I consciously look a little bit at the back when I get up from my seat, and to my expectation blue eyes like Arctic Ocean stare right at me from the back. As if daring me to take a one step ahead. My nerves jangle but I put up a brave facade, I didn't do anything wrong. Peter seems unperturbed and snaps his fingers out in front of my eyes. " Lunch is it? How is the cafeteria around here. " He grins, his mole shining because of sunlight.

I don't answer him and think of ways to tell him that he should not sit with me. And most importantly why does he want to sit with me? Hasn't he realised that I am not the prettiest girl here more of fat. I mean he must have noticed Isabella, Sofia and Scarlett for sure. Doesn't he want to be there friends.

" Hey are you gonna answer me or I am supposed to starve on my very first day. "

" Our cafeteria is really nice. I think today is a burger and fries day. " Cathy says wistfully from the front table. Her cheeks still pink.

Oh Great. Now Cathy likes him, how can I say to him to get any other friends. But do you really wanted to say that yourself? To the first person after Cathy who wanted to be your friend without judging you.

Oh Shut up!

So with my eyes on the floor and nods to Peter and Cathy whenever they took my name, we headed towards cafeteria.

The cafeteria was jam packed as usual. A big table in the middle of it joined by several others where obviously the most famous students sat. The whole football team and their girlfriends and ofcourse the famous Isabella, Sofia and Scarlett. I tried to look if Peter seemed affected by the middle table. But he just gave them a curious glance, then started taking about his hometown New Jersey where he was born. He told us that he was living in Chicago for five years and shifted his school from there as his father was a doctor and he was needed in South Carolina for the Marine Corps hospital.

At that news I turned my head at him " My father is also a doctor. A neurosurgeon. "

" Oh cool. Another similarity" he winked. We were standing in the queue, most of the girls looking peevishly at me. Ofcourse they wanted to talk to him. But above all the gazes I felt the Arctic ones on my neck most. We got our lunch and chose a corner table which was big enough for the three of us.

Cathy was very much talking today which was a surprise but I was glad because it kept me away from the conversation. Well, but not for long.

" Who are the three girls who are staring at me like they gonna kill me. " Peter asks almost comically feigning as if he is threatened.

" Oh they like you. " I snicker. " This is their way. "

" We'll it's cringy. " Peter says cringing in his seat.

I almost give a laugh and take a sip of strawberry milk. But I try to not sputter it when I see Joseph and Shawn coming towards our table. My eyes widen and I shoot Joseph a repressive look, praying that nobody noticed. He prods me with imperious eyes and doesn't stop as if challenging me. My breath stops, my stomach jitters.

" May I take a seat? " He asks in indomitable undertone then without waiting for answer, he drags a chair from a nearby table and fix his seat, just near me, too near me. His legs touch mine and I jump slightly. Then control myself when I see everybody, I mean everybody staring right at the table.

Without making noise, I try to move my legs slightly away but he deliberately nears it from mine. Every inch of my leg tingles, I try to move away again but one look from his eyes. One baleful burning look, the look which says ' don't you dare' stops me.

I take a deep breath and try to level my stare with him. Saying with my eyes,   'you are an asshole'

He seems unperturbed then to my horror his right hand land on my legs. My heart stops, then pumps in my ears. The whole cafeteria is staring. Yes, we are sitting too close and his hand is under the table. But what if anyone noticed? What the hell he is trying to do.
I freeze and feel like my esophagus tube will fall out of my throat.

I dare to look around the table and see Cathy with her eyes looking like it will fall out if it's socket whereas Peter is just curiously looking at me then Joseph.

" May I too? " Shawn, Joseph's friend with messy hair and smug look wearing an Avengers t-shirt, says and takes a seat just opposite me,  near Cathy.

" So I heard from Mr. Rodgers that you wanted to get in football team? " Joseph asks looking towards Peter in a sanctimonious tone.

" Oh yes. " Peter's eyes level with Joseph's. And the next word he says are beyond mutinous " But what's it got with you. " He says in a friendly voice but the meaning behind it, is clearly visible from his eyes.

Ears of people near our table nearly stand with excitement like a bat's wing.

Joseph didn't stiff, didn't seem shocked by the answer but then a smile came on his face. A malicious ' oh you know' smile. Then in a voice like a guillotine he said, " Because I am the football captain."

Shawn near Cathy snickered and I looked at Peter pitifully. What did he got himself into.

" Cool. " Peter said as if the news didn't deter him at all. And by the amused look at his eyes said it didn't. " Mr. Rodgers told me that I could come in the field after school and he would be there. Then HE would decide that I am supposed to be in the team or not. " He said and smiled at Joseph in a 'piss off' way.

Then Peter looked at me and gave me his crinkled eye smile. Joseph's hand on my lap tightened. I looked at both of them blankly. I really wanted to slap Joseph's hand away. And I didn't have to wait so much it seemed, the three hyenas, Isabella, Sofia and Scarlett came littering towards us smelling fight and hot boys.
Their eyes all fervent, determined. Their modelesqueness perfectly in place.

Joseph's hand instantly went away from my lap. Ofcourse it will. He couldn't risk it in front of his fangirls. My eyes turned to slits and I readied myself for the hyenas play.

" Oh hiii. Didn't meet you today in the class. " Isabella directly tapped on Peter shoulder who turned with his eyebrows shot upwards.

" Hii, I am Isabella. " Isabella said extending her hands towards Peter. Peter ruminated for a moment then with a formidable look shook her hands ever slightly.

" These are my friends Sofia and Scarlett." Peter nodded at them and then just turned towards me and Cathy.

" Which class do you have next? " He asked looking directly at me. Pretending as if Isabella, Sofia or Scarlett was not standing beside him. Or as if Joseph or Shawn was still not sitting at our table.

Beside him Isabella, Sofia and Scarlett gasped with the whole cafeteria. Their mouths vivdly opened. Did he just ignore them? Like all of them? 

" Umm. I have US History. " I answer my mouth slightly agape.

" Cool, I have that too. You know what I think so except AP Calculus we have almost all our classes same n'est-ce pas merveilleux?" ( isn't it wonderful?)

Besides me Joseph stiffens. Like an icy rod. Then in surly voice below the freezing point of the Antarctica says " Be on time otherwise I don't think you'll able to get in, Mr. Rodgers or not. " Then he gets up from the table and without taking a look back steps out of the cafeteria.