The Fox In The Cafeteria

Lila pressed herself against the lockers, phone in hand, heart doing that stupid flutter thing it always did when he was near. She wasn't proud of it, okay? But ever since her best friend Jason started sitting with the foxes at lunch — you know, the table where everyone's hot and Rich and somehow all dating each other — she'd been acting weird.

"You're literally spying on him now?" Maya whispered, sliding up beside her. "That's kinda obsessed, bestie."

"I'm not obsessed," Lila hissed, though she absolutely was. "I'm just... gathering intel."

Intel. That's what she called it anyway. But three weeks of watching Jason laugh at tables where she wasn't welcome, and Lila felt like less of a friend and more of a ghost haunting her own social life.

The real kicker? Jason hadn't even posted about ditching her. One day they were getting boba after school like they had since seventh grade, and the next? He was sitting next to Ashley, who everyone called a fox because she was gorgeous and knew it, batting her eyelashes like they were weapons.

"So," Maya said, already knowing the answer. "Did you find out anything?"

"He's wearing that hoodie I gave him for his birthday," Lila said quietly. "The one with the cat on it."

Maya winced. "Oof. That's not giving 'I moved on.'"

Then Jason looked up. Like, actually looked right at where Lila was hiding behind a row of lockers, and his face did this complicated thing — half guilty, half something else.

He started walking toward her.

Lila's brain short-circuited. What was she supposed to say? Hey, sorry I've been spy-watching you like a weirdo for three weeks? Miss you, by the way, also why am I not good enough anymore?

But Jason just stopped in front of her, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and said, "I've been looking for you."

"Me?" Lila squeaked. "Why?"

"Ashley's been trying to set me up with her friend for weeks," Jason said, scratching the back of his neck. "I've been avoiding this table all week. I was gonna come find you at lunch but you weren't at our spot."

Oh.

Oh.

"So you're not... ditching me?"

Jason looked at her like she was being ridiculous. "Bro, you're literally my best friend. The fox table is exhausting. I need my cat-hoodie person back."

Lila laughed, and it felt like breathing again. "Okay then. Let's go get boba."

"Finally," Jason said, already heading for the exit. "I was starving."

Maya made a gagging sound behind them. Lila flipped her off without turning around.

Some things never changed.