled slowly against the table.
Liliana leaned forward.
"She knows how much you hate him," she said. "And she still walks up to him like nothing happened."
Sam shook her head.
"That's Fiona," she muttered. "Drama first. Feelings later."
Emily looked back toward Fiona again.
Fiona laughed.
James said something back.
They looked comfortable.
Michael spoke again before anyone else could.
"I'm not stopping her."
Sam frowned.
"Why not?"
Michael didn't answer immediately.
Just kept staring ahead.
Then—
"If she wants to stand next to him," he said slowly, "that's her choice."
Sam scoffed.
"That's a stupid answer."
Michael didn't react.
Liliana crossed her arms.
"So you're just going to pretend it doesn't bother you?"
Michael stayed quiet.
Too quiet.
Emily leaned slightly closer to him, voice softer.
"It does bother you," she said carefully.
Michael blinked once, like the words
caught him off guard.
Sam looked between them.
"Of course it bothers him," she muttered. "Anyone with eyes can see that."
Cameron spoke again.
"Then do something about it," he said.
Michael let out a short breath.
Not angry.
Not calm either.
Just… tired.
"What do you want me to do?" he muttered.
That line slipped out before he could stop it.
Emily noticed immediately.
That wasn't anger talking.
That sounded confused.
Lost.
Sam frowned.
"Tell her to stop talking to him," she said.
Michael shook his head once.
Small movement.
"No," he muttered.
Liliana stared at him.
"Why not?"
Michael hesitated.
Like he didn't have a real answer.
Emily watched him closely.
Because for the first time—
He didn't sound sure.
Not confident.
Just stuck.
Michael exhaled slowly.
"I don't get to decide who she talks to," he said quietly.
Sam scoffed.
"Since when do you care about that?"
Michael didn't answer.
Didn't look at her.
Didn't look at anyone.
Just kept staring ahead.
Emily lowered her voice slightly.
"You're not just angry," she said.
Michael blinked again.
Slow.
Confused.
Like he didn't expect her to notice.
Sam narrowed her eyes.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Emily didn't answer.
She just kept looking at Michael.
Because now it was obvious—
He wasn't just mad at James.
He wasn't just irritated at Fiona.
He was confused.
And maybe that scared him more than the anger ever did.
Emily kept watching Michael.
She leaned forward slightly.
"You're not just angry," she said quietly.
Michael didn't respond.
Emily swallowed, then added softly,
"You're… confused."
Sam turned her head toward her.
"Confused?" she repeated, eyebrows lifting. "About what exactly?"
Liliana frowned slightly, looking between Emily and Michael.
Cameron stayed quiet, watching Michael carefully like he was waiting for something to snap.
Emily hesitated for a second, staring down at the table. Her fingers traced the edge of her tray, tapping lightly.
Then she spoke again.
"Just…" she paused. "Just go talk to her."
Sam turned sharply toward her.
"Emily-"
But Emily kept going, voice still soft.
"Don't just sit here pretending it doesn't bother you," she said. "Don't let her stand there like nothing's wrong.."
Michael still didn't move.
Emily lifted her gaze again.
"Don't let her get away that easily."
Silence hit the table.
Not quiet silence.
Heavy silence.
The kind where everyone suddenly felt like they were watching something dangerous.
Michael heard every word.
That much was obvious.
His jaw tightened slightly.
His fingers pressed harder against the table.
Sam noticed immediately.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You're not actually thinking about doing that," she muttered.
Michael didn't answer.
Didn't even glance at her.
Emily leaned forward slightly.
"Michael…" she said quietly.
His chair scraped against the floor.
Just a little.
But loud enough.
Sam sat up straighter.
"You're kidding," she muttered.
Liliana crossed her arms, watching closely.
"About time," she said under her breath.
Cameron exhaled slowly.
"Don't make this worse than it already is," he warned.
Michael stood up.
Slowly.
Like even that simple movement took effort.
Sam leaned back, watching him carefully.
"Well," she muttered dryly. "This should be entertaining."
Liliana snorted.
"Or disastrous," she added.
