Eleven

CHAPTER 11

Golden High Cafeteria.

The cafeteria was full and noisy as usual. At this time of the day, all the students would come to the cafeteria to receive the breakfast package provided by Golden High School. And the menu today was waffles, espresso and sandwiches. Most of the menu in the cafeteria was ordered by the students' parents, so Golden High School only adjusted the rest.

Alicia and Brittany sat in the corner at breakfast time. All the seats are filled as the students don't want to miss out on their special breakfast menu. Normally, the school would provide vegetables and fruits to boost the students' nutrition. So waffles and coffee are today's favorites.

The cafeteria tables are arranged as neatly as possible with four chairs each. A chandelier adorns the ceiling, providing light that is not too dazzling. The cafeteria door, made of transparent glass, witnessed the busy flow of students in and out of the cafeteria. They came and went, making the food counter keepers busier by the minute.

Brittany pushed her hair back after scooping a waffle with a spoon into her mouth. "Nic said Mr. Wilson bothered you yesterday. Is that true?"

Alicia nodded in agreement. "I didn't come to see Amanda because Mr. Wilson asked me to go to his room to verify some moving data," she said disappointedly, she also mumbled and said, "I'm honestly quite curious about Amanda."

Brittany chuckled softly. "That's too bad, yes. To be honest, Amanda intrigued me too. I thought you guys would meet, so I thought you could tell me about her." She reached into her jeans pocket and handed Alicia Nic's business card. "Call Nic if you have an emergency."

Alicia accepted the business card with Nicholas' name on it, as well as his phone number. She stared for a while, before looking back at Brittany in front of her. It seemed that Brittany didn't know that Nicholas and Alicia had exchanged cell phone numbers. Brittany was busy finishing her honey-covered waffles when Alicia finally said, "Okay."

Seeing that Alicia had already put away the business card, Brittany pointed at Alicia's face with the spoon. "You should give Nic my number, we're in a bad situation. James' killer could be hiding anywhere, you'll need Nic."

"You guys look close."

Britt took another bite of waffle and pointed at Alicia. She swallowed the last piece of waffle and replied, "Nic is like a brother to me. He's just annoying sometimes and---" Britt paused in her sentence when suddenly someone sat down to fill the empty seat in front of them. Britt raised both eyebrows. "Ace?"

Alicia, who had been looking seriously at her breakfast, looked up when she heard the name clearly. Ace Blake and Luke Hauld, now sitting in front of them (of course Ace with his guiltless expression and Luke with his forced face). Luke glared uncomfortably at Ace, before finally waving in front of Alicia and Brittany. "Hi."

Britt threw a look at Ace after throwing her spoon onto the plate. "What. What. You. Doing. Here. Mr. Blake?!" she asked with emphasis. She folded her arms across her chest, then raised one eyebrow. "Even if that chair is empty, you can't just occupy it."

The quiff-haired man seemed to have recently changed his hairstyle to an undercut and made it look darker with black paint. At first glance, Ace looked similar to Nicholas because of his new hair. They had the same dark hair and almost the same hairstyle.

"Brittany, can't you see? I'm enjoying my breakfast," he said, then noticed Alicia in front of him. Ace held up his hands, then smiled widely with confidence. "Enjoying my breakfast which looks delicious."

Alicia, who had noticed Ace's Nicholas-style hair change, was momentarily stunned. Either she was just feeling it, or Ace was copying the hairstyle of the young detective--who had threatened her--. She didn't focus on Ace who was trying to tease her.

Until Ace became annoyed. He crossed his arms over his chest and brought his face forward. "Hey, ash hair!" exclaimed Ace suddenly, his voice loud enough to make Alicia gasp. "Why are you looking at me like that? Am I too handsome and you're mesmerized by my perfect face?"

"Pfft! What's perfect? You're too confident, Ace," Brittany taunted.

But Ace didn't respond to Brittany and chose to keep staring at Alicia.

Alicia blinked a few times before shaking her head slowly and scooping the waffles with her spoon. "You remind me of someone," Alicia said amidst the awkward atmosphere at their table. She then shoved the spoonful of waffles into her mouth, while Britt and Luke exchanged surprised glances.

Ace crossed his arms over his chest without taking his eyes off Alicia. "Britt, I heard this gray-haired one is going out with that perverted detective?"

"Uhuk!"

Brittany coughed at the crazy question. She even accidentally nudged Alicia's drink, spilling the contents all over the floor. Brittany, feeling guilty, quickly got up. "Oh my, your drink..." She raised her index finger in the air and said, "Wait a minute, I'll replace it!" to Alicia. And a moment later, the blonde-haired girl was already making a small dash for the counter.

To be honest, Alicia wanted to stop Brittany because she could have done it herself. But it was too late. Meanwhile, Ace was grunting and rolling his eyes lazily - because his question was interrupted by the stupid thing Brittany had just done.

Alicia looked at Ace and Luke in turn, before finally resuming her delayed breakfast. Until suddenly the cafeteria door opened and revealed the figures of Elena and her two friends who appeared in a haughty manner.

They walked past the square tables that were arranged to fill the cafeteria to the corner of the room, right in front of them.

Elena didn't seem to notice Alicia's presence as she immediately sat behind Ace; her back to him. After a few seconds passed, Elena did not turn around at all. Could it be that she was avoiding Alicia?