I haven't updated this in a long time, but I think I'm going to start updating this more often :)))))

NOTE: THIS IS A CLICHE-ISH story

Holy fuck.

    The tray in my hand seems to shake, the noodles twirled into one of the styrofoam containers jiggling like jello. I never noticed how many people eat in this cafeteria, this must be some sort of fire hazard.

    "Piper!" I turn quickly to see Nolan waving me over to his table, Mike and Will next to him and a few other nameless faces around them.

    Here goes nothing.

    I smile at him, and maneuver around the various waving hands and flying forks to get to his table, settling down next to him.

    "What's for lunch, Ms. Reynolds?" He asks with a mouth full of sandwich and I crinkle my nose at him.

    "No, you are not getting any of my food, I need to bulk up for the winter."

    He pokes me in the side, causing me to giggle.

    "Such a chipmunk."

    I laugh and look across the table and Mike and Will, who smile at my exchange with Nolan.

    "What?" I ask, taking a sip from my water bottle.

    "Nothing, you just look super familiar." Mike squints at me and I freeze, the bottle cap in mid-twist as I wait for him to say it. Say that I don't belong here, at this table, in their world.

    "She looks like Miranda Kerr!" Will says quickly, wagging his finger in realization. I let out a silent exhale of relief.

    I look to the side to see Nolan's jaw unclench, he was scared too.

    An itch in the back of my mind says he knows I don't belong here, but just doesn't want to say it.

    "What's up, buttercup?" I look up at the feminine tone, and see a red headed girl smile down at Will, who grins widely, pulling her down in the seat next to him, kissing her cheek.

    Nolan and Mike promptly let out wolf-whistles and fan themselves.

    I examine the girl, trying to determine whether she's friend or foe.

    She has a kind face, heart-shaped, and giant eyes like a stuffed animal. She looks up at me and smiles brightly, and I smile back.

    "Hi," she says, working her hand out of Will's grip, and reaching it out to me. "I'm Allison." I take her hand, and shake it with a wry smile.

    "Piper." I respond, and she giggles.

    "She looks a lot nicer than Melissa, Nolan." She gives a wink in his direction, and we both immediately go into our usual routine.

    "What?" "No." "We're literally best friends." "-Like my sister" "Gross."

    "Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" She puts a hand over her mouth and blushes, and I immediately know we're going to get along well. Most people just continue to wink or grin.

    I look over to Nolan, ready to let out a classic jab about Ducky or how I saw him naked when he was 10, but his jaw is tight as he focuses on his sandwich as if it's the most important thing in the world.

    "Hey-" I am about to ask him what's wrong, placing a hand on his back, when a slim shadow appears above me. I rotate my attention to see Melissa's blotched face, as she glares down at me evilly.

    "Nolan, can I talk to you?" She snaps, harshly, forcing her gaze over to Nolan.

    He doesn't even look up at her.

    "Nope." He quips, and takes a huge bite of his sandwich.

    "It wasn't a request, Nolan. I need to talk to you." I can practically hear the grinding of her teeth.

    "And this isn't a negotiation, Melissa. No." I snap my mouth shut, holding in a laugh.

    "And what's so funny, bitch? I don't remember involving you in this conversation." She snaps at me, and bit my lip, clenching my fist tightly.

    Do not punch her, Piper. She has freaking tiger nails, and you have to keep your eyesight.

    "I wasn't aware it was a conversation, Melissa. Seemed like a simple rejection to me." I smile sweetly, and I hear Mike and Will chuckle deeply.

    Melissa looks as if I'd just told her I was going to kill her family, her face growing redder by the second.

    "Since when are you worthy of even looking at me, whore? Go back to being nothing and leave us all alone."

    I just stare at her, my mind flitting from hurt to anger to sadness.

    I have two options, I could punch her, or I could punch her.

    Hard choice.

    But it's a choice I don't get to make because Melissa just grins darkly, and slaps me across the face.

    The entire cafeteria goes silent, and all eyes are on us.

    I blink slowly, trying to decide if I'm hallucinating or not. What, the actual, fuck.

    Every fiber in my body is telling me to destroy this bitch, but I see Nolan's body rise behind me, and he gets right in Melissa's face.

    "Don't ever, touch her again. Get over yourself, Melissa. Now, fuck off." And he returns to his seat, resting a hand on my knee.

    "Hope you learned your lesson, slut." She hisses and turns away, exiting the cafeteria with a slam.

    The closing of the door allows the regular noises to continue, and everyone has already forgotten what happened.

    Nolan touches my chin, examining the no-doubt red mark on my cheek.

    "It's not bad, her barks worse than her bite."

    "You would know wouldn't you." I quip and give him a grin.

    "Nolan, I'm sorry," Allison gapes, "But how the hell did you date her for so long?"

    He just shrugs, taking a swig from his water. "We didn't spend that much time talking."

    Mike and Will whoop, but Allison smacks Will's arm and he just pokes her cheek.

    The rest of lunch is blissfully uneventful, and by the time it's over, I don't feel out of place, I fit perfectly here, with my best friend.