Michael didn't react to any of them.
Didn't look back.
Didn't say a word.
He just started walking.
Straight toward Fiona.
Across the cafeteria, Terra noticed him first.
She was half-listening to Fiona, nodding along lazily, until movement caught her attention.
Her grin spread instantly.
She nudged Fiona's arm.
"Hey," Terra whispered.
Fiona frowned slightly.
"What?"
Terra tilted her head toward the approaching figure.
"Don't turn around too fast," she said, clearly enjoying herself. "But you might want to look."
Fiona rolled her eyes slightly.
"What now?"
Terra smirked.
"Your boy's finally growing a spine."
Fiona turned.
And froze for half a second.
Michael.
Walking straight toward her.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Just determined enough to make it obvious.
A slow smile spread across Fiona's lips.
Not surprised.
Not nervous.
Smug.
"Oh," she murmured softly. "Well, look at that."
Terra let out a quiet giggle.
"Told you," she whispered. "Jealousy looks good on him."
Fiona folded her arms loosely, watching Michael approach.
James wasn't there anymore.
One of his mates had dragged him away earlier, calling him over to another table. Fiona had barely paid attention at the time.
Now, she didn't look away.
She just stood there.
Waiting.
Like she had expected this moment all along.
Terra stepped slightly to the side, giving them space but staying close enough to watch.
"Oh, this is going to be good," she muttered.
Back at the table, Emily watched Michael walk away.
Every step made her more nervous.
Sam leaned forward, elbows on the table, watching like she was waiting for a fight to break out.
"Well," she muttered. "Guess he finally snapped."
Liliana scoffed.
"Snapped? No," she said. "He's been holding this in forever."
Cameron shook his head slightly.
"You pushed him," he muttered, glancing toward Emily.
Emily swallowed.
"I didn't push him," she said quietly.
Sam shot her a look.
"You kinda did," she muttered.
Emily didn't answer.
She just kept watching Michael.
Watching the way he walked.
Slow.
Tense.
Like every step felt heavier than the last.
Liliana leaned closer to the table.
"If Fiona says something stupid," she muttered, "this is going to turn ugly."
Sam huffed quietly.
"She always says something stupid," she replied.
Cameron sighed.
"Let's just hope he doesn't lose control,"
he muttered.
Emily shook her head slightly.
"He won't," she said softly.
Sam glanced at her.
"You sound very confident about that."
Emily hesitated.
Then admitted quietly,
"I'm not."
Her eyes stayed locked on Michael.
Because this didn't feel like anger anymore.
Didn't feel like jealousy either.
It felt like walking toward a problem they didn't understand…
but couldn't ignore anymore.
Michael stopped a few steps in front of Fiona.
Close enough to talk.
Close enough that turning back now would look weak.
Fiona tilted her head slightly the moment he stopped, that small smug smile already forming on her lips.
"Well…" she said lightly. "If it isn't my favorite boy."
Terra snorted beside her.
"Seriously, Mike," she added. "We were starting to believe Fiona wasn't even a concern of yours anymore."
Michael didn't look at Terra.
Didn't react.
His eyes stayed fixed on Fiona.
Tight.
Focused.
"What was that?" he asked.
Fiona blinked slowly.
"What was what, baby?" she asked sweetly.
Michael didn't move.
"With him," he said. "What were you talking about?"
Fiona let out a soft chuckle.
"Who, him?" she asked lightly.
She paused deliberately.
"Oh…" she added. "James?"
Michael's jaw tightened.
Fiona sighed like the whole thing was exhausting.
"Come on, love," she said. "We just talked. That's it."
Terra leaned back against the table, smirking.
"I didn't call him over," Fiona continued smoothly. "He came to talk. I didn't even ask."
Michael stared at her.
"You know why I'm asking," he said.
Fiona frowned slightly.
"I was just being polite," she replied.
"What did you expect me to do? Ignore him like he doesn't exist?"
Michael didn't answer.
Fiona shook her head, letting out a soft laugh.
"Honestly," she added quietly, "maybe you're just jealous."
Terra smirked.
