They opened the double doors to the cafeteria, and entered a huge, cavernous room, filled with hundreds of screaming, energetic kids. The tables were packed, and the line for a hot meal wrapped along the wall.
Scarlet spotted Jasmin and Becca sat at a table far across the room, and as she walked over to them, she scanned the room for any signs of Blake or Vivian. There were none. She did, though, notice that Blake was absent from his usual table of friends—and so was Vivian. Not a good sign.
Were the two of them together somewhere?
Scarlet sat at her table, her heart thumping, and set down her books.
“Hey guys.”
“Hey.”
“The meatloaf’s good today,” Becca said.
But Scarlet wasn’t hungry. Her heart was fluttering, and she was finding it hard to concentrate.
Maria dragged her to the line with her, and she found herself waiting on it with all the others.
“Maybe I just won’t go,” Maria said, as they reached the food and the women heaped huge servings of food on their trays. “I mean, what’s the big deal about a dance anyway? It’s so overblown. It’s just a huge pressure cooker. And it’s always so lame. There’s that bonfire, and most people don’t even dance.”
“I know,” Scarlet agreed.
“I mean, who made up this stupid dance anyway?” Maria continued, as they took their trays and headed back to the table. “It’s like just a big excuse for everyone to see who’s dating who. It’s so aggravating.”
As they headed back, Scarlet saw something that made her heart leap: there, sitting at the table with all the popular girls, was Vivian. As Scarlet walked past, Vivian looked up and glared at her, daggers in her eyes. There was no sign of Blake, anywhere.
That was a good sign. The two of them were not together, and Vivian was pissed. Maybe something went wrong. Clearly, Vivian hadn’t been successful yet; if she had, she’d be sporting a smile. At least now Scarlet had a chance.
Scarlet smiled inwardly to herself as she made her way back to her table with her food, sitting with the others.
She sat there, food untouched, watching the door, as more and more kids streamed in, looking for any sign of Blake. She saw his table, with all his friends, and he still wasn’t there. He had to come in any second. And when he did, she would make room for him, try to get him to sit with her. In fact, she prepared, sliding over.
“What are you doing?” Maria asked, looking at the empty seat as Scarlet slid over.
Scarlet had no time to explain: suddenly, she saw him, walking through the door. Blake looked as cute as ever. He walked in with a big smile on his face, carrying a small bag of lunch, skipping the line. He was walking in her direction, right at her, and as she looked up, their eyes locked. He saw her. She was sure of it.
Scarlet began to get up as Blake walked right for her table. He was only a few feet away and he wasn’t even looking at his guy friends. He was looking at her. Clearly, he was coming to sit with her.
“Blake?” came the voice.
No, Scarlet though. Not again.
Blake stopped, a few feet away, and turned at the harsh voice summoning him.
Vivian stood at the head of the table of girls, gesturing to him at an empty seat beside the head of their table.
“I saved you a seat,” she said.
It was more like a command than a request—and her entire group of friends, in perfect solidarity, all stared at him as one, in such a way that left open no room for refusal. It was a look that said: if you don’t sit here with us now, you are forever banned from the popular group.
Blake stopped. He turned and looked helplessly at Scarlet, and she could see the hesitation in his eyes, see that he didn’t have the willpower to say no. His shining eyes darkened, as he turned reluctantly and made his way, as if in a trance, over to Vivian’s table.
As he sat, Vivian turned and glared at Scarlet, gave her the meanest smile she could, then sat down with Blake.
“That witch,” Maria said, as she watched what happened. “I hate her.”
“Someone should poison her soup,” Jasmin added.
Slowly, Scarlet sat back down, feeling humiliated. Becca reached over and put arm on her shoulder.
“It’s okay girl,” she said. “If he wants her, let him have her. You’re too good for him. And for her. He’ll get exactly what he deserves.”
Scarlet sat there, staring down at her mound of meatloaf, gravy cold, and felt completely numb.
She felt her face redden as she felt as if the entire room had witnessed the scene. Vivian had stolen Blake right out from under her, in the most public way, for the second time this morning. She couldn’t help but feel as if her fate with him had been sealed. It was obvious she wasn’t going to the dance at this point.
Scarlet couldn’t help thinking back to the other night, to Blake’s being at her house, to what a good time they’d had together—and she felt even worse. Maybe she didn’t deserve Blake. After all, who was she? She guessed that some people considered her attractive, but in her own mind, at least, she didn’t consider herself to have the looks of a girl like Vivian.
“It’s okay,” Scarlet muttered under her breath.
“It’s not okay,” Jasmin said, angry. “We’re going to find a way to get her back. Just wait and see.
She better watch her back.”
“Don’t worry,” Becca said. “There are plenty of fish in the sea. I’m sure there are a ton of guys who’d love to go with you.”
“Guys, it’s fine, really,” Scarlet said. “I’m not a charity case.”
“What about Dave?” Jasmin asked.
Scarlet shook her head. Dave was a nice guy, but she wasn’t attracted to him at all, despite his trying to follow her around whenever he could.
“Dances are overrated anyway,” Scarlet said, softly.
“Exactly my point,” Maria said.
“You’ll feel differently once you meet the right guy,” Becca said.
“OMG, did you guys hear? About the new kid?” Jasmin suddenly said, switching the topic.
They all turned and stared at her. Jasmin had a way of always being on the cutting edge of the latest gossip, and a way of delivering a story that always put people on the edge of their seats. She also had an annoying way of drawing out suspense as long she possibly could, savoring the attention.