— AFTERNOON —
The bell rang, and the classroom instantly erupted into noise. Students grabbed their bags, laughing and chatting as they spilled into the hallway in groups.
But something was off.
Brittany and her minions left quietly.
Too quietly.
Maya noticed immediately. Her eyes followed them for a second before she looked away.
Yeah… something's coming, she thought.
"Are you ready?" Molly asked, as she stood up too.
"Sure," Maya replied calmly, as if she hadn't already prepared herself for whatever was coming.
They walked out together, heading toward the cafeteria.
— CAFETERIA —
The cafeteria buzzed with life. Students filled their usual tables, laughter mixing with the clatter of trays and cutlery.
Maya and Molly sat together, their trays in front of them.
"I just realized something," Molly said, taking a spoonful of her food.
"What?" Maya asked.
"We're friends… and we don't even have each other's contact."
Maya paused, then chuckled lightly. "That's actually true. With all the crazy drama, we forgot."
"Give me your phone," Molly said, handing hers over. "Put in your number."
Maya took the phone carefully.
It felt expensive.
Not just expensive—effortlessly expensive. The kind of phone that screamed money without even trying.
For a brief second, her chest tightened.
This alone could fix everything at home…
She pushed the thought away and brought out her own phone.
Old.
Cracked.
Barely holding on.
It used to belong to her dad… before everything fell apart.
And now?
It was all she had.
She guarded it like her life depended on it—because in a way, it did.
Maya handed her phone to Molly.
A second passed.
Then two.
Molly returned it casually.
Maya blinked.
She didn't take it immediately.
"What?" Molly asked. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"My phone…" Maya hesitated. "You didn't say anything."
"Say what?"
"Like… 'ew,' or 'what is this,' or something," Maya said quietly. "The model, the screen… how cheap it looks."
Molly frowned.
"And why would I do that?"
Maya shrugged. "Normal rich girl behavior."
Molly let out a small laugh, shaking her head.
"Look, I'm not like that," she said. "I don't judge people based on what they have. I don't know what you've been through, so I have no right to look down on you."
Maya stared at her for a second.
Then smiled.
"Wow… that's the most sensible thing I've heard in this school."
They both laughed softly.
Maya was about to pick up her spoon again when her eyes lingered on her phone resting on the table.
For a brief moment, the noise of the cafeteria faded into the background.
Her fingers brushed lightly over the cracked screen.
"You really care about that phone," Molly said softly, noticing the shift in her expression.
Maya hesitated.
Then she leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"It's the only thing I have left of him," she said quietly.
Molly didn't interrupt.
"My dad," Maya added after a pause. "Before everything went… bad."
There was something in her voice—not weakness, but weight.
"He used to carry it everywhere," she continued, a faint, almost invisible smile appearing. "Always yelling into it, always working, always busy… I used to hate it."
She let out a small breath.
"Funny how things change."
Molly's expression softened. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
"I'm not ashamed of it," Maya said, her tone steady again. "People just like to use things they don't understand as weapons."
Molly nodded slowly. "Well… they picked the wrong person."
Maya smirked faintly. "They always do."
A short silence settled between them—not awkward, just real.
Then Molly leaned forward slightly.
"You know… you don't act like someone who just transferred here."
Maya raised a brow. "What do I act like?"
"Like you've been in wars before," Molly said simply.
Maya's lips curved, but her eyes didn't soften.
"Maybe I have."
And just like that—
The cafeteria went quiet.
Molly looked up first.
A slow smirk formed on her lips.
"Well… someone's here for you."
Maya sighed softly. "Took her long enough."
She leaned back slightly. "I appreciate our friendship, by the way. I might be getting expelled soon."
Molly blinked. "What?"
But before she could get an answer—
"Hey, poor thing."
Brittany.
Loud.
Clear.
Deliberate.
Maya didn't even look surprised.
"Hello, 20%," she replied in the same tone.
The cafeteria burst into laughter.
"Quiet!" Brittany snapped.
Instant silence.
Maya raised a brow. "Why are you controlling them? Can't they laugh when they want?"
A pause.
Then—
"You're so bitter, you're starting to look older than your age."
That did it.
Laughter exploded again.
Brittany's expression darkened.
Maya picked up her spoon, completely unbothered—
Then suddenly—
Brittany grabbed Maya's chocolate milkshake and poured it straight into her food.
Gasps filled the room.
"Whoa…"
Maya froze for half a second.
Then slowly—very slowly—she looked up.
Molly was already rising. "How dare you—"
Maya stopped her with a small movement of her hand.
Calm.
Too calm.
She picked up her plate.
And before anyone could react—
SPLASH.
Food and milkshake dripped down Brittany's hair, her face, her expensive clothes.
The cafeteria went dead silent.
Then—
SLAP.
The sound of the slap still echoed in the air.
For a second—no one moved.
Then—
Phones came out.
Fast.
Too fast.
Whispers turned into excited murmurs as students began recording.
"Oh my God, she slapped Brittany…"
"Post it!"
"This is going viral for sure…"
Maya's eyes flicked around the room, taking it all in.
Not panic.
Calculation.
"You don't mess with me," Maya said coldly. "I will restructure your face."
Brittany staggered back, stunned.
One of her minions stepped forward—
"Don't you dare," Molly said sharply, finally stepping in, her voice calm but commanding.
The girl froze instantly.
Brittany slowly wiped her face, her hands trembling.
But this time…
She wasn't shouting.
She wasn't yelling.
She was smiling.
And that—
That was terrifying.
"You just made the biggest mistake of your life," Brittany said quietly.
Maya didn't back down.
"Get in line. You're not the first to say that."
Brittany let out a soft laugh—cold, controlled.
Then she turned and walked away, her minions following behind her.
The cafeteria stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then suddenly—
It exploded.
Whispers.
Gasps.
Maya exhaled slowly, sitting back down like nothing happened.
Molly leaned closer. "This is bad… like really bad."
Maya didn't respond immediately. Her gaze followed Brittany's retreating figure, then shifted to the students holding up their phones.
"Good," she said quietly.
Molly blinked. "Good??"
"If they're watching," Maya continued calmly, "then they'll see everything."
Before Molly could reply—
A sharp voice cut through the chaos.
"What is going on here?!"
A teacher.
The cafeteria went dead silent.
Phones dropped instantly.
Students scattered back to their seats like nothing had happened.
The teacher's eyes scanned the room, narrowing slightly. "Why is this place so quiet all of a sudden?"
No one answered.
Maya sat back down slowly, picking up another spoon like she hadn't just started a war in the middle of lunch.
Molly stared at her in disbelief.
"You are insane,"
Maya dipped her spoon into Molly's plate like nothing mattered.
"No," she replied calmly.
"I just don't lose."
Molly stared at her. "You just slapped Brittany Griffins."
Maya took another spoonful . "She asked for it."
Molly blinked.
Then smiled slowly.
"Oh, this is going to get very interesting."
Across the cafeteria–
Noah stood by the exit.
Watching.
His gaze locked on Maya.
And this time—
He wasn't amused.
He was intrigued.