Natti studied her friend. “What did you think we did, anyway?”
Wanda jerked from her thoughts and ringed her fingers together. “Well, what usually happens when Seth gets hold of a girl. They . . .” She swallowed hard and fidgeted in her seat. “They get it on. That’s why I didn’t think you would be here. Usually when Seth gets a new girl, they spend most of their time—”
“Oh, God! Wanda!” Natti tried to get the disturbing, yet partly intriguing, fantasy out of her head. “Though I think that was what he was after, nothing bloody happened between us! I ran laps, and the bugger annoyed me all the way back to the girls’ locker room. He even offered to ‘help me change.’ That’s when I slammed the door in his face.”
Wanda raised her eyebrows, her expression lightening up with amazement. “Really? You slammed the door in his face?”
Natti nodded, catching sight of Mr. Jackson, who obviously was listening in. She lowered her voice a notch. “Oh, yeah.”
Wanda giggled, and her cheeks turned red again.
“Look,” Natti continued, “I’m here to tell you now, even if I liked the guy— which I don’t! — he’s not going to change who I am. And quite honestly, this whole drama about Seth and his cronies is really over the top. They’re just a bunch of egotistical arses.”
Natti wandered the tiny salad bar in the center of the school cafeteria. She glanced around the room while filling up her lunch tray with fresh lettuce, a few vegetables, and a small bowl of fruit. No Seth, thank God. Not that she expected him. He could have an entirely different lunch schedule for all she knew. She just didn’t want to chance it.
A hand tapped her on the shoulder. Startled, Natti wheeled around to find Wanda standing behind her, a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup balanced on her tray.
“Oh,” Natti placed a hand over her heart. “Hey, Wanda!”
“Hey! You want to sit with my friends and me today?”
Natti glanced around the cafeteria. “Um, sure. Why not?”
Wanda and Natti walked to the register to pay, and then Wanda led her to a booth like table set in the corner of the room. Natti could see clearly from her vantage point Q and Ky sitting at a round table not far from them. She glanced at Wanda, raising her brow.
“What?” Wanda blushed. “This is our usual seat. I can’t help the view.”
Natti nodded and continued to scan the room. The high ceiling opened up the small room, giving the students the ability to breath in the tight space. The tables and booths were covered in the same rust color as the lockers in the hall. Golden, block letters spelled out ‘S.H.S.’ in the center of each. Even with wear and tear in some places, the vinyl seats were practically new and firm. Some students opted to sit in the little alcoves that were created along the arched windows to read.
On the wall opposite of the cafeteria buffet was a ten foot tall mural. It depicted a portrait of a pharaoh, his chin held high, and his turquoise eyes cast down over the crowd. He held the sacred crook and flail crossed over his chest. A queen stood one step behind her husband, her hand on his shoulder. Her face was as stern as the pharaoh’s, and her eyes appeared black as night.
Another bronze plaque stood alongside the small staircase by the mural, announced:
The Pharaoh’s Café
2010
Let voices ring in this sanctuary.
Sean O’Keefe
“You haven’t become one of Drac-O’Keefe’s love-zombies yet?” The slamming of a tray onto the table caused Natti to jump in her seat. She stared in disbelief at the Goth girl who stood before her, Kevin’s tennis partner. Her nose and brow pierced, and her body covered in tattoos. Kevin slid next to her with a warm, welcoming smile.
“No,” Wanda answered with a sly grin. “Apparently, she slammed the girls’ locker room door in Seth’s face yesterday.”
“Wow. Fending off Drac-boy’s charm? You must be stronger than I gave you credit for.” The Goth — Jen — shrugged. “And I’ve totally lost the pool.”
Natti glanced between the two girls. “I’m sorry? I’m not sure I follow.”
“You have to forgive Jen.” Kevin twirled his fork by his temple. “She’s never in her right mind. Even has this weird idea that Seth is a vampire.”
“Oh?” Natti said, sounding more eager than she intended. She didn’t believe in anything supernatural or anything like that. It was the topic of Seth that had piqued her interest, which consciously made her cringe.
“Well, how else do you explain his weirdness?” Jen snapped. “Every girl drools over that guy, and no mortal human can look that good.”
“I’m mortal,” Kevin pointed out.
Jen’s eyes wandered over the handsome young man. His broad shoulders. His short, tightly curled hair tucked under a baseball cap. His goofy grin.