After a few more classes, lunch rolled around and Kwan filed into the lunch line like everyone else - except for the lunch box kids - which Cooper and Daniel followed behind him.

"I wonder what grotesque mystery meat they are serving! I hope it's not a lie!" Kwan excitedly wondered, standing on his tippy toes and paired over the other kids.

Daniel facepalmed while shaking his head at Kwan's words. "You would eat something you have no clue what it is? That's disgusting. I wish I would have brought a lunch box instead but I completely forgot about it." He cringed at the mere thought.

Kwan laughed, seeing Daniel think he was serious was amusing. "I'm joking. I would never eat something I don't know what's in it. It's not like what they show in the teen dramas. It's more of a term for meat that looks heavily processed. Today is fish fries, I heard some kids talking about it." He explained, shaking his head.

Cooper pulled out the money for lunch from his pocket. "I think I'd rather bring a box lunch tomorrow because I don't even want to know how unhealthy this cafeteria food is."

The three boys got their food and walked down the aisle to a table in the back. It just so happened that the table they chose was right beside Stephoné, Ariana, and Will.

Sabrina's eyes zoned in on the three boys, she walked over and set her tray down. "Well, look at you three sitting here all by yourselves. You choose to sit back here with the lose- all the way in the back by yourselves when you could sit with others and make friends." She said, sitting down, followed by Kiki and Lacy.

Daniel raised an eyebrow before narrowing them again a little bit. "I prefer to be alone or at least not be bombarded with an absurd amount of questions." He replied, eating his lunch.

Cooper nudged his brother with his elbow. "Ignore him. He was never one for school, and half of what he learned he has forgotten." He explained glancing over at his brother who was giving him the death glare.

Daniel narrowed his eyes at his brother. "School isn't my forte. I managed to pass all my classes but if I found something boring, I wouldn't remember what I learned if my life depended on it." He indifferently commented, taking a sip of his drink.

"Ah, I see," Sabrina nodded slowly, feeling a tad bit uncomfortable, unsure how to reply. "Well, I will be going into business in college. I can intern at my father's work and someday take over his company. I would be the first female in my family to take over." She boasted, picked up a strawberry from her lunch box, and took a bite.

Kwan perked up, seemingly interested in what her father did. "What does your father do?" He asked as he took a long sip from his water, finishing half the bottle in some swig.

Sabrina finished the strawberry in her mouth, setting it down on her tray. "My dad owns a billion-dollar tech company. He mostly buys out those small tech businesses and helps them out. He is like a Shark if you have seen that show? He's such a philanthropist, it's a family thing you could say."

Daniel slowly scooped up some fruit from his fruit cup and put it in his mouth, chewing it slowly as he listened. "What about your mother?" He asked, just simply out of curiosity since she had only spoke about her father.

Sabrina continued to force a smile on her lips. "My mom is currently in Dubai for a photoshoot. She's a model. I haven't spoken to her since she left because I had been busy studying for our upcoming test. In speaking, you haven't had a chance to study for our history teachers' mini-tests. He often gives them out at odd times to make sure kids don't slack. You can borrow my notes, I'm a suburb note keeper." She lied smoothly, earning a weird look from Kiki.

Cooper set down his water bottle after he had taken a sip from it. "I am sure we can manage. Our schooling may be different than yours, but we will still take the test and probably pass with flying colors." He picked up his water bottle and took another sip from it.

Everyone turned their head to see Kwan slurping the juice from his fruit cup. "What?" He noticed he was getting a look from everyone, so he set it down after he had gotten it all out. "Anyways, I heard your father is paying for prom and that Ariana Greene is in charge of it?" He inquired with a sheepish smile.

Sabrina sighed looking at her glassy red nails, she gave a small hum. "Yes, my dad is paying for prom and yes, she's in charge because she plans it to go into fashion and interior design for college." She motioned to the table beside them. "She's the black-haired girl at the table beside us, very talented." She explained, trying to sound thrilled at the idea.

Cooper was impressed. Planning prom seemed like a big deal to these people. "I have to say, having a Cinderella-themed prom is interesting and the layout is unique." He mused, taking a bite out of his apple and then setting it back down on the tray.

Sabrina pursed her lips and forced a nod. "Yes, it's interesting and very, very fair for everyone so no one can use any underhanded tactics to win." She agreed, digging her nails into her strawberry. "Too bad we can't help." She mumbled, giving a fake frown.

Daniel paused mid-bite of his fish stick and pulled it away from his mouth. "What do you mean?" He inquired, taking a bite off of his fish stick.

Lacy knew Sabrina was simply trying to make herself sound better. "She has picked out people to help her set it up. You can't just offer. I did and she said she already had enough help. She is going all out since it is our senior year and she isn't holding back. I am surprised Mr. Di Matteo is allowing her to spend as much as she is on it."

Sabrina ate a few bites of her lunch as she listened to Lacy speak. "At least she isn't going to one of those cheap party stores where you get everything for under five dollars with very poor quality. I would hate for our prom to be decorated in the cheapest way possible just to save an extra buck." She jabbed her fork in the air as she spoke.

