<No one knows us 'cos no one knows the loneliest person>

|3|

FOOD, AMAZING, delicious food is life. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Besides the library, the cafeteria was my favorite place in the whole school and it's not because of the people but the food. Savory concoctions were my weakness and the food served here was incredible.

I stepped into the long line and about a hundred people seemed to be in front of me. Okay, I was exaggerating but hunger made me delusional.

A while ago, Mom had suggested that I come with my own lunch. It was of course healthier and I didn't have to stand on this dastardly long line but Kian and his 'friends' made fun of me till I stopped about a year ago.

Finally, I thought as I got to the lunch lady, a red-faced, tired looking woman sweating profusely despite the various air conditioners here. There wasn't any doubt that standing up for hours to serve students who didn't appreciate your efforts could make you exhausted.

"Yes? What would you like today?" she asked using a white handkerchief to wipe away the sweat on her face.

My gaze shifted to the counter, undecided and tempted to have a bit of every single thing. There were many dishes to choose from. Mac and cheese was on the menu. So was grilled chicken, chicken nuggets, chicken parm, fries, fruits and fruit juices of all the fruits I liked: orange, apple, strawberry and pineapple.

"Young lady, there's still a long line behind you," the woman pointed out, her fatigue showing in her voice.

"Sorry Ma'am, but it's just so hard to choose. Everything here looks so delicious," I said, still gazing at the food displayed.

Someone jabbed me from behind. "Can you get on with it already?" the annoyed voice asked. I rolled my eyes.

Okay, Olay, stop being picky and choose already.

"Uhmmm. . . I need some mac and cheese, grilled chicken, two apples and a glass of pineapple juice. Thank you." When I had stopped carrying a lunch bag to school, Mom had insisted I eat nutritious meals and I tried to follow her orders.

"Okay, here you are." She began putting what I had requested on a metal tray.

"Here you go. Next!" She handed me the tray.

"Thank you Ma'am," I replied, glad that I was finally going to eat.

"You're welcome dear. I hope you enjoy your meal." The woman gave me a wan smile.

"Sure thing!" I smiled back and walked over to the only available table, the one close to the waste bin.

Since I had no friends, I stayed alone at a table. Nobody was willing to invite me over and I knew better than to ask, I could survive alone.

Sitting down, I dug in. My taste buds exploded immediately when the grilled chicken reached my tongue. It was hot, spicy and made my mouth water. They sure made good food here. I went on with the mac and cheese. It was great too but what I'd enjoyed most was the grilled chicken. In no time I was done eating. Only the two apples and my fruit juice remained.

Satisfied that I wasn't hungry anymore, I checked my watch. 12: 20 p.m, ten minutes more for break to end. With nowhere to go, I picked up an apple and started munching away.

I scanned the cafeteria.

Just like your typical high school, Penfield wasn't any different, besides probably the food. Each type of student had a table kept for themselves during lunch.

The popular students were situated on the first table. During meals, it was usually the noisiest table, like right now. Next was the in-betweens, they weren't popular and they weren't unknown either. They were just there. Then, the nerds and bookworms. They were the least popular and were really quiet, I guess they didn't need any attention. After the nerdy students were the weirdos. They usually huddled into a group and true to their name, did really weird stuff that I didn't care to know.

Finally it was me.

I had a whole table to myself. No one ever came over to sit with me, not even people with the colour of my skin. Kian had warned them never to be seen talking to me or else they would get the same treatment as me. No one was courageous enough so they acted as if I wasn't one of them.

Mom must have made a mistake while giving me a name at birth. It should have been 'lonely'.

12:25 p.m.

Five more minutes remaining for break to end. A. P Biology was the next lesson and I didn't want to be late. Biology was my favorite subject and besides Mrs. MacGregor never tolerated lateness.

I ate the other apple quickly and was about to gulp down my pineapple juice when I heard a familiar voice.

"Drop it down black bitch."

No. Not now. Not again.

I dropped the glass cup down, turned around and my heart dropped.

Kian and his not so friendly friends were here.

God, why me? I asked myself, my eyes glued on them, watching their every move. They watched me back with fierce eyes. I was the prey now and they, the predators.

Kian moved closer. A top that was inscribed with the inscription Bow To Thy King, accentuated his abs and a ripped black jean was above white sneakers. As always, he was gorgeous.

He glanced at my empty tray, then back at me. "I wonder how you actually eat and still not get fat."