"Took you long enough to admit it," she muttered.
Fiona stepped closer.
Michael didn't move.
Didn't step back.
Didn't step forward.
Just stood there.
Fiona lifted her hand and touched his cheek lightly.
"But don't worry," she murmured. "You know I'm yours."
Across the cafeteria—
Liliana leaned forward suddenly.
"Don't tell me she's about to-"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her eyes widened.
"No way," she whispered sharply. "No way she's doing that."
Cameron frowned, squinting toward them.
"What?" he muttered. "What is she-"
Then he saw it.
"Oh, hell no," he said under his breath.
Sam's expression twisted instantly.
"She better not," Sam muttered darkly.
Emily didn't say anything.
She just stared.
Frozen.
Her fingers tightening against the edge of the table.
Before Michael could speak—
Fiona leaned in.
And kissed him.
Quick.
Sudden.
No warning.
No pause.
Just pressed her lips against his like the argument was already finished.
Like she had decided the ending herself.
At the table—
Liliana shot upright.
"What the hell?!" she whispered loudly, completely shocked.
Sam made a sharp sound under her breath.
"Oh, that's disgusting," she muttered. "That is actually disgusting."
Cameron stared in disbelief.
"She didn't even let him talk," he said, shaking his head. "She just— kissed him. Just like that."
Liliana scoffed angrily.
"She shut him up," she said. "That's what she did."
Sam leaned forward, glaring across the cafeteria.
"That's manipulation," she muttered. "Straight up manipulation."
Emily still hadn't moved.
Still staring.
Still frozen
Emily swallowed.
Cameron frowned.
"You're right," he murmured.
Liliana shook her head, still shocked.
"That's even worse," she muttered. "She didn't even give him a choice."
Sam scoffed again.
"Of course she didn't," she said bitterly. "She never does."
Near Fiona—
She pulled away slowly, that same sweet smile sitting comfortably on her face.
Like nothing dramatic had just happened.
Like she hadn't just shut him down in the middle of a confrontation.
Terra smirked beside her.
"Well," she muttered. "That worked."
Michael still hadn't moved.
Hadn't spoken.
Hadn't reacted.
Back at the table—
Liliana leaned forward again, still staring.
"I swear," she whispered. "If he just stands there and lets that slide-"
Cameron shook his head slowly.
"He looks confused," he muttered. "Not angry. Just… stuck."
Sam looked openly disgusted now.
"That was low," she muttered. "Even for her."
Emily finally blinked.
Still staring.
Still frozen.
"She didn't answer him.." Emily whispered quietly. "She avoided the question.."
Sam huffed.
"Obviously," she muttered. "Because she knew she'd get caught."
Liliana crossed her arms tightly.
"She thinks kissing him fixes everything,"
she said sharply.
Cameron exhaled slowly.
"Or shuts him up long enough so he forgets why he came," he muttered.
Emily kept watching Michael.
Not Fiona.
Just Michael.
Because he still hadn't moved.
And somehow—
That silence from him felt worse than shouting ever could.
Fiona pulled back from the kiss slowly, smiling like she'd just fixed everything without needing to say a single word.
She reached up and ruffled Michael's hair lightly.
"Don't worry about it, Mike," she said softly. "Trust me. I would never do anything that hurts you."
Michael didn't respond.
Didn't smile.
Didn't lean closer.
Nothing.
From across the cafeteria, Sam leaned forward, eyes locked on him.
"Come on, Michael…" she muttered under her breath. "Don't just stand there like that."
Liliana nudged her tray aside impatiently.
"Move," she whispered. "Don't just let her walk over you again."
Emily stayed quiet, fingers gripping the edge of the table so tightly her knuckles turned pale.
Michael inhaled slowly.
Then stepped back.
Just one step.
He wiped his lips lightly with his thumb.
Once.
That was it.
Fiona noticed immediately.
Her smile faltered for half a second.
"Mike?" she said, her tone still soft but slightly tighter now.
Michael looked straight at her.
"But, Fi," he said quietly, "you didn't answer me yet."
Fiona blinked.
