Trust In Love - Chapter 245

The cafeteria hummed with energy. Most of the tables had been occupied by the students. Tall windows lit up the room, illuminating its white theme—cream walls, white tables and ivory tiles. Occasional laughter echoed from a table. Friends discussed different interests, bonding together while they could.

They didn’t always share the same classes.

Logan sneezed.

He rubbed the tip of his nose, guessing that Alex had just cursed him. The line for food was scarce. He looked over the dishes behind the food display, debating between the hamburger and the spaghetti.

“Are you considering the spaghetti because it’s what Alex orders?” Jae asked. He grabbed a tray and joined his brother on the queue.

“I just remembered that she liked it.” Logan blinked. He smiled at the server and said, “I’ll have the spaghetti please.”

His twin coughed beside him. “Whipped.”

He gave Jae a glare, raising his tray for the server to place his food. Then, he grabbed a plate of grapes from the side and a bottle of orange juice.

He left while his twin laughed from his reaction.

Logan headed for the usual table. His friends had already taken their seats. He sat where he often did, next Alex’s—who had been occupied by Max.

“Hey, my man!” Max greeted him. He lifted his hand for a high-five. “How is the long distance relationship going?”

Setting down this tray, Logan replied, “It’s not a relationship. Not yet, at least.”

“I’ve said this before. I don’t care. I still see you as a couple like CoLaur over here.”

Lauren rolled her eyes. “Should I start calling the girls you date as your girlfriends then?”

“That’s different.”

“Sure it is,” she scoffed. She ate a fry and turned to Logan. “How’s Alex?”

He shrugged, twirling his fork. “She seems alright.”

“Has she made friends? Is she nervous? Is she keeping up with the curriculum? Do they have a ton of homework? Did she have to do a test without studying for it?” One by one, the questions fired out of Lauren’s lips. She had been the new girl several times during her life. She knew how hard it could be.

“I don’t know.” Logan scowled.

His response resulted in an eye roll from Lauren. “You mean that you didn’t ask? Why did you even call her?”

She exasperated a sigh. Transferring in the middle of a semester wasn’t an easy thing. Most schools would refuse if the student wouldn’t be able to keep up. When they do let it happen, that student would have the center of attention. It was a one-way ticket to be the hottest topic.

“I was busy teasing her,” Logan explained. He chewed on the pasta in his mouth. “It boosts her mood up.”

Jae finally joined the group. He sat by Logan, wedging his brother between him and his best friend. They let the ‘couple’ take over the opposite side. Carla had joined her cheer team, reasoning that she missed them.

“I can almost hear her protest in my head.” Lauren snorted. She unscrewed the cap of her water bottle.

Logan wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “Fine, I’ll ask her about it after school.”

“Don’t bother,” Lauren scolded. She put her hands on her hɨps. “Let me ask her. Stop hogging her to yourself.”

“But that would make me look bad.”

“That’s not my fault.” She smirked. “Right, Colin?”

Beside her, Colin swallowed the bite of his burger. The tips of his caramel hair had grown longer and almost reached his shoulder. “Right. Well, at least, she’s answering her phone now.”

“Tell me about it,” Logan commented. He took a sip of orange juice. “She actually picked up on the first ring. I am so proud.”

A laugh rumbled in Max’s ċhėst. “If you keep teasing her like you said you did, she probably would block you next time.”

“Yeah, I know which is why I am keeping it at a balance.” Logan began to say. Then, he scowled to his right. “How did you even know that?”

“It just seemed like a very Alex thing to do.”

“Plus you didn’t even ask her how school was,” Lauren scolded again.

Logan slammed both hands on the table. “I am new to it, okay?”

If Alex wasn’t fine, he believed that he would have heard it in his voice. His priority had been about cheering her up. Whether she was having a good day or not, it would have helped to make her day better. He just couldn’t help but tease her about the kiss.

It still remained as the best of his life—as far as he remembered, at least.

“Maybe you should ask Jae for some tips,” Colin suggested.

