CHAPTER FIVE: Scene One
Next Day – Middleford International School
Jenny sighed softly as she shut her locker door with a slight thud. She adjusted her backpack and turned to head toward her classroom, but barely made two steps before she was intercepted.
"Excuse me, darling…" came a honey-sweet voice from behind her.
Jenny turned, surprised, to see a tall, poised blonde girl walking toward her like she was on a fashion runway. Behind her was a small entourage: three girls carrying tote bags, lip glosses in hand, strutting in sync like backup dancers in a music video.
"Claire. Claire Stanford. Twice crowned Miss Middleford Beauty Queen," she said, smiling like it was written in the Constitution.
Jenny blinked. "Uhh… hi?"
"I just had to stop and say, wow, you're really beautiful," Claire said, her eyes doing a quick scan of Jenny's outfit. "Like, your hair? The curls? Radiant. It's giving natural glow goddess and I live for it."
"Uh… thank you?" Jenny replied, feeling awkward already.
Claire leaned in like they'd been friends forever. "I'd love for you to join us for lunch today. You know...top girls should stick together." She flashed a perfect pageant smile.
"Oh, that's…..thanks, but I…" Jenny tried to decline politely.
Claire cut her off, dramatic. "Please! I insist. It's tradition. When a new queen arrives, the court must welcome her. Trust me, sweetie, you'll love our table."
The entourage giggled in rehearsed harmony as if someone pressed a laugh button.
"…Okay. Sure," Jenny finally agreed, half-trapped in Claire's charm bubble.
"Fabulous! See you at lunch," Claire said, snapping her fingers as she turned, her crew trailing behind her like a perfume commercial.
Jenny groaned under her breath. "So much for blending in…"
---
As she walked toward Grade 11A, a quartet of girls strutted in her direction; Sasha, Linda, Amy, and Demi, the so-called "It Girls" of her grade. Jenny tried to pass politely, but Sasha bumped into her shoulder. The rest followed suit.
"Ah.. sorry," Jenny muttered, thinking it was unintentional.
But Sasha smirked. "Watch where you're going, curls."
The four girls burst into laughter and walked off without another glance.
Jenny sighed. This place…
---
She entered Grade 11A, adjusting her bag strap. The room suddenly went silent. A few students whispered. Jenny smiled and greeted politely.
"Hey, morning!"
Most returned her greeting. Others just stared. She slid into her seat, but her eyes darted to the empty desk next to hers.
Patel's seat. Empty.
And Mira's too.
Strange.
Before she could think more, Nattie appeared beside her, a friendly grin on her face.
"Hey Jenny! Day four in Middleford. How's the royal treatment going?" Nattie teased.
Jenny chuckled, sarcastic. "It's been… fabulous. Almost got body-checked in the hallway, but I suppose that's how they welcome new students here."
Nattie laughed. "Yeah, Middleford can be a bit... theatrical."
Suddenly, the door opened.
Mrs. Stan, the school's attendance officer, entered followed by Mira, who looked like she'd just lost a puppy.
Her backpack hung limply from her shoulders, and her usually fierce expression was replaced by gloom.
She dropped into her seat, eyes on her desk.
Mrs. Stan began, "Good morning, everyone. Just here to take your attendance…"
She read names aloud as students replied, until …..
"Patel?"
Silence.
"Patel's absent," she muttered, scribbling on her sheet. "Noted."
Then she walked out just as quickly as she came.
Nattie turned around in her seat, whispering to Mira. "Hey, what's wrong? Where's Patel?"
Mira sighed, her voice low. "He's in the hospital. Got really sick last night. High fever. They said he might not be discharged until Friday evening."
Nattie gasped. "Oh no…"
Mira nodded slowly. "He won't be back until Monday."
---
Jenny's ears perked. She quickly walked over and stood beside Mira's desk.
"Hi Mira…"
Mira looked up briefly. "Hey."
"Is it true? About Patel?" Jenny asked, concern written all over her face.
"Yeah," Mira said softly, not even trying to hide her sadness. "He's not doing well. The fever hit him hard last night. They took him to the clinic around 10. His mom called me this morning."
Jenny's lips parted in shock. She felt something… heavy. Like someone had turned the brightness down on her morning.
"Oh… I…I hope he's okay," she said.
The bell rang, and the first teacher for the day walked in, placing her bag on the desk. But for the rest of the period, Jenny and Mira were only half-present.
Lunch Break.
The bell rang sharply through the hallways, and students began pouring out of their classes like bees from a hive.
Jenny had barely stepped out of Grade 11A when three glossy-haired, perfectly dressed girls intercepted her at the doorway like a royal convoy.
"Jenny! Come on, girl, we're taking you to lunch," one of them, a petite brunette in designer sneakers, said with a chirpy grin.
Jenny blinked. "Oh… thanks, but I actually know where the cafeteria is," she replied, pointing awkwardly down the hallway.
They laughed synchronized, almost choreographed.
"The cafeteria?" the tallest of them giggled, flipping her straightened blonde hair. "Sweetie, that's for juniors and lunch-line losers. We only go there when we're in the mood to slum it."
Jenny raised a brow. "So… where do you eat?"
