𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
With the weather getting cooler, the lunch hall flowed with students. Most students had already picked up their lunches, sitting at their self-designated tables. The top left had all the popular students who religiously followed Damon. The bottom right had the quieter kids who stuck their noses in books rather than other people's lives. Recently demoted after the incident with Cordie, Paige and her two minions were in the corner gaining sympathy, dramatically crying over the insult as they were comforted by the less popular girls. Some things even a private school couldn't change, and that was the division of classes that happened in the lunchroom.
It was louder than ever, with a mix of gossip and stories, one specific topic taking the lead. The unheard-of Red Card interruption by the V4 themselves left people baffled with a lot to say. As Ellie and Alaina walked in, a hush fell over the room. All eyes were on them. Well, on Alaina really.
Ellie glanced over the hall. "Wow, I was just exaggerating but every single person is actually staring."
Alaina looked around uncomfortably. "Let's just get our lunch and sit." She pulled Ellie towards the line.
It was a given that standing up against the notorious school bullies was going to draw unwanted attention to her, it was still unsettling. She wasn't a fan of having so many people keeping such a close eye on her. After witnessing the V4 sparing her—the only case to have received such consideration—she wondered how many more people would be out for her head. Instead, she was met with contradictory treatment.
A few girls ran up to Alaina. "Omg I heard that Cordelia like totally stood up for you today," one blurted out. "Are you two like friends or something now?"
They were interested in her all of a sudden now that the V4 had publicly made a scene defending her. But she could tell from the whispers going around, that some took this as a sign of her being a threat because she was the new girl and yet she was already receiving special treatment from the V4. One of which was Paige.
Alaina shook her head doubtfully, "I wouldn't say we're friends. I don't really know what we are." She answered honestly, she didn't want to create any unnecessary drama. Everyone was wondering the same thing as her—why did Cordelia defend her on behalf of Damon? That was something Damon would have to personally answer.
They walked past the curious girls and went towards the counter. Ellie began making herself a lunch tray. "Lunch this year is so cheap. Last year it was $8,000 a week. $5,500 is much more reasonable," she pondered aloud.
Alaina couldn't quite relate to her comment about lunch being cheap, but she supposed it made sense in Ellie's head. "Uh yeah, I guess it is more reasonable?" she agreed hesitantly.
Ellie went on, ignoring the glares. "But I guess since you're on a scholarship, you get the scholarship lunch. You must be smart to have kept your scholarship with everything going on," she praised. She turned back to Alaina. "You'll still tutor me, right? I have all B's but I do have a C for statistics."