The older Parker twin stopped in the middle of eating several fries. He raised his eyebrows, unsure of what to make of the sudden focus on him.

He chewed quickly and replied, “Tips on what? Emily always hangs up.”

He grabbed a few more fries. “Then, I call her again and she screams in my ear.”

“I can’t wait for the weekend,” Lauren spoke up. She had finished her meal, waiting for the others to do the same. “I miss my girls. I can’t believe Alex left me alone with all the boys.”

“Hey, hey, hey! We’re quite well-behaved. We haven’t done anything stupid,” Max defended. He cracked open his grape soda. “If you really want it, I can entertain you by spilling this soda out of my nose.”

“Gross.”

“Why don’t we video call her? If it’s lunch time there, I’m sure Emily would also be around,” Colin thought out loud. The words had escaped his lips before he could process them.

“Because… It’s her first day. She should be interacting with other students. If we keep contacting her, she would be isolated because we take her free time. I don’t want her to be alone when we’re not around.”

Lauren had to make an effort not to keep messaging. It felt more lonely when both girls were in a different school. Before, she had Alex even when Emily wasn’t around. She didn’t know what it was but they had created a bond that transcends the one she had with the rest.

“Then, we can do it later,” Jae interrupted. “I’m sure Alex would love it. Since she had done a live stream before, she should be more comfortable with a web camera.”

“Oh, that would be cool!” Lauren cheered. It wouldn’t be the same but it would be close. Maybe she could even ask Alex for a tour of her room. That mansion must be a lot different from Aunt Lilly’s house.

Max wiped his hands and snorted. “That’s lame.”

The light in Lauren’s eyes darkened. Crossing her arms over the table, she gave him a displeased expression. “And how is that lame, Max?”

“It’s her first week at Freccia Prep!” He explained as if it was enough of an explanation. He created wide hand gestures to emphasize his point, “You have to think bolder. You have to think bigger. When you have the chance to do it, we should grab it.”

“Grab what?” Logan asked, “A video conference?”

“And mute your microphone so you won’t keep her to yourself.” Lauren smiled sarcastically.

“Should I be jealous that you want someone else’s attention more than my own?” Colin joked.

“Of course not. We talk everyday!” She replied, glancing over her shoulder, “My day is never complete without you.”

“Okay, back to the topic…” Max widened his eyes at the table. He should really get used to couples stepping into their own small world. “Save that idea for another week. Don’t we have afternoon classes off this Friday because of a faculty meeting?”

“And so?” Lauren scowled with a shake of her head.

Max sighed, shaking his own. Was he the only one with brains at this table? How boring his friends’ lives would be if not for his grand schemes.

“And Jae has been to Freccia Prep, right?” He added. Hopefully, they’d see the picture better now. “Colin has an uncle with a van.”

“What are you getting at?” Colin raised an eyebrow. How did his uncle’s van become part of this conversation?

“What I’m saying is…!” Max exclaimed. He couldn’t help it anymore and revealed his brilliant idea. “Let’s pick her up this Friday! We can ask Emily to help keep it a surprise. I’m sure she’d agree to it.”

If crickets loitered on their table, they would be the only ones to create noise. The rest of the occupants went still. Their faces gaped at his excited expression. He could hardly sit still. The adrenaline pumped into his veins.

Lauren flickered her gaze to the ceiling. “That’s not actually a bad idea.”

“Are we all in?” Max glanced at each of them.

Jae nodded, seeming impressed. “Good job, man. Your head is not entirely downwind after all.”

Max pointed a finger at him. “I’m going to pretend that I didn’t just hear that.”

“I’m definitely in,” Logan agreed. He cleaned the last meatball off his plate. “I doubt Alex would send me a photo of her wearing her uniform.”

“Again. Whipped.”

He sent a glare to his right. “Like you don’t want to see Emily in hers.”

“At least, I don’t say it out loud,” his brother shot back, wearing a cheeky grin. “Besides, I’ve seen photos since she posts on social media.”

“Alright!” Max exclaimed. He clapped his hands together and took back the spotlight. “Finally get the road trip I always wanted.”