The group moved toward the cafeteria, blending into the noise and chatter. The scent of fries, pizza, and coffee hung thick in the air. Students crowded around tables, gossiping and laughing like it was a competition.
Tyler scanned the crowded space. "There's a free table near the window. Come on."
They settled down, trays clattering softly. Tyler sat across from Leon, while Jason, Ethan, Caleb, and Logan filled the remaining seats. Susana and Luna sat beside Tyler, the two girls chatting quietly between themselves.
Tyler leaned back with his drink, grinning. "Alright, everyone's here. Now it's official, welcome to Starlight International Academy's finest dining hall. Half the food's edible, the rest's a health risk."
Caleb poked his fries suspiciously. "Which half is this?"
"Depends on your luck," Tyler said with a shrug.
Jason arched a brow. "You make it sound like gambling."
"That's because it is," Tyler replied, smirking.
Ethan chuckled, tapping his fork against his plate. "I like this place already."
Susana asked, looking around "Do you always eat here, Tyler?"
"Usually with my friend," Tyler said, glancing toward the cafeteria door. "He should be... oh, there he is!"
A blond boy practically bounced across the room, waving both hands. His smile was so bright it could've powered the lights. " Tyler! Dude, you ditched me for strangers!"
Tyler laughed. "You were late, Alex. Everyone, this is Alex, my friend from Class 3B."
Alex plopped down beside Ethan with no hesitation, flashing an easy grin around the table. "Hey, new kids! Welcome to the madhouse. I'm the friendly one. Ignore anything Derek says about me , he's jealous of my hair."
"You know him too?" Jason asked with interest
"Please that guy is a bug, so annoying it gives me goosebumps" he said faking a shiver
" I don't like him too" Caleb said also faking a shiver making them all laugh at their cringingness
Susana snorted. "You're definitely the golden retriever type."
Alex blinked, then laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment!"
Luna replied with a serious and deadpan expression. "It is. Golden retrievers are friendly and loyal."
"See? She gets it!" Alex said, pointing at her dramatically, earning a few laughs from the table.
For the first time, the new students relaxed. Their tension softened into quiet smiles and low laughter. The room didn't feel as cold anymore.
Still, Logan noticed the occasional glare from across the cafeteria . Derek and his crew, sitting near the vending machine, watching their table like hawks.
Leon noticed too. His gaze flicked toward Derek, then to Tyler's then back to his tray, unreadable as ever.
"So," Tyler said, breaking the silence. "Where'd you guys transfer from?"
Jason answered first. "Northview Academy. Kind of uptight. Uniform checks every morning, no phones during breaks."
Caleb groaned. "They didn't even let us listen to music during lunch. It was like living in a prison with better lighting."
Susana laughed. "That's dramatic, but not wrong."
Ethan nodded. "We wanted a change. Somewhere… normal." Logan and Leon watched as the group spout out nonsense upon nonsense and Mei xuelian nodded in agreement with whatever Yun Qiaolan said with a deadpan expression and Wu mingyu actually joining in their madness. Logan turned to look at Leon and they both saw the confusion and helplessness in eachs eyes, but shook their head and choose to ignore it.
"Normal, huh?" Alex teased. "You sure about that? This place has its own kind of crazy."
Leon finally spoke, voice calm. "Maybe that's what we need."
Tyler met his gaze and smiled a suspicious blush creeping up his face. "Then you picked the right school."
For a moment, it was peaceful , the chatter of other students fading into the background, the sunlight falling in soft golden stripes across the table.