Chapter: Cafeteria Tension
The cafeteria was its usual midday chaos—trays clattered, voices bounced off the walls, and the air was thick with fried food and drama waiting to happen.
Ariel sat with Mia and Ashley, tucked into one of the side tables. Her silver hair shimmered under the harsh fluorescent lights, falling down her back like a silken waterfall. She stirred her juice absently, lost in thought. The memory of the woods, the strange voice calling her Hazel, and Allan's sudden appearance—his hand catching hers, the strength in his grip—looped in her mind like a secret she couldn't shake.
"…are you even listening?" Mia nudged her gently.
"Huh?" Ariel blinked out of her daze.
"You've been zoning out since lunch started," Ashley added. "What's going on with you?"
Before Ariel could answer, laughter rang from the center of the cafeteria. Eleanor had entered like she owned the room, flanked by her trio—Daisy, Lucy, and Selen—all of them dressed immaculately despite their uniforms. Eleanor's eyes found Ariel instantly, narrowing as a smirk tugged at her lips.
"Well, well," Eleanor said, sauntering over. "If it isn't Miss Snowflake and her shadows."
Ariel didn't flinch. "What do you want, Eleanor?"
"Oh nothing," Eleanor said with a shrug. "Just wanted to say it must take a lot of nerve to walk around here like you belong."
"Maybe because she does," Ashley said sharply.
Eleanor laughed, fake and loud. "Please. Her hair practically screams 'look at me.' I mean, who dyes their hair silver unless they're begging for attention?"
"It's not dyed," Ariel muttered, jaw tight.
"She's just mad you're prettier than her," Mia said under her breath.
"What was that?" Selen stepped forward.
Before it could escalate further, Cara strolled in, her presence instantly shifting the energy. She was all poise and confidence, her Scottish accent cool as ice. Nari and Carly followed behind her like a mini entourage.
"Wow, Eleanor," Cara said smoothly. "Still bullying underclassmen to feel relevant?"
Eleanor sneered. "This doesn't concern you."
"It does when you mess with my cousin's friend," Cara replied, nodding to Ariel. "Maybe you should worry less about Ariel's hair and more about your own desperate attempt to stay interesting."
Selen scoffed. "You think you're so clever."
Cara's eyes sparkled dangerously. "No, love. I know I am."
Eleanor's face reddened. "You're just Allan's spoiled cousin with too much mouth."
"And you're just the girl Allan stopped talking to," Cara said, her tone laced with venom.
Eleanor's jaw clenched.
That was when Allan walked in with Ian, Owen, and Ken—shoulders squared, presence calm but unmistakably dominant. The cafeteria buzzed low with whispers.
He said nothing. Just a look. A single glance aimed directly at Eleanor.
She froze.
And that silence spoke volumes.
Eleanor stepped back, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "Whatever. I'm not wasting my energy here." With a scoff, she turned and walked off, her girls scurrying behind her.
Ariel sat stiffly, her heart still pounding from the confrontation.
Allan said nothing to her. His gaze lingered briefly before he turned toward Cara.
"You owe me for saving you from that mess," he said quietly.
Cara smirked. "Don't act like you didn't enjoy shutting her down."
Ian chuckled. "Man, she looked like she swallowed a lemon."
Ken clapped Allan on the back. "All in a day's work, huh?"
As the group drifted to their usual table, Ariel's eyes followed Allan. She still didn't understand him, didn't know why he saved her in the woods or why she was still thinking about it.
But one thing was certain—nothing about him was normal.
And neither was she.
---
Ariel made a mental note to confront Allan. She had walked away from him that night—furious, confused, and overwhelmed. But now, the questions were louder in her head than ever, and she was done ignoring them.
As the final bell rang and students poured out for closing period, Ariel spotted him. Allan. Standing tall near the park bench just outside school, flanked by his usual trio—Ian, Owen, and Ken—and a few other students lingering nearby.
Without hesitation, Ariel stomped toward them, her silver hair catching the sun, eyes blazing with determination.
"Hey!" she called out sharply. "I need to talk to you about last night."