Daniel pursed his lips. He was trying not to say a word but he just blurted it out. "I don't think it matters how much money is spent, especially to save a little extra money, as long as everyone has a great time." He could speak from experience, seeing as he was an actual prince and had been too lavish at balls and parties.

Sabrina bit back any snarky comment she had and simply smiled. "Hmm," She glanced at his signet ring on his hand. "Ah, yes, if you look at it that way then going cheap is a must, but this is prom. My father said that we can go all out since it is my last year here."

Kiki pushed a lock of hair behind her ear as she ate her food. "So, um, what's it like back home? I've never been out of the states but I'd love to visit your neck of the woods." She hesitantly asked, genuinely curious to know what their life was like.

"Well, we live by the sea," Cooper replied, trying to figure out what to tell them and whatnot. "Since back home my father is . . . owner of a vast property, we spend much time outside doing various things like horse riding at our stables and fencing with each other."

Kwan didn't hesitate to add himself to the conversation. "My parents own an private airline company," He quickly said, earning a look from everyone. "I like to travel a lot, what's the harm in that?" He exclaimed, taking a sip of his drink.

Sabrina didn't exactly know how to reply to Kwan, other than to what his family did. "Interesting," She forced a smile as she thought about it then continued, focusing on what the two brothers had said. "How interesting."

Daniel prayed she didn't inquire more about it. "Yeah, interesting, but that's not that special. What's more interesting is the fact we get to spend time in America for the rest of the school year." He quickly moved onto a different subject.

Cooper glanced over at the table beside him and for a moment locked eyes with Stephoné and he couldn't help but smile at her as eyes went right and her cheeks grew red as she quickly looked around.

'How long has she been staring at me? She's cute when she's flustered. I wonder who she is . . . she seems shy, kinda like I was when I first arrived at the palace after finding out I was the heir to the throne.' He thought, a smile inching it's way on his face.

Stephoné couldn't believe she had locked eyes with the new kid. 'He was way out of my league. He's cute, super cute and he seemed nice and so did his friend and brother - all three of them are cute -' Her eyes grew wide at her thoughts and she pulled her hoodie over her head.

'What am I thinking? They are new and seem to be getting popular with everyone. As if they would ever speak to me. Besides, they may be like everyone else and I truly didn't know them.' She thought to herself and shook her head, eating some food.

Ariana waved her hand in front of her friend's face. "Stephoné, hello? You are beat-red like a tomato, what happened?" She asked, wondering what on earth could have made her friend grow so red.

Stephoné quickly looked up at her with wide deer-in-the-headlights eyes. She had no idea what they had been talking about. "Hmm? Oh s-sorry, I-I got distracted." She admitted sheepishly, tugging at her sleeves and averting her eyes everywhere but in contact with Ariana.

'Please don't tease me about it. Let it go, Ariana, please.' She silently begged in her head, focusing her eyes on her food as she bounced her foot on the floor.

Ariana raised an eyebrow and looked over, noticing Cooper had glanced over again. "Did you lock eyes with Cooper Cunningham?" She teased, nudging her. "Aww, Stephoné is blushing. She's blushing over a cute boy~"

Stephoné felt like she could pass out from how hot she was feeling. "Ariana!" She softly exclaimed, covering her face up with her hands. "He could hear you! Shush!"

Will shook his used biting into his apple, he raised his eyebrows at her from across the table. "Ariana, stop teasing. So what if Stephoné locked eyes? She blushes any time she locks eyes with a cute boy. He's no exception." He protectively added, lightly kicking Ariana's leg.

"Whatever," Ariana scoffed, waving her hand in dismissal at what Will had said. "You must admit he is pretty cute. That light dusting of freckles, those mesmerizing blue eyes that are like pools of water, that bright pearly white smile, slight dimples, that messy brown hair that you just want to run your fingers through." She once again teased her friend, being oh so dramatic.

Stephoné's face was so red she folded her arms and buried her head in them on the table. "Ariana stop! I-I can't - I just can't handle that. You're embarrassing me." She peaked up at her friend just ever so slightly. 'Besides, he would never talk to someone like me. I'm not even that pretty.' She thought to herself, pushing down her hoodie a little.

Will kicked her leg again, but just as gently as he had before. "Stop it. If he does hear you, you'd know how embarrassed poor Steph would feel. She'd never have the courage to face him even if he does try to talk to her." He explained, on the fence about whether he wanted to associate with the new kids.

Ariana sighed heavily, she didn't want to embarrass her friend furthermore than she already was. "All right, all right. I will let it go, but at least wave back." She nudged her, smiling and waving at Cooper who gave a small nod back.

Will threw Ariana a glare, resting his hand on Stephoné's shoulder. "I'll wave too so it's not that awkward." He whispered to his sister, looking over at Cooper and flashing a smile, waving a brief wave.

