Luna

14 | cheeseburger

I put a plate of fettuccini carbonara on my tray even though I don't have any appetite for today's lunch. However, Mom has always pressed the importance of taking my meal properly -- she once had a gastric problem due to an unhealthy diet, so she doesn't want me to experience the same thing.

That's why I'm at the cafeteria now, ignoring people's eyes on me.

People whispering bad things about me behind my back always feels worse than them acting like I don't even exist in this world.

While I'm looking around the cafeteria to search for an empty table -- usually at the corner of the room -- Max's voice startles me.

"Hey, Luna!" he calls, locking his gaze on me from across the room. I see him sitting alone, his food already placed on the table. He's not sitting with his football teammates like the last time I saw him here, and that makes my heart sink.

I glance at Tyler's table, where he sits with the rest of the team. Max's loud voice has definitely caught the entire room's attention, including them, but Tyler only pays attention for a second before returning his eyes to his plate.

Still, I catch sight of the irritation on his face. His friends, however, stare at me longer before turning away and saying something to their captain.

I swallow and walk toward Max, holding the food tray in my hands, but I only manage to make three steps before I feel something hinder my ankle.

A small scream escapes from my lips as I land harshly on the ground, my tray clattering on the floor, my food scattered all over around me. I wince from the pain on my scraped knee, trying to sit up and get back on my feet.

When I look up, my heart freezes as I see a very angry Max standing up from his seat, toppling his chair as he does so.

He approaches me with full strides, and all heads are turned toward us, the room suddenly becoming dead silent. My heart beats rapidly as I abruptly push my hands on the floor to help myself stand up. When I do, Max is already standing close to me, but his eyes are locked on whoever person it is behind me that has tripped me and made me fall.

"Max." My voice is shaking when I stop him, placing my hands on his chest to prevent him from confronting the person -- attacking the person, precisely, with how Max is seething right now. "Max, please," I say, urgency and fear in my tone.

Max clenches his jaw, panting. He looks very much pissed, but I beg him with my eyes that I don't want him to make a scene.

I turn around and stare at the person who just stretched his leg on purpose to trip me. He still has the audacity to laugh with his friends sitting at his table.

I know this guy -- curly-haired and wearing glasses. He used to have a crush on Rory, and judging by how he acted just now, he clearly still has a crush on her.