CHAPTER 3: Say my name

"Mystery Cafeteria Boy!"

He stopped at first then whirred around, facing me full on.

His eyes were blazing red.

"You're my ticket back to basketball. I need you to go to class and show up on all school days." I said with a false bravado. In all honesty, I was scared shitless.

He looked intimidating, standing there, staring down at me with mean eyes and tightly drawn lips.

First, he put his hands in his ears to remove the airpods, which means he had them on the whole time we were in the Principal's office. This was not good at all.

This means he wasn't really listening to what she said and his 'yes' was performative at best.

"Shoo away," his hands waving in the air to indicate that he needed me to be gone.

Shoo away. Like I was a bird or a little kid he could dismiss. I swallowed every single complaint I could think of choosing instead to say, "You promised the Principal in there that you will come to class and assist me this year?"

For the second time in the space of an hour he looked at me like I was stupid again. This time he also looked irritated.

"Aww. You must have thought we had a moment on the bench outside there and we became besties or something." He waited after delivering that part for me to answer but just when I gathered my wits around me to answer he crushed me even further.

"We are not friends. I do not care about you or your troubles. I do not plan to care about you. I am not interested in how you navigate repeating a year. We are not brothers in arms just because we are both stuck.

How do you not plan to care about someone? What if I was dying?

"I need you to honor your word. A man should honor his word always, he is nothing without it." The last part I quoted from probably a Denzel Washington film.

He began to walk away from me again.

"Mystery Cafeteria Boy," I called out and tugged on his sleeves.

I shrunk in fear and covered my head with my hand, because he looked like he wanted to hit me.

This was how Pa always looked whenever he wanted to hit mum.

We were standing so close to each other, I could feel the heat radiating from him and my insides felt strangely warm.

His hands picked the hand shielding my head and with all his strength brought it to stay at my sides. I still kept my head to the side avoiding his gaze, cowering in fear.

His hands came to my neck next, closing in around them not so tight that I couldn't breathe, instead in a way that he could direct my gaze to his.

"Look at me," his deep voice commanded.

I couldn't bring myself to disobey. To look elsewhere from him.

So I did just as he commanded.

He held my stare, his gaze held mine sharply. The steely glint in his brown eyes felt like a sharp warning to me not to defy him.

His brown eyes were dark. His forehead rumpled in a wrinkle that made him seem more formidable.

But now that I was forced to stare, I understood what compelled every one in that cafeteria room.

He was beautiful. I know men aren't supposed to be said to be beautiful but he was. His jaw was sharp and well chiseled and he had long sooty lashes that most girls will die for. His hair kept falling on his face, and my fingers itched to push it away on his behalf. Not sure why I wanted to do that either.

He held my gaze for less than a minute but it felt way longer than that.

The bell rang at this point, indicating the switch of classes. I fidgeted at this point. I wouldn't want anyone to walk past us and find us pressed together with his hands around my neck.

The more I fidgeted, the more he refused to let go.

I could hear footsteps begin to make their way closer, but he wouldn't let go. His grip was tight. A little more force and it will cause pain but it wasn't yet.

"Luka," he growled.

I looked at him without any clue.

"My name is Luka, not Mystery Cafeteria Boy." I nodded in understanding thinking he was going to let me go now.

"Say it," he whispered, low and dangerous.

"Luka," I let out softly.

"Good." Then he let go of me. Just like that, he was walking back towards the door I was trying to stop him from.

I wanted to call him till I heard the whispers and clicks. The whole of the senior class was out. They must be going towards the labs for their next class. Everyone was standing there watching us with their mouths wide open.

Maya was shooting daggers at me. Like she wanted me six feet under and she wanted it fast.

All my former classmates had seen us standing there,I wanted so badly to die of mortification. Dying with the floor opening and sinking me in it wouldn't be such a bad idea right now.

"Why are you lot, littering the school's corridor? Go to your next classes now!" A teacher's voice called out and everyone began to disperse, their tongues wagging with ripe rumors.

Tammy and Luka walked past me, their eyes full of disappointment not saying even a word. I scampered away too.

I didn't even do anything wrong, it was him, mystery cafeteria boy, Luka.

****

I spent the rest of the day with my head on my locker till it was time for lunch.

Worry knotted my insides. This was the first time I was caught on Camera. To be caught on camera means it could be posted anywhere on the internet, and invariably means that if I didn't make sure none of those pictures and videos got out I was in soup.

What if someone in our old life found it.

I didn't want to run again. The whole thought was so overwhelming I felt queasy.

When it was lunch time, I dragged myself to the cafeteria.

I would skip going to the cafeteria if I could afford it but I honestly couldn't. I was hungry.

I had barely made it to our usual seat with a plate of fries, burger and coke when the rest of my crew came pulling up to me.

I sighed a little in relief, at least eating together was still normal for us.

Until you have to pack up and leave like you did the last time.

I suddenly felt sick, knowing that I would have to pack up and leave if this video gets out. Without any explanation to either Tammy or Jamie. To explain means I wanted to leave history and friendship and connect in the new place I am. I couldn't do that, We will be found like that.

I was so lost in thought, I didn't notice Jamie stealing from my plate.

I swiped his hands away. "Don't eat from my food."

He just shrugged. Tammy was unusually quiet and I knew it wasn't going to last. She was going to ask me what happened earlier.

"What were you doing with Luka Donatelli in the hallway?" She asked, her eyes narrowed.

She didn't like him. I don't know why, but she didn't.

Speaking of him must have conjured him up, because there he was with his backpack heading towards Maya and her crew. I watched him till he was fully at their table. I watched his face transform into a genuine smile and I marvelled at it.

How did he get to smile, when because of him my whole life is about to be turned upside down?

How did he deserve that?

He was sitting beside Maya and her boobs were pressed on his arm. Then Luka raised his head and he caught me staring at him.

I didn't bother to hold his gaze, instead I faced Maya, "Nothing. We were just caught in an awkward position." I got up after that and carried my tray. "Later guys. I have to get to class."