Allan's gaze snapped to her. His expression tensed. "Not here," he said quickly, voice low and edged with warning.
"What happened last night?" Owen piped up, glancing between them.
"You two a thing or something?" Ian added,with a teasing grin.
More curious voices joined in, whispers stirring as students started paying attention, some nudging each other, eyebrows raised.
Ariel was about to respond when Allan suddenly grabbed her by the wrist—not roughly, but firm—and pulled her aside, away from the growing crowd. The suddenness of it caused a ripple of gasps and murmurs from those watching.
"Sheesh," someone muttered. "That looked intense."
"Did she just confess in public?"
"Are they actually dating?"
But Ariel barely heard them. Her heart was thudding again—not from fear this time, but from the fire that wouldn't die down.
"Allan," she snapped once they were out of earshot, "we need to talk."
Perfect! Let's continue right from where we left off:
Allan leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You were the one who shouted across the park like we were in a school play."
Ariel folded her arms, her voice low but intense. "You know something, don't you?"
"Know what?" he asked, eyes narrowing slightly as he tilted his head. "You'll need to be more specific."
"You were there that night," she pressed, stepping closer. "In the woods. You saved me. How did you even find me? And how did you know I was in danger?"
Allan's gaze flickered briefly. "You're mistaken. You were probably just… imagining things."
"Imagining?" she scoffed. "I saw you. You knew my name, Allan. You called me Hazel."
That made him go silent for a second too long.
She caught it. "Exactly. No one calls me that except—" she stopped herself. "Look, I don't know what you are, or what that whole thing in the woods was, but it wasn't normal. And neither are you."
"I'm not the one wandering into haunted woods because a voice called my name," he said, the corner of his lips twitching.
Ariel glared. "That's not funny."
"No, it's not," he agreed softly. "It's dangerous."
Her heart skipped. "So you do know something."
"I know you shouldn't go back there," he replied, his voice quieter now. "Ever."
"Why? What's there? What was that thing chasing me?"
Allan looked at her for a long time, like he was weighing his answer. Then he said, "Some questions… you really don't want answers to."
Ariel stared at him, her breath shaky. "Why did you save me?"
He looked away. "I don't know."
"Liar."
He looked back at her sharply. "Maybe I didn't want to watch someone walk into something they weren't ready for. Maybe I don't need a reason."
There was silence for a beat, the tension thick between them.
"Thank you," she said quietly, surprising herself.
Allan nodded once. "Just… stay away from the woods."
"Not until I find out what's calling me."
"You're stubborn," he muttered.
"And you're hiding something," she replied, then turned on her heel and walked away.
He watched her go, the silver strands of her hair catching the dying light like threads of moonlight.
"Hazel…" he whispered under his breath. "Why now?"
Just as Ariel made it halfway down the hallway, Allan's voice called out behind her—calmer this time, lower.
"Ariel."
She stopped but didn't turn around immediately. "What now?"
He took a few strides forward until he was beside her. His tone was different—almost uncertain. "There's a gala… this Saturday."
She turned to face him, raising a brow. "And?"
"I'm going," he said simply. "And I need a plus one."
"You need a plus one, or you want me to come with you?" she asked, arms folded, cautious but curious.
There was a pause. Allan looked straight at her, expression unreadable but serious. "I want you to come with me."
Ariel blinked, caught off guard. "Why me?"
He shrugged lightly, but his eyes lingered on her like they already knew the answer. "You're different."
She narrowed her eyes. "That's not much of a reason."
"It's the only one I'm giving."
There was silence between them again. Her gaze searched his face—still unreadable, still guarded, but something underneath… maybe a flicker of sincerity.
"You're not exactly the easiest person to be around, you know," she muttered.
"And you're not the easiest to ignore."
She bit her lip, trying not to smile. "Fine. I'll think about it."
He nodded, a small smirk ghosting over his lips. "Don't take too long."
As he turned and walked away, Ariel called after him, "Is this your way of saying sorry?"
He paused but didn't look back. "Maybe."