That caught her off guard.
Only for a second.
Then she recovered, exhaling like she was the one exhausted.
"You're making a scene out of nothing," she said calmly. "I thought you trusted me."
Sam scoffed loudly enough for the others to hear.
"Wow," she muttered. "Straight to guilt-tripping. Didn't even take a breath."
Liliana nodded sharply.
"She didn't answer him once," she whispered. "Not once."
Cameron leaned forward, elbows on the table.
"Stay on it," he muttered. "Don't let her change the topic."
Emily swallowed, watching Michael carefully.
Michael exhaled slowly.
"Of course I trust you," he said.
Fiona's shoulders eased slightly, like she'd won.
But he kept going.
"That's exactly why I'm asking," he added. "What did he say to you?"
Fiona's expression shifted.
Tighter now.
"Nothing important," she replied quickly. "Just normal conversation."
Michael didn't react.
"About what?" he asked.
Fiona sighed, shaking her head like she was losing patience.
"Why does it matter?" she shot back.
"You're acting like I did something wrong just by talking to someone."
Michael's jaw tightened.
"It matters," he said quietly. "Because it was him."
Terra rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Oh my God, Mike," she cut in. "You're acting like she cheated on you or something."
Michael didn't even glance at her.
Not once.
His eyes stayed locked on Fiona.
"What did he say?" he repeated.
Sam leaned forward again.
"Good," she muttered. "Repeat it till she answers."
Liliana nodded quickly.
"She hates repeating questions," she whispered. "That's when she slips."
Cameron frowned slightly.
"She skipped the middle part," he added quietly. "That's always the lie."
Emily whispered, barely audible—
"He knows she skipped something…"
Back in front of Fiona—
Her smile tightened.
Now it didn't look sweet.
It looked forced.
"He just asked how I was doing," she said.
Michael frowned.
"And?"
Fiona hesitated.
A small pause.
Too small for most people.
Not small enough for him.
"And… nothing," she finished.
Sam scoffed.
"Bullshit," she muttered.
Liliana leaned closer.
"She's lying," she whispered sharply.
"You can see it on her face."
Cameron nodded slightly.
"She paused too long."
Emily stayed silent, staring hard at Fiona now.
Even she could feel it.
Something missing.
Michael tilted his head slightly.
"That's not all," he said quietly.
Fiona scoffed.
"Wow," she muttered. "So now I'm lying?"
Sam let out a dry laugh.
"You kissed him to shut him up five minutes ago," she muttered. "Don't act shocked now."
Terra shot Sam an annoyed look.
"Stay out of it," Terra snapped.
Sam didn't even look at her.
"Make me," she muttered.
Michael spoke again.
Still calm.
Still steady.
"You didn't answer me."
Fiona's jaw tightened.
"I told you," she said. "It was nothing."
Michael shook his head slightly.
"No," he said. "You told me the beginning."
Pause.
His voice dropped slightly.
"What happened after that?"
That line landed.
Hard.
Liliana sucked in a breath.
"Oh," she whispered. "That hit."
Cameron muttered quietly,
"She's running out of exits now."
Emily leaned forward slightly, voice barely above a whisper.
"Michael…"
But he didn't look back.
Didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Just kept staring at Fiona.
Waiting.
Not yelling.
Not arguing.
Just waiting.
Fiona pressed her lips together, clearly irritated now.
She hated being questioned.
Especially like this.
Especially in front of people.
"Fine," she said sharply. "He just asked if I was still talking to you."
Michael didn't react.
Just watched her.
"And what did you say?" he asked.
Quiet.
Flat.
Fiona opened her mouth—
Terra jumped in before she could answer.
"Oh my God, Mike, relax," Terra said, shrugging. "He was joking around. Said some people just don't change."
Fiona snapped her head toward her.
"Shut it, Terra."
Terra blinked.
"What? I was just-"
"I said shut it."
Terra lowered her eyes and went quiet.
At the back—
Sam let out a short laugh.
"Wow," she muttered. "Didn't even get the lie out properly this time."
Liliana leaned forward.