Katharina cat walked over, placing her tapered fingers that were painted blood red on Kian's right shoulder.

"Don't act too surprised. She might have a worm eating all that food in there. Little wonder she's slimmer than a wall post."

They laughed, a loud harsh sound. I remained mute and tried to block away her words.

"Black bitch, do you think she's right?" Kian asked me.

I fumbled with my white shirt. If I said no, I would be punished and if I said yes I'd still be punished. So I stuck with being neutral.

"I don't know."

He placed a finger on my chin and lifted it up so that I was facing him. I wanted his finger off me.

"Are you sure?" he drawled and trailed his finger over my lips. Eww, this was more than repulsive. What was he doing?

Thorny stares drilled into my skin. Everyone in the cafeteria was staring at us.

I nodded, fear petrifying me. Dread curled in the pit of my tummy as I wondered what he was going to do next.

"Relax. Your body's so tense. It's not like I'm about to rape you or something. Or should I?" Kian tapped the other finger on his jaw, giving the impression that he was thinking of doing that ugly deed.

I was petrified. Rape? Has it eventually come to that? Yes, Kian bullied me but it never went this far. Never.

No! Get your shitty hands off me right now, I thought trying not to think of his finger that still lingered on my face. This time, he was caressing my cheeks. Disgusting.

"Kian." Katharina pouted.

"Stop touching her ugly face. You might get contaminated from whatever she's carrying on that black skin of hers." A glare thrown my way, her eyes conveyed the message that I was the trash she badly wanted to throw away.

Kian lifted his fingers off my chin. Thank you Lord, I sent a grateful prayer to God, but he wasn't done yet.

He gave Katharina his full attention. "You know, you're right. I might get sick and it'll be because of black bitch here."

Then returned back to me.

"Well, as the loving and kind hearted girl I am Kian, I'll deal with her for you." Katharina held my glass of pineapple juice and tossed it my direction, drenching me in a rain of icky juice. The whole room shrieked wildly in laughter.

The only thing I did was to survey them with a broken look, shocked and numb at what she had done.

Kian took out his phone and began taking pics of me appearing like a drowned rat.

"Wow! You look beautiful for the first time in your pathetic life. I'll post this on Instagram. Imagine the caption, Black Bitch Gets Soaked In Pineapple Juice. Damn I'm so creative."

He smirked at me and lowered his voice in a taunting tone. "I can see you're not enjoying yourself but who cares?"

"No one!" an unknown person yelled from the crowd.

He cocked his head. "And that's correct. Thank you to whoever said that." Someone in the crowd whooped.

Kian threw me a look, his face the exact picture of sadism. "I'm posting your lovely picture on Twitter, trying to make you popular and yet you're not thanking me? Tell me thank you right now."

If you can't understand how God could create someone who seemed so perfect and still be flawed at the same time, then you were in my shoes at the moment.

I gazed at him, tears in my eyes and said in a wobbly voice, "Thank you Kian."

He chuckled. "That wasn't so hard now was it? And you're welcome. I'm always at your service, Ma'am." And with a flourish, he bent forward in my direction, a mock bow accompanying that gesture. The room roared with laughter once more.

The electronic bell rang indicating the end of recess and their taunts. Mission accomplished, Kian signalled to his friends and they left me sitting down there, cold pineapple juice stuck to my body.

The other students left too, some with pity in their gazes but I didn't need any sympathy at all. I didn't need anyone.

Drying my eyes with the back of my hands, I left the cafeteria. Lucky enough, I had a set of clothes in my locker so I changed rapidly into them. No way could I wash my hair without wasting time so I left it, pineapple juice or not.

I tossed my watch a quick glance. 12:40. Great. A. P. Biology had already started and Mrs. MacGregor would be mad at me. If she was, so be it. Squaring my shoulders, I went to class.

"Hold it there missy. Where are you coming from?" she asked me, her thick glasses perched on her nose and chin wobbling slightly.

"Sorry. I was at the clinic, had a stomach bug. It's all cleared up now." My classmates snickered. I pretended not to notice, I was good at that now.

"Okay then. Go on to your seat and open to chapter 24," she ordered and turned back to the board. At least, she wasn't like most teachers who ensured that a student wasn't telling a lie.

"Thank you," I replied and went to sit over at the back.

Bringing out my books and turning over to the requested page, I tuned out the incident that had occurred at the cafeteria. Learning was easier and it helped me forget.

A/N: How's this chapter? Good? I hope it is. Please vote and comment. Thank you!

Nita.