Stephoné took a deep breath and glanced over, giving a quick wave before looking back down at her food and finishing up the last little bit on her plate. 'I can't believe I just waved at him! I waved at the new kid! The soon-to-be popular new kid if he kept hanging out with Sabrina.' She thought, internally freaking out.

Cooper couldn't help but wave back as he interrupted by Sabrina. "Hmm, what?" He asked, breaking out of his thoughts.

Lacy looked over at Stephoné, Ariana, and Will, she rolled her eyes. "You weren't listening at all huh? You were too busy looking over there at Stephoné huh? Such a shy, sad girl, such a shame she is constantly in the hospital despite all the love and support she has." She inquired as she shook her head.

Sabrina glared over at Lacy, nudging her in the arm. "Yes, that's Stephoné and yes she's shy, always has been, dunno why." She quickly said, hoping and praying the three boys wouldn't have noticed Lacy's comment towards the mousy brown-haired girl beside him.

Cooper tilted his head at what she had said, confused about what she meant. "Stephoné? What is her name? Huh. What do you mean she is constantly in the hospital? What happened?" He asked, having no idea what she meant.

Daniel wasn't too sure he liked that Sabrina was telling them someone else's business. "I am not sure it is any of our business, especially since it seems you are not close to her at all." He looked between the three girls, raising his eyebrows.

Sabrina rested her elbows on the table, laced her fingers together, and rested her chin on her hands. "No, it isn't our business. Even if the whole school knows, we shouldn't be telling anyone someone else's business. It's not our story to tell." She explained through a forced smile.

Lacy got the memo and realized she had made a huge mistake. "Whoops, my bad. I thought I was talking in my head and not out loud. Forgive me, I never speak badly about anyone, it is wrong." She hoped they bought it.

Daniel wasn't so sure he believed her, but he didn't want a confrontation. "That's fine." He passively said, waving her off with his hand as he grabbed another fish stick. "We all make mistakes and we can only learn from them and never make them again."

Kiki quickly interjected herself into the conversation to make sure the atmosphere didn't remain awkward. "Who wouldn't be? If a cute new guy, who was my type, locked eyes with me, I would be blushing too and getting all sheepish." She sweetly explained, resting her cheek in her hand and glancing to Kwan for a brief moment.

Kwan bit his lip to keep from chuckling. "You have a point, Miss Cho." He flashed her a smile before taking another bite out of his fish stick. "It could could said about a cute girl who is also my type and just down right adorable in everything she does, hypothetically of course."

Kiki's eyes widened, she averted her gaze to her food and poked her fish stick with her finger. 'He called me Miss Cho . . . that's so adorable! He's adorable!' She inwardly squealed, trying to put a poker face on. "Yes, uh, hypothetically."

Lacy looked between Kwan and Kiki, wrinkling her nose in disgust. 'Are they flirting? They're most certainly flirting and talking about each other hypothetically.' She cringed, taking a bite out of her apple. 'Why am I the only one who doesn't get a chance to flirt with anyone? Hmph.'

"Anyways, it was very nice to talk to you." Sabrina quickly said, causing them to all look at her. "We always finish early to get to class before everyone else so we can get a good seat." She said, standing up and picking up her tray. "We will hopefully talk to you later." She waved to them as she and her friends  left the lunchroom.

Daniel watched her leave and let out a dramatic long and heavy sigh. "Oh my goodness. I was ten seconds away from strangling someone. She may be nice, but it is simply her trying way too hard to force being someone she clearly isn't." He groaned, running his hand through his hair.

Cooper glanced over at Stephoné, who was leaving with her friend and brother. "Stephoné seems like a sweet girl. I've noticed she does stick close with her two friends and focuses on school work." He mused taking another bite out of his apple.

Kwan nudged his friend, giving him a wide grin. "Oh, that is a keen observation. Have you been secretly studying her while you two are in a class?" He teased, giving his friend another nudge.

Cooper nudged him back, making Kwan drop his fish stick back onto the tray. "Stop teasing. It is a keen observation since you know I'm good at reading people. I've always been skilled that way and even helped you out many times, especially at balls." He countered, finishing his apple off and then the lunch bell rang, signaling it was over. "I suppose they are our cue to get to class." He stood up and grabbed his empty tray.

Kwan strode beside Cooper, Daniel on the other side. "Smile a bit Coop, school is half done. Then we can go home and swap about how our day was."

"Don't forget, we will have to do homework but that is the least of our worries." Daniel added, slumping his shoulders, feeling sluggish all of a sudden at the mere thought of homework.

Kwan set his empty tray with all the others as they existed the cafeteria. "On top we can work on prom: getting our outfits picked out and browsing the questions that have been submitted. It's always good to think ahead and concoct a good reply that reflects your feelings."

Cooper remained silently as he listened to his brother and friend converse with each other. He just hoped this time here would be as optimistic as Kwan and Daniel were being.

〰♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰

A/N:
Part of the previous chapter.

Chapter Talk:
This is a little short but it's fine. I've figured out I don't need to make all the chapters long, it's okay some are short.

Thanks for reading!