"That wasn't what she wanted to say,"
she whispered. "You could see it."
Cameron nodded slightly.
"She panicked," he murmured.
Emily stayed quiet, staring hard at Fiona.
Michael tilted his head slightly.
"So he mentioned me," he said.
Not a question.
Fiona forced a laugh.
"You're twisting this," she said quickly. "It wasn't like that."
Michael didn't blink.
"What did you say back?" he asked.
Fiona hesitated.
Too long.
Sam leaned forward again, irritation flashing across her face.
"Why are you even letting her explain this much, Michael?" she muttered. "She's changed the story three times already."
Liliana nodded.
"First 'nothing,' then 'just talking,' now suddenly he joked about you," she added. "That's not normal."
Cameron added quietly,
"She skipped something."
Emily whispered,
"She's avoiding the answer.…"
Fiona snapped, finally losing patience.
"Stop talking about me like I'm not standing right here."
Sam shot back instantly,
"Then answer properly."
Michael spoke again, voice low.
"What did you say back to him?"
Fiona rubbed her temple, clearly annoyed now.
"I told him to mind his own business," she said.
Michael watched her.
Silent.
Still.
Then—
A voice cut through the tension.
"Relax, Kensington," James said casually. "I didn't steal your girlfriend."
Sam's head snapped toward him instantly.
"Oh, shut up," she snapped. "Nobody asked you to talk."
James smirked faintly.
"Missed me that much, Firecracker?" he said lazily.
Sam's expression hardened.
"Trust me," she shot back. "Life was peaceful without you."
James tilted his head slightly, looking amused.
"Careful," he said. "You sound obsessed."
Liliana muttered under her breath,
"God, I hate him."
Cameron sighed.
"Wrong time to joke, man," he muttered.
James ignored him completely.
His eyes flicked back to Sam.
"You always this loud," he added casually, "or just when I'm around?"
Sam pushed back slightly in her seat.
"I'm loud when idiots start talking," she snapped.
James smirked wider.
"Still feisty," he muttered. "Good to know."
Sam looked ready to throw something.
Emily reached out quickly, grabbing her wrist under the table.
"Sam," she whispered. "Don't."
Sam exhaled sharply through her nose but stayed seated.
Back near Fiona—
Michael didn't look at James.
Didn't react to Sam.
Didn't react to the noise.
His gaze stayed locked on Fiona.
"Did you tell him anything about me?" he asked quietly.
That question landed hard.
Fiona blinked.
Sam froze.
Liliana leaned forward.
"Wait," she whispered. "That's different."
Cameron frowned.
"That's not jealousy," he murmured.
"That's suspicion."
James tilted his head slightly, watching now with more interest.
"Careful, Kensington," he said casually. "You're starting to sound paranoid."
Sam snapped again.
"Can you shut up for five seconds?" she shot at him.
James glanced at her, unimpressed.
"You really should relax," he said casually. "Getting wrinkles this early would be tragic."
Liliana couldn't help it, she choked out a laugh.
"Did he just-"
Sam glared at James.
"You think you're funny?" she snapped.
James shrugged.
"Someone has to be."
Back at the center—
Fiona looked between Michael and James now.
Tension climbing.
Eyes watching.
Voices whispering around them.
Michael didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Just asked again—
"Did you tell him anything about me?"
Slower this time.
Clearer.
No escape left in the question.
Before Fiona could answer—
James let out a quiet breath, stepping forward just enough to be noticed.
"Why pressure the lady now?" he said casually.
"If you've got questions, ask me."
A slight smirk touched his lips.
"I'll answer everything myself."
"Mind your own damn business, James," sam snapped immediately.
James chuckled under his breath, like that response amused him more than it offended him.
"I am minding my business, sweetheart," he replied smoothly. "Last time I checked… this conversation's about me."
Sam's teeth clenched so tight her jaw actually shifted.
"Don't call me that," she shot back. "And nobody asked you to jump in."
James tilted his head slightly, still looking far too relaxed for someone standing in the middle of a brewing fight.
"Funny," he said lightly. "Sounded like you all had plenty to say about me a minute ago."
