The cafeteria has never been this quiet.
Not when the food fights happened last year.
Not even when someone brought their pet snake in for "emotional support."
Nope. Nothing beat the tension sitting at Table 7.
I was in the middle.
To my left? Marina Godfrey.
Sass queen. Glasses. Cardigan and sarcasm. Probably could've started a revolution if she wasn't too busy roasting capitalism on Reddit.
To my right? Celestia Valentina Moreau.
The literal devil in a crop top. Beauty so fatal it should come with a health warning. And the only girl I've seen make three dudes trip over themselves by just breathing near them.
And both of them?
Staring at each other like two apex predators who just realized they share a territory.
I sat between them like the dumb gazelle who wandered into their hunt.
"Love the boots," Marina said sweetly, stabbing her salad like it owed her rent.
Celestia's lips curled. "Thank you. They're limited edition. Custom. From Milan."
> "Oh. Milan. I think my cleaning lady's from there."
I choked on air.
Celestia's eyes glittered. "That's adorable. Your cleaning lady probably has great taste. I always support the help."
Marina's eyebrow twitched. "Right. You're into charity."
"She does charity, too," I muttered, stupidly.
Both of them turned their heads and stared at me.
Simultaneously.
"Sorry," I whispered, sitting straighter. "I'll shut up."
"Good boy," Celestia said with a pat on my thigh that absolutely did not help with my self-control issues.
Marina raised an eyebrow. "Wow. You trained him fast."
Celestia just sipped her smoothie like she wasn't actively choosing violence. "It's easy when you know how to motivate someone. Properly."
I turned to dust inside.
Marina leaned in, smirking now, voice low. "Y'know, I missed this. Hanging out with Kai. We've been through a lot."
"Oh?" Celestia purred, leaning forward too. "Like what?"
Marina looked at me and winked. "Remember that one time I stayed over during that snowstorm? You snored like a dying puppy."
I turned red. "Marina—"
Celestia tilted her head. "You stayed over?"
"Totally innocent," Marina said. "I mean, I did borrow his hoodie. And his blanket. But hey, we were just friends, right?"
Celestia didn't blink. "That hoodie. Was it blue?"
> "…Maybe."
"Interesting. That's mine now."
"Oh, you're collecting things?" Marina asked. "Cute. I've already got the childhood memories and the emotional vulnerability."
Celestia leaned in, smile like a knife. "I've got the lips."
"WHAT?" I said, voice cracking.
Marina blinked.
Celestia sipped her smoothie again, entirely unbothered.
Marina turned to me. "You kissed her?"
"Technically she kissed me."
"Technically he liked it," Celestia added.
"Oh I know he liked it," Marina shot back, eyes narrowing. "He's a nerd. Nerds like danger."
"You're not wrong," Celestia said, tracing a finger up my arm. "He's adorable when he's scared."
"I am right here," I said, hands up. "And I'd like to—"
"Shh," they both said at the same time.
I closed my mouth.
A group of rich jocks at the next table were watching with wide eyes, half-eating, half-betting on which girl would flip the table first.
Celestia crossed her legs, casually. "You're funny, Marina. I like you."
"That's good," Marina said, voice velvet-smooth. "Because I might be sticking around."
Celestia's eyes sharpened. "Sticking around how?"
"I dunno." Marina looked up innocently. "Group projects. Movie nights. Study sessions. Might even decide to flirt."
"You won't."
> "I might."
Celestia leaned in close, lips at my ear, but eyes still locked on Marina. "If she flirts with you, you don't flirt back."
"…What if I don't flirt at all?"
Celestia smiled. "Then I won't have to murder anyone."
Marina raised both eyebrows, clearly enjoying herself way too much.
Celestia stood, graceful and lethal. "Kai, come on. We're leaving."
"What—now?"
"Yes. Now."
She didn't wait. She just turned and walked off.
I stood, looked back at Marina, who was smirking.
"She's not gonna kill me, right?" I asked.
"No promises," Marina said. "But hey, if she does — I'll give your eulogy."
"Comforting."
> "Just make sure you don't let her eat your soul. Or your bank account."
I nodded. "I'll try."
Then I left, following the girl who already owned half my wardrobe, all my free time, and—if I wasn't careful—
Maybe even my firstborn child.