Chapter Text
The cafeteria was crowded and noisy, with kids yelling, laughing, and eating sloppily in a way that disgusted Dani, who always tried to be a little more refined. She sat at a table near the middle of the hall with her friends, Mizu, Soybean, Aphex, and Nat. She preferred to sit with her female friends more, since she was often stereotyped to be a pick-me whenever she talked with her male friends.
“Ow!” Mizu squealed after being hit in the head with an eraser. “Sorry!! Wasn’t aiming for you!” Denis shouted from across the hall, Mizu weakly gave him a thumbs up, Dani looked over at her, as Mizu picked up the eraser and threw it backwards, not aiming for anyone in particular.
“Ack!” She heard from behind her, and turned to see none other than probably the most well known boy in school, Albert, putting his hand on his head as if in pain. He looked confused, glancing around to see who threw it.
Mizu swung round, “Dani! I accidentally hit Albert on the head with that eraser I threw!” Mizu blurted out. “It’s fine, silly!” Dani responded, rolling her eyes and smiling. “But-“ she got cut off by Dani, “Seriously, he’s a lot softer than he looks.” Dani reassured Mizu, smirking a little.
“Huh? Do you know him well?” Mizu wondered, Dani shrugged, “Hm.. sort of.” She responded. Mizu was newer to the school, and hadn’t seen when Dani used to hang out with Albert. “I never would have guessed! If you know him so well, why have I never seen you never hang out with him?” Mizu asked Dani, “I dunno..” Dani shrugged, “guess I just don’t wanna be seen as some sort of… pick me.”
“Pick me?” Mizu questioned her, “You’re nothing like a pick me though!” Dani chuckled, “Yeah, but usually hanging out with boys gets you labelled as one.” “That reminds me,” Mizu added, “Why do you never sit with Denis? He’s your brother!” Mizu asked her, “Oh, y’know.. he has his friends, I have mine, I guess.” Dani answered.
Aphex, Soybean, and Nat were chatting away while Mizu and Dani talked. Aphex tried to bring Dani into the conversation by saying something to her, “Huh? Sorry I was zoned out.” Dani replied, faking a laugh.
She didn’t pay attention to any of the nonsense her friends were saying, Mizus comment got her thinking. “If you know him so well, why have I never seen you never hang out with him?”
She remembered one day where she walked into the lunch hall, and announced the news she had to her friends. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t be seen with you guys anymore!” Dani said loudly, “What, Seriously? Why??” Jake asked, “Everyone thinks I have a crush on at least one of you,” She explained, “And I just look like a total pick me girl!” Her friends just stared for a bit, not knowing what to say, “I’m gonna go sit with WASD instead.” She gestured behind her, “Dani, wait!” Kaden shouted while she walked away.
The memory made her feel kinda bad for what she had done, and she decided to start hanging out with them again.
The next day at lunch, Dani walked over to the table that Albert, Jake, Kaden, Temprist and Miles sat at, right in the corner of the room. Even though they were fairly popular, mostly Albert, they liked to keep to themselves.
“Just look at what the cat dragged in..” Jake said in a stupid voice, Dani laughed with him, not having to fake it this time. “Hi guys!” She said, “Hey! What’s up Dani??” Albert greeted her, as she went to sit down beside Kaden, since there was a free spot beside him.
Oh.. you know, nothing much.” Miles looked past Kaden at Dani, “So you finally realised we were better for you!” He said arrogantly, while laughing, “You barely talk to us anymore!” Kaden exclaimed “Why are you coming back now?” He asked, “Well I was talking to Mizu..”
Dani explained what happened. “The name Mizu rings a bell.. who is that again?” Albert asked Dani, “Ginger cat girl?” Dani responded, tilting her head to the side slightly. “Ohhh yeah. So she threw that eraser huh..” Albert replied, while laughing. “Oh no! Don’t make Albert mad!” Dani giggled. Her, Albert, and their other friends talked and joked the whole of lunch, but they couldn’t hear the whispers or notice the looks they got over their laughter.