Liliana muttered under her breath from the table,
"Oh my God, he's insufferable."
Cameron exhaled slowly.
"He's enjoying this," he murmured quietly. "Look at him."
Emily sat frozen, fingers gripping the edge of the table so tightly her knuckles started to pale.
She hated this.
Not just Fiona's kiss. Not just the argument.
Now James had stepped in, and everything felt louder, heavier, harder to control.
Her eyes flicked toward Michael.
He looked furious.
Cold furious.
The kind that stayed quiet until it snapped.
James glanced briefly at Sam again, still smirking.
"You always this worked up over me, Sam" he added casually. "Or am I getting special treatment today?"
Sam leaned forward slightly, voice low and sharp.
"You really think you're funny, don't you?"
James shrugged.
"I think you're loud," he replied. "That's different."
"Say one more word," Sam warned.
James lifted his hands slightly in mock surrender.
"Relax," he said. "You'll give yourself a headache."
Emily swallowed hard.
This was spiraling.
Fiona shifted beside them, clearly uncomfortable now that James had fully inserted himself into the mess.
"James, stop," she muttered quietly. "You're making it worse."
He glanced sideways at her briefly.
"Am I?" he asked.
Michael finally spoke again.
Sharp enough to cut through everything.
"You done talking yet?" he asked.
James turned his attention back to him slowly.
That smirk didn't disappear.
If anything, it settled deeper.
"Depends," he replied. "You got something to ask me?"
Michael took one slow step forward.
That made Emily's stomach twist.
Because James didn't look nervous.
He looked entertained.
And that was the worst part.
Michael's jaw tightened visibly.
"What did you say?" he asked.
James let out a short breath, almost like a laugh.
"Nothing you couldn't handle hearing," he replied. "Relax."
Sam scoffed loudly.
"He's provoking you," she muttered toward Michael. "Don't fall for it."
Liliana nodded quickly.
"Yeah, he wants you to react," she added.
Emily whispered quietly,
"Michael...he just wants you angry..."
Emily swallowed, forcing the words out before her courage disappeared completely.
"You know exactly what he's doing," she said quietly, her voice tight. Her eyes stayed on Michael, refusing to look at James. "He's trying to make this bigger than it is… just to get a reaction out of you."
There was a short silence.
Then James let out a low breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"Oh," he said flatly. "So you do talk."
Emily stiffened immediately.
James watched her carefully now, his expression losing that easy amusement.
His voice dropped a little.
"Been quiet all day," he added. "Didn't think you had opinions."
"Don't talk to her like that," sam said sharply.
James didn't look at Sam.
Still watching Emily.
"She spoke," he said calmly. "I answered."
Sam pushed a chair back slightly, the scrape loud against the floor.
"That's not answering," she said, her voice tight with anger.
James finally turned his head toward her.
He studied her for a second, then looked back at Emily again.
"She doesn't need you speaking for her,"
he said coldly.
Sam leaned forward slightly.
"She doesn't need you talking to her either."
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Fiona had gone very still beside Michael.
Her eyes shifted slowly from James…
…to Emily.
And stayed there.
Long enough to feel intentional.
Cold.
Sharp.
Jealous in that quiet, ugly way that didn't need words.
She stepped closer to Michael, her hand sliding onto his arm again, holding tighter this time.
"Mike," she said quietly, her voice softer but tense underneath. "You don't have to stand here and listen to this."
Her gaze flicked back toward Emily again.
Harder this time.
Like she was measuring something.
Emily felt it immediately.
That stare.
That blame.
Her chest tightened.
She wished she hadn't spoken.
Wished she could disappear into the noise around them.
Sam leaned forward again, her eyes fixed on James.
"Say something else to her," she warned quietly. "Try it."
James tilted his head slightly, studying Sam now.
Like he was deciding whether she was worth the effort.
Michael shifted beside Fiona, his jaw tightening again.
His shoulders stiff.
Like he was barely holding himself still.
Fiona noticed immediately.
Her fingers tightened around his arm.
