Melody’s POV
“Can we eat lunch together?” She suddenly asked, just before we got to class.
“I… I uh…” I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to tell her that I already made plans for lunch so it wouldn’t seem like I was trying to reject her.
“I am not trying to do anything.” She began.
I frowned, wondering what she meant by that. I never said she was trying to do anything.
She continued. “The thing is, I have a lot of friends at the school where I transferred from and I’m not used to eating alone. You seem kind and moreover, you were the first person to smile at me here and that was why I thought that we could be friends. I only asked if we could eat lunch together because I already see you as a friend.”
I sighed. She was extremely chatty but I preferred that to her crying. I understood what she was trying to say and found myself nodding in agreement before thinking it through. I knew how much it sucked to eat alone in a large gathering of people. It was awkward feeling to feel left out and I didn’t blame her for latching on to the first friendly person she saw.
“I have plans already for lunch but you can join us.” I said.
She smiled, jumping at me and giving me a quick embrace. “Thank you.”
The boys weren’t going to like this. I knew that but seeing how happy she was at my acceptance to have her eat lunch with me, I felt it was worth it. I could survive the boys’ displeasure and nagging if this was what was going to be the prize.
I should have been named Angel and not Melody.
I looked up to see Eve at my side the moment the bell rang. She had jumped off her chair and rushed to my side immediately the bell rang. I sighed. She didn’t have to be so eager. She could have given me some time to inform the boys of the arrangement before coming over.
I glanced at Neo who was seated beside me and winced at the expression on his face. He was looking at Eve as if she had missed her way and landed close to our desk instead. I didn’t have to look back to check out Nathan’s and Nick’s expressions. Their faces would probably mirror what was on Neo’s face.
I swallowed nervously, wondering how I was going to break the news to them. “Guys, this is Eve.”
“We know. We heard her introduce herself earlier to all of us.” Nick replied.
I sighed, scowling at him. He never made anything easier, did he?
“She would be eating lunch with us.” I blurted out and winced, waiting for the outburst that should follow.
They were silent and I had to open my eyes to confirm if they were still seated with me or they had stormed out of the classroom in anger.
“Why?” Nathan was the one who spoke.
“She doesn’t have anyone to eat with and I told her it was fine to tag along.” I explained.
“Does she have to eat with us? She could have asked to eat lunch with her seat partner.” Nick sighed.
I turned to look at Beth, Eve’s seat partner, who was walking out and laughing with her friends. “We all know Beth has a clique and it would be hard for anyone to join them.” I said as I turned to the boys.
“I guess our clique is the one that is easy to join.” Neo grumbled.
I sighed. I knew they wouldn’t like the sudden addition to our group but I didn’t expect them to be petty like this.
“Can we just let this go?” I sighed. “We might have to waste the whole lunch period here if we keep arguing. We should start going now. Who knows? Eve can be fun and we would end up enjoying her company.”
I glanced at Eve to see what she thought of this whole scenario. I hated that she had to feel like she wasn’t welcome but she didn’t seem as heartbroken as I had thought she would. Instead, she looked at all of us and listened to us talk with amusement boldly written on her face.
“Fine. Let’s go.” Neo said.
I breathed in relief. “Let’s go.” I agreed, jumping to my feet and knowing that Eve was right behind us.
We couldn’t go to the garden as the lunch break almost over and we didn’t want to waste time going there and rushing back to class when it was over. Moreover, I felt like the garden was ‘our’ spot and didn’t want to take Eve there with us so soon. We went to the cafeteria instead and the boys seemed appeased that we didn’t go to the garden. I was glad that they had forgiven me for springing an unwanted friend on them. I didn’t have to be a genius to know that they didn’t want Eve with us.
The three of them were trying to be polite to Eve but I could read them well and knew that was as far as they were willing to tolerate her. They didn’t want her with us.
I should have known they wouldn’t be openly welcoming. They didn’t even have friends in school asides me and one another. I used to wonder why they never got used to anyone else in school but I had stopped wondering.
I could only hope that their attitude wasn’t open to Eve and she didn’t find out that these boys didn’t want her. Being here was already awkward. I didn’t want it to be too awkward for everyone. I was afraid I might lose my appetite.