Chapter 5

Lunchtime. The time everyone has been waiting for since breakfast. They were serving pizza and mystery soup. What is mystery soup, you ask? That's the mystery of it. After Kayden and I bought our food we found an empty booth, but it was beside Maddie's table. I hope she doesn't notice me, I'm not in the mood for her crap right now. As we're passing by her table someone sticks their foot in my path at the last second which causes me to lose my balance and drop my tray of food. I'm able to stop myself from falling on my face, but I'm unable to save my food. Great, I'm starving. "Oops, I'm sorry Aspen. I didn't see you there, it was almost like you were invisible" Maddie says with a smirk which causes the people at her table to snicker and laugh I huff as I quickly walk towards the booth where Kayden is sitting. As soon as I sit down he gives me a sad smile. "I saw what they did to you, you shouldn't let them bully you" he says which causes me to take a deep breath in and out so that I can calm my rapid breathing "It's December the first, Christmas break starts on the twentieth. I've been dealing with this since August, I can deal with it a little longer" I say calmly which causes him to frown at me but he doesn't get to speak since Charlotte sits down beside me "Who are you?" She asks with an annoyed tone. I touch her arm so that she can calm down a little. "This is Kayden, he's new. I met him in my second period class" I say as I look between the two of them cautiously. Charlotte is glaring at him and Kayden looks confused. "That doesn't explain why he's sitting here" she says with an impatient tone "I invited him, now be nice" I say with a stern tone since she's being ruder than normal "Whatever" She says as she pulls out a McDonalds bag from her backpack. She hands me a Big Mac and a large fry, I thank her before I devour the food. I look at her and notice that she's not eating anything. "Where's your food?" I ask as I swallow five fries. She looks at my curious expression and smiles before responding. "I ate it while driving back after I bought you that" she says calmly which makes me groan "I thought I told you to stop sneaking out of school" I say which causes her to roll her eyes "Relax, I snuck out after class" she says Ugh, I swear she's untamable. I look up only to see Kayden smiling at us with a knowing look. I raise an eyebrow at him questioningly. "Can I ask you a question?" He asks with a never ending grin. I have a feeling that Charlotte is about to give him a sarcastic response so I answer before she can open her mouth. "Sure" I say before I take a bite out of my Big Mac "By any chance, are you both dating?" He asks which causes me choke on the burger. Charlotte pats my back as she hands me a bottle of water which I accept immediately and chug. When I'm recovered I give him an incredulous look while Charlotte gives me a worried look. "What? No, we're best friends. She's like a sister to me" I say as Charlotte's hand continues to rub circles on my back "Even if we were dating, why would it be any of your concern?" Charlotte asks him with a glare which causes him to hold his hands up in surrender. He's about to respond before Maddie comes up to our booth with her boobs popping out of her top. "Charlotte, why are you sitting here? You should be sitting with me, where you belong" Maddie says as she slowly trails her finger up and down her arm Charlotte grabs Maddie's wrist and quickly twists it, smirking when she sees her flinch in pain. "Wherever Aspen is, is where I belong" Charlotte responds before letting go of her wrist and walking out of the cafeteria. I grab her stuff and pack up the remainder of my food before shoving it in her backpack. As I go to stand up Maddie pushes me down with a scowl. "You've brainwashed her, if it wasn't for you she would be dating me" she says before slapping my cheek which causes my head to jerk to the side. I was in shock. She's never slapped me. She's pushed me around, but never slapped me. I don't respond as I get up and walk out of the cafeteria. I take my ponytail out and fix my brown hair so that it's covering my red cheek before I search for Charlotte. I don't want her asking questions when I find her.