"Mike," she said again, lower now. Sharper. "Don't."
Michael didn't answer.
Didn't move.
James noticed that too.
Of course he did.
"You done?" he asked quietly, his tone colder now. "Or should I keep standing here while you decide what to do?"
Sam didn't answer that.
Just stared at him.
Michael shifted again.
One small movement forward—
Then—
The bell rang.
Loud.
Sharp.
Cutting straight through the tension like something snapping in half.
Sam let out a long breath the second the bell rang, shoulders dropping like someone finally cut the wire before a bomb went off.
She glanced around at the students who were very obviously pretending not to stare.
"Alright, show's over," she said loudly, waving her hand in irritation. "Go away. Drama's finished."
A few nearby students awkwardly looked down at their trays, pretending they had somewhere important to be. Others shuffled off, whispering anyway because teenagers run on gossip the way cars run on fuel.
James chuckled softly at Sam's words.
Not loud. Just that low, irritating kind of laugh that said he wasn't bothered by any of this.
He shifted his attention back to Michael, tilting his head slightly.
"Lunch is over," he said calmly. "Better luck next time, Kensington."
Michael didn't answer.
Didn't move either.
Just stood there, jaw tight, breathing slow like he was holding something back by force.
Sam scoffed under her breath.
"God, you're exhausting," she muttered.
James didn't bother replying to her this time.
Instead, he lifted his hand in a lazy,
mocking wave toward Michael.
Like he'd just finished a game he knew he'd win anyway.
"See you around," he added lightly.
Behind him, a couple of his teammates started moving, clearly waiting for him to leave with them. One of them smirked like this whole thing had been entertainment.
James turned to go, walking off without hurry, shoulders relaxed like none of this had mattered to him.
Of course he left like that. People like him always exit like they own the place.
Meanwhile—
Fiona hadn't moved.
Not even an inch.
Her hand was still loosely on Michael's arm, but her eyes…
Her eyes weren't on Michael anymore.
They were locked on Emily.
Not loud anger.
Worse.
The kind that said: I noticed you.
Emily felt it immediately.
That stare.
Like something pressing against her chest.
She swallowed, fingers tightening against the edge of her tray again.
She wished—seriously wished—she could just disappear into the floor.
Not be seen.
Not be noticed.
Not be the reason someone like Fiona was looking at her like that.
Sam noticed the stare too.
Her expression darkened instantly.
"Stop looking at her like that," Sam snapped, stepping slightly closer to Emily without even thinking about it.
Fiona didn't blink.
Didn't look away.
Just kept staring.
Then finally, slowly, she spoke.
"You talk a lot for someone who wasn't even part of this," she said coldly, still looking at Emily.
Emily froze.
Didn't answer.
Didn't even know what to say.
Sam stepped in immediately.
"She wasn't talking to you," Sam shot back. "So don't start."
Fiona finally shifted her gaze to Sam, annoyance flickering across her face.
"You really love jumping into things that don't concern you," she said flatly.
Sam let out a humorless breath.
"Funny," she replied. "That's exactly what I was thinking about you."
Michael finally moved then.
Just one step back.
Creating space between himself and Fiona.
Not dramatic.
But obvious.
Fiona noticed immediately.
Her expression flickered.
"Mike," she said quietly.
He didn't look at her.
Didn't answer.
Just ran a hand once through his hair, tension still sitting in every line of his posture.
Cameron exhaled slowly from behind.
"Well," he muttered, shaking his head slightly. "That went terribly."
Liliana let out a sharp breath.
"No kidding," she said. "That guy shows up and suddenly everything turns into chaos."
Sam turned back toward Michael.
"You okay?" she asked, voice lower now.
Not soft.
But not sharp either.
Michael nodded once.
Short.
Not convincing.
Emily finally found enough courage to speak, even if her voice came out small.
"Michael…" she said quietly.
He looked at her then.
Just for a second.
And the look on his face?
Still tense.
Still confused.
Still carrying way too many thoughts at once.
Fiona saw that look too.
Saw exactly who he looked at.
And that—
That made her expression tighten all over again.