CHAPTER EIGHT
TROYS TABLE

ELIZABETHS POV

Ding!

The school bell rang. Finally, lunch! I've been holding my hunger for hours. I stood up immediately and walked out of the class. Normally, I would have listened to Mr. Johns final announcement but I just left with the other students. I was too hungry.

The woman serving gave me my food on a tray I turned around, to my surprise I saw Cory sitting all alone, this was my chance.

I walked to him. As I walked towards him I thought abut Troy. It had been one day of the two of us dating or whatever it was we were doing. I told him not to be loud about it. I don't want people thinking I stole their dream guy and by 'people' I mean the girls  especially Sally, speaking of Sally she's not in school today. I'm sure she must be happy about the little 'surprise' I left for her yesterday but I also hoped Troy wasn't angry with me for ditching him. I better come up with a good explanation for ditching him.

I sat down opposite Cory, he had his eyes on his phone he didn't even notice my presence until he felt someone sit down and the noise my tray made when I put it on the table. He's eyes darted away from his phone and looked at me. I had my hopes up high.

"Hey" I said softly but it was too friendly.

"Heyyy?" He replied not being sure if I was talking to him. What was I thinking? Why did I sit here? My heart started racing, I was messing up. I even think I was starting to sweat and the weather was cool. Cory focused on his phone again. I wandered what he was doing. Was he texting? If he was texting, who was it? I then noticed that he wasn't eating he had no food with him. Did he come to the cafeteria just to text?

"You're not eating?"

He sighed then said "I'm on a diet." He didn't keep his eyes away from his phone.

"So...you're not eating?" I asked again

"I said I'm on a diet!" He didn't yell but his tone was harsh, he looked at me for a second with his raging eyes then he focused on his phone again.

"You don't have to yell." I muttered, he didn't answer. I started eating. I took a bite out of my sandwich then Cory looked at me and smiled widely then he let out a slight chuckle.

"What?" I asked uncomfortably with the way he was looking at me.

"You have something there." He's eyes went to the side of my lips.

My face became red out of embarrassment and I tried to wipe it off then Cory laughed at me.

"You're making it worst" he said still laughing. As embarrassing as this was I couldn't help but look at Cory laugh, he looked so handsome. Before I knew it Cory used his hanky to wipe the cream off my face, I blushed as he did so.

"You tell me to be secret about it and here you are sitting at my table." A voice whispered in my ears. I almost jumped out of shock, I lifted my head to see who it was and it was Troy. My table what was he talking about? What made this table his table? Then I realized something, the reason I couldn't remember this table was because it was usually crowded be the so-called 'popular kids.' This was Troys table.

Immediately Troy sat down both boys and girls rushed to the seat besides him. It was as if they would die if they didn't get to sit besides Troy. The struggle was more intense given that it was only one space available next to Troy the other was being occupied by me (unfortunately). I could feel them growling their eyes at me. Terry sat besides Troy, this couldn't get anymore worst.

It did, the jocks aka my worst nightmare in school, three if them sat down on that table. I couldn't breathe, the people surrounding me were just too much. I felt like melting, only if Troy could notice how I felt but he was engrossed in a conversation with Cory.

Don't get me wrong I like talking to people but not these type of people, the only thing the girls did was gossip and the boys talked about the girls. I saw it all as stupidity.

Brett Kennedy the schools quarterback put his arms across my shoulders then whispered in my ears "Are you lost?" He said and slightly bit my ear. He did not just do that! I shoved him off and he started laughing at me. I became bright red with embarrassment.

"What's the schools brain doing here?" It didn't offend me that Terry called me the schools brains, I actually felt proud of it and I was already used it her bullying. I ignored her and focused on my meal. But then, it was already gone. Simon one of Troys friends ate it. I sighed a frustrating sigh and rested my palm on my cheekbone. Thus was the group Sally belonged to, not me. I sighed again. That was when Troy actually paid attention to me.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly. I put my hands on the table and faced him. I felt all eyes on us Terry stopped that though, she ran her fingers through Troys fingers gently stroking them and everyone resumed what they were doing. Troy was supposed to be MY boyfriend, why was Terry flirting with him and why do I care?

What did I expect? I'm the one that said that I wanted things to be kept low. Me dating Troy in my schools was like an ordinary girl dating a big hot shot celebrity, the pressure on me would be too much. Right now, I had 'Troy look at me' written on my forehead. To my surprise , he did. He looked at me.

ding!

The bell rang, the people slowly departed from the table, thank God!

"See you later Troy!" Two girls chorused at the same time. I'm sure Troy must think he's golden, no wonder he has an ego. Troy looked at me and said "Are you going to class or what?"

I nodded and stood up, we walked together. This felt weird, the last time I walked with Troy was in 7th grade, it reminded me of old times. I started smiling. "Why are you smiling?"

"Nothing" I shrugged

"Why didn't you come yesterday?"

I didn't know what to say I hadn't come up with anything yet. "Uh... Something came up at home with my mom and I had to help her." I lied. "You could have told me you didn't have to send someone"

Troy was angry with me. I could tell by the tone in his voice. I was starting to think that he didn't like Sally at all. I had to do a lot more than just hook them up to get them together.

"I'm sorry I'll be there next time."

"Next time?"

Troy asked with a smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes smiling. Troy walked away after that, we both had different classes.

***

The clock was ticking. Ten minutes left, I really wanted to go to Sally's house, check on her, see how she was doing. My mind went to Cory, if it wasn't for Troys interruption me and Cory were doing just fine. I looked outside the classroom, I really want to get up and leave.

"Care to share your thoughts with the class Miss.Jones?"

I looked up at Mr. Ryan who was staring at me with glaring eyes.

ding!

Saved by the bell, I collected my book and walked out.

"Elizabeth!"

Mr. Ryan yelled. This is just great! I turned around and gave Mr. Ryan a wide fake smile.

"Yes?"

"I saw you with Troy earlier." 'What was he talking about?'

"Huh?"

"I just wanted to make sure you are choosing the right friends." I looked at Mr. Ryan with a blank face. I had one of the cleanest reputation in the school, no one not even Troy is going to ruin it. I nodded and walked out.

Sally wasn't in school because of her dad. Something bad happened to her dad. I didn't know what it was but the way she sounded on the phone, she was crying.

"Hey!"

Troy grabbed my arm, I stopped walking then he let go.

"Where are you going?"

"Home"

"Let me take you." I looked at Troy, he was so eager, but I couldn't let him do that, I was actually going to Sally's house. "Actually... I was going to a friends house."

"Ally?" It really annoyed me when Troy called Sally Ally. It wasn't her name for gods sake!

"Yes...her"

"I'll take you."

"You know her house?"

"Yes, I dropped her home last night." It was a good thing that Troy knew Sally's house. Now Troy is following me to Sally's house, I could,d just leave the two of them alone, it would be perfect.