EPISODE 6.
The cafeteria buzzed with students chatting and eating.
Sia and Diana sat at a table, trying to focus on their food, but Sia's voice was laced with confusion as she asked. "Wait, what are you saying?"
Diana's eyes seemed to cloud over as she replied, her voice low.
"I'm serious, Sia. I wanted to tell you in class, but you weren't paying attention." Sia's eyes narrowed.
"I think you're misinterpreting his actions. Why would Michael Dickson be looking at you?." Her tone was skeptical.
Diana wondered if Sia was right, maybe she was reading too much into it.
"By the way, he has a reputation, and I'm just a new student," Diana said, trying to sound convincing. What was she expecting, liking a guy that has lots of girls on his feet? Funny none has been seen with him, well except Zoya. Sia raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that," she said with amusement.
Just then, Dave, one of Michael's friends, appeared at their table, flashing a charming smile. "Hello, girls. Mind if I join?" His eyes locked onto Diana.
Sia and Diana exchanged a wary glance before looking at Dave, who was already seated and eating. "What is a popular guy doing on our table?" Sia asked, her tone cautious.
Dave chuckled. "Come on, Sia, is that a good way to welcome me?" His eyes crinkled at the corners. As Dave turned his attention to Diana, she felt a flutter in her chest.
"So, Diana, how's your day going?" he asked, his voice friendly. Diana hesitated before responding.
"It's going well, thanks. Just trying to keep up with schoolwork." Dave nodded, his smile growing wider.
"We should study together sometime," he suggested, his eyes never leaving Diana's. Sia snorted, and Diana glanced at her, wondering if she should accept Dave's offer.
Diana's attention was drawn to Michael across the cafeteria, his gaze fixed intently on her. She felt a shiver run down her spine and quickly looked away, focusing on the conversation with Dave.
As Dave's gaze locked onto Diana, his eyes lingered in a way that made her uncomfortable. Sia's swift intervention was a welcome relief.
"Don't eat her alive with your eyes, Dave," she snapped, her voice laced with annoyance.
Dave's eyes flashed with irritation, but he refocused on Diana, a charming smile spreading across his face.
"Diana, if I may ask, do you have a boyfriend?" he inquired, his tone smooth.
Diana's eyes widened in surprise, and she shook her head, feeling a bit self-conscious. Dave's smile grew, and Sia's tension was palpable beside Diana. "Do you wish to have one, then?" Dave pressed on, his eyes never leaving Diana's.
Diana hesitated, her attention drifting back to Michael across the cafeteria. ⁹ He was chatting with his friends, but his gaze kept flicking towards her.
"Diana, are you listening to me?" Dave's voice broke her reverie, and she turned to him, feeling a bit guilty. Sia jumped in, her voice rising.
"Bro, let her eat and go back to your friends. What are you doing here?" Dave's expression darkened, and he shot Sia a warning glance.
"Fuck up Sia". His tone is velvet.
"Don't talk to my friend like that. You may be a popular guy in this school, but you're just a normal guy to me and my friend," Diana said, her voice loud enough to draw the attention of the entire cafeteria.
The room fell silent, and Dave's eyes narrowed.
...up his prey.
"Did you just yell at me?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.
Diana stood her ground, despite Sia's attempts to calm her down. "I didn't do anything wrong, except stand up for my friend. You were hurting her feelings with your words. Why are you angry? Just because I yelled at you?" she asked, her eyes flashing with defiance.
Dave's dark chuckle sent shivers down her spine as he leaned in, his piercing gaze searing her skin, leaving a mark that would linger long after the encounter.
"Protecting your friend, how sweet of you," he sneered, his breath wafting across her face, making her skin crawl.
"But I don't expect anything more from a whore's child," he added, his words slicing through her, echoing in her mind.
The cafeteria erupted into a cacophony of snickers and murmurs, the laughter and chatter swirling around her, threatening to consume her.
Her fist clenched, her eyes blazing with fury as she stared at Dave, his smirk gleaming on his face, inviting her to take a shot.
The air was electric with tension, the students' eyes fixed on the exchange, sensing the kill.
Without a moment's hesitation, Diana's fist flew, landing squarely on Dave's jaw with a resounding crack. The cafeteria gasped in unison, stunned silence hanging in the air.
Michael and his friends watched with rapt interest, Michael's smile spreading across his face, fueled by the drama unfolding before him.
As Dave's eyes narrowed, his glare piercing Diana, she stood her ground, her defiance burning brighter than ever. She wouldn't back down, not now, not ever.
The air was thick with anticipation as Dave's face turned red with rage, his eyes blazing with fury. He took a step closer to Diana, his fists clenched.
The students around them gasped, their voices rising in a chorus of shock and excitement. But before things escalated further, Michael intervened, his voice calm and authoritative.
"Dave, that's enough," he said, his eyes fixed on Diana. Dave's gaze flicked to Michael, and for a moment, it seemed like he would ignore him, but then he regained control.
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood," Dave sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Otherwise, you'd be sorry," he added, before turning and walking away.
**********
The tension was palpable as the boys sat in stunned silence, the air thick with anticipation. Michael's firm voice cut through the quiet, his words dripping with disdain.
"What's going on here? You think you can win the game, Dave? You've blown it. You're not allowed to play with us." Dave's face turned beet red with rage as he shot back, his voice trembling with fury.
"Who are you to kick me out, Michael? I'll win that five million no matter what. That girl slapped me in front of the entire school cafeteria. I'll make her pay for this humiliation." Scott chimed in, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"What are you going to do, Dave? The game's over for you." Dave's glare could have melted steel, his eyes blazing with anger and humiliation.
"This isn't over," he hissed, his voice barely audible.
Michael leaned back in his chair, exuding calm confidence, his piercing gaze locked on Dave's furious face. "I'm just stating the facts, Dave. You messed up. You can't play the game with a level head if you're ruled by emotions."
Dave's anger simmered like a volcano on the brink of eruption. For a moment, it seemed like he'd lash out, but then he regained control, his expression darkening into a scowl.
"You're just jealous, Michael. You think you're the only one who can win? I'll show you, I'll show all of you. I'll win that five million, and Diana will pay for what she did." Michael raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Dave's determination.
"I'm not trying to win, Dave. I'm just enforcing the rules. And if you can't follow them, maybe you're not cut out for this."
The tension between Dave and Michael was electric, the other boys watching with bated breath as the standoff continued. Joseph leaned forward, a sly grin spreading across his face like a crack in a wall.
"Let's see how this plays out, guys. This could get interesting.". As the confrontation escalated, Dave tried to storm out of the apartment, but Michael blocked his path.
"You're not going anywhere until school is over." The others exchanged confused glances.
"And why is that?" Dave demanded, his eyebrow arched in defiance. Michael's smile was a thin-lipped warning.
"You really want to face the gossipmongers after that public humiliation? They'll feast on your misery. If you step out now, things will get ugly." Dave's silence was a tacit admission of Michael's words.
Michael's smile grew wider as he recalled Diana's slap. He felt a surge of admiration for her bold move.
He bounded upstairs, leaving the boys, and flopped onto his bed, his mind wandering back to their first encounter.
"Interesting lady," he chuckled to himself. A knock at the door broke the spell, and he rose to answer it.
Joseph stood there, grinnin
g. "May I come in?" Joseph asked. Michael nodded, and Joseph slipped inside.