The girls grinned. "Upstairs. The senior floor."
Jenny's eyes widened slightly. "But... isn't that for Grade 12s only?"
"Exactly," the brunette said, looping her arm into Jenny's. "And you've been invited."
Before she could object, they were already guiding her down the hallway like bodyguards escorting a celebrity.
As they ascended the grand staircase shiny, spotless marble with the school crest etched into each step. Jenny glanced back at the hustle and bustle below. This felt like ascending into another world.
And it was.
Grade 12 Floor – The Forbidden Paradise
The moment they stepped onto the senior floor, Jenny's mouth parted slightly in awe. It was like stepping into an elite teen drama set.
Seniors zipped through the wide hallway on rollerblades, performing impressive tricks like it was the X-Games. One boy, dressed in a red varsity jacket with slicked hair, did a mid-spin and winked at her. Jenny's heart did a ba-dum.
Bass-heavy EDM music pulsed from one open classroom, where three seniors were breakdancing. One of them slid toward Jenny mid-spin and flashed her a love-heart sign with his fingers while busting a headspin.
"Okay," Jenny muttered. "This school gets crazier every day."
Across the hall, two seniors were arm-wrestling at a table surrounded by cheering fans. "Go, Brutus! Break his wrist!" someone shouted while others howled like wolves. Another corner some featured couples sitting very close, exchanging kisses and giggles like they were in a romantic movie.
The energy was intoxicating.
Jenny felt tiny but also… a little sparkly inside.
Senior Lunch Lounge
They finally reached the double doors of the Senior Lunch Lounge. It opened like a luxury hotel restaurant. Warm golden lighting, plush high-backed chairs. It was nothing like the clanky cafeteria she knew.
Claire sat like a queen bee on the lap of a chiseled boy with wavy hair and expensive cologne. Kris,the son of a senator. His arm rested casually on her hip as he whispered something that made her laugh like she'd rehearsed it for a perfume ad.
At their table were a few other "big names" in Middleford: Trey , Fran the student music star, Jose the school's handsome prankster, two Insta-famous girls from the cheer squad, and some other top elite seniors.
"Jenny!" Claire chirped, waving like they'd been besties since kindergarten. "Come sit, darling."
Trey leaned over the table. "Still trying to impress me, huh?"
Jenny rolled her eyes then gave him a sarcastic smile. "Still delusional, huh?"
"Ouch. This one's spicy," he grinned, until one of his girlfriends shot him a look sharp enough to slice paper.
Claire gestured at a seat beside her. "Top girls stick together. You belong here, Jenny. Not downstairs with leftover drama and spaghetti spills."
Jenny chuckled nervously and sat, though her insides twisted slightly.
Lunch Was Served. But Not Like Normal.
A group of juniors in dull aprons shuffled around the lounge, trays in hand. Jenny recognized a few from earlier in the hallway.
Claire noticed her look. "Oh, them?" she said nonchalantly. "Detention kids or… you know, the brave juniors who dare sneak into our floor."
Jenny's eyes widened. "So they… become servers?"
"Temporary punishment. Builds humility," Kris said as he popped a strawberry into Claire's mouth.
The food was exquisite; sushi rolls with gold flakes, grilled chicken salad with avocado hearts, sparkling apple soda with rose petals. Apparently, Kris's father hired professional chefs just for the senior lounge. He was the chairman of the school's PTA. He would do anything to give Kris a special treatment.
Jenny smiled politely and nodded along to their banter, but something in her stomach didn't settle right. The food was rich, but the vibe? Too… showy. Too fake.
Meanwhile, in the Cafeteria…
Mira sat with Nattie, Mat, and Sheldon. Her tray was untouched, and she poked at her rice like it had offended her.
"I just don't like seeing him like that," she muttered.
Nattie patted her back. "He'll be okay. It's just a fever."
"Still… he never misses school. Not even for floods."
Mat leaned in. "Then we'll go see him after school, yeah?"
Sheldon nodded. "Group hospital visit. Let's go spread the cheer."
Mira smiled weakly. "Thanks, guys."
—
After School
Lockers clanged as students packed up. Mira walked slowly toward the exit, books hugged tightly to her chest.
"Hey, Mira!" Jenny called out, jogging toward her.
Mira paused. "Oh. Hey, Jenny."
Jenny smiled, slightly out of breath. "I… just wanted to check on you. And Patel."
Mira hesitated. "He's still in the hospital. They're keeping him till Friday."
Jenny nodded and reached into her tote. "I, um… got this from the school mart." She handed over a sleek, ribboned box of luxury chocolates. "Could you give it to him? And this too."
She tucked a small folded note inside. On the front, in neat cursive, it read:
"Get well soon – Love, Your Locker Neighbor"
Mira stared at it. "Uh… sure. Thanks."
Jenny smiled, her eyes warm. "He's lucky to have a friend like you."
"Yeah…" Mira murmured as Jenny turned and walked away.
Mira watched her go, then slowly walked to the bin near the school gate. Without a word, she dropped the chocolate box and the note into the trash.
She sneered and walked towards Mat, Sheldon and Nattie who waited outside for her.