Chapter 5: Cafeteria Alliances

The cafeteria was buzzing: the smell of tater tots and chocolate milk clung to the air, and someone was blasting TikTok videos on their phone nearby. My tray was stacked high—crispy chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, salad, even clam chowder. It was a far cry from the mystery meat Mondays at my old school.

I glanced at the mountain of food. "Guess I got carried away. You probably haven’t eaten either, right? Sit—let’s eat together?"

Emily hesitated, but hunger won. She sat across from me, digging into the mac and cheese, eyes down, hands half-hidden in her sleeves.

I noticed her backpack was faded, the straps fraying, and her sneakers looked like they’d survived a dozen winters. Her thin wrists peeked from threadbare cuffs. Girls like Emily never got to be the heroine in anyone’s story—not pretty enough, not loud enough, not dramatic enough. But they were the ones who needed saving most.

I made up my mind then: I wasn’t just going to rewrite my story—I was going to change hers, too.

"Ugh, geometry’s killing me. You’re smart, right? Want to tutor me?"

Emily looked up, startled, fork paused in midair.

I didn’t let her say no. I slung an arm around her shoulder and grinned. "It’s a deal. I’ll pay you, too—tutoring is real work."