Xander turned towards me. But didn’t say anything. His face looked emotionless. He wasn’t feeling guilty of what he said.
Around us, phones were already coming out, screens lighting up as students leaned forward to record.
"Are you really deaf, princess Amelia?" The Viviane said, smiling like she had been waiting all day for this moment.
I stepped closer to Xander, meeting his eyes directly. I still couldn’t understand what was really going on.
"Xander, what did you say?" I asked again. I could feel the tears before they even fell, warm against my cheeks.
"Do you really think I would like a fake like you?" He said, leaning in. "A useless girl like you disgusts me."
I couldn’t control the tears rolling down my eyes. I closed my eyes to calm myself down.
"This is a prank too, right, Xander?" I said, forcing a smile that felt like it was cracking my face in half.
"Why would he waste his time pranking a fake daughter like you?" Vivienne said, tilting her head at me like I was something pitiful.
Daniela stood up and walked to Xander. She looked him over slowly from head to toe.
"Are you sick?" She said. "If you are I suggest you go and see a doctor."
"You—" Xander pointed at her. "Why are you really siding for this fake."
Sylvia stood up immediately.
THWACK!
The slap echoed across the entire cafeteria.
"Because I hate scumbags the most." She said leaning in towards him
I was really surprised at what Sylvia did. Inshort, everybody in the cafeteria never expected that.
Even Xander himself, didn’t see it coming.
The cafeteria went completely silent. Even the air felt frozen.
Phones that were recording slipped a little in shaking hands.
Gasps tore through the room.
"Did she just—?"
"Oh my God..."
"No way... she slapped Xander Vale..."
"Record it! Record it!"
Whispers exploded into chaos. Chairs shifted. Students leaned forward. More phones rose up, flashes starting to pop.
Xander stood frozen, one hand still pressed to his cheek.
"Oh!" Vivienne said, finally breaking through the silence with a laugh. "Is that the little real daughter trying to play hero?"
Sylvia raised her hand again, this time toward Vivienne.
"If you don’t shut that mouth of yours, I might as well give you yours too."
Vivienne stepped back immediately, all her earlier confidence was gone completely.
I stood there, speechless. I hadn’t even realized I was still crying until I reached up and felt the wetness on my cheeks.
Did she really just slap Xander because of me?
Does she actually care about me?
I had been nothing but harsh with her since the moment she walked into my life. I had pushed her away at every turn. Told her not to help me. Refused to thank her properly. And she had still stepped in without hesitating.
"Sylvia. Come here." I called softly.
She lowered her hand immediately and walked toward me. I pulled a napkin from the table and reached for her hand, wiping it gently.
"Don’t dirty your hands for someone like him." I said quietly.
Sylvia leaned in closer, smiling like I had just said something wonderful.
A smile crept across Xander’s face as he looked at Sylvia.
"You’re really interesting." He said, turned and walked away, Vivienne hurried after him.
I smiled, watching him leave.
"Wow, that was really cool." Camila said, giving Sylvia a thumbs up.
Sylvia smiled and looked up at me.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked.
"Because you held my hand today." She said, still smiling.
I shook my head and flicked her forehead.
Daniela had been staring at us the whole time. She turned and went back to her seat.
"Lia, sit down and eat. Your food is going to get cold." She said, already digging into her own plate.
I sat down and turned to her. "You were really cool back there." I reached over and patted her head. "Thank you, Ela."
Daniela froze. Her spoon clattered against her plate.
"Did you just call me Ela?" She asked, staring at me.
I nodded. "Mmhmm."
Camila cleared her throat loudly, glancing at her cousin, who was now smiling so wide it looked like her cheeks might hurt.
Daniela didn’t even try to hide it. She just kept eating, grinning the entire time.
Sylvia smiled quietly and went back to her own plate, saying nothing.
Soon the bell rang, cutting through the noise of the cafeteria. We stood up, gathering our things and left.
The cleaning staff moved in immediately behind us, clearing the trays and plates from the table.
Classes continued as usual.
By 3:00 PM, the bell rang for dismissal.
"Thanks, Mr. Sinclair."
And he walked out of the class. Everyone started packing up and gathering their books.
I turned to Sylvia. "Have you texted Mr. Clifford to come get you?" I asked.
"No. I’m going back with you." She said, brushing her shoulder against mine.
Her shoulder feels soft.
I looked at her and pushed the thought out of my mind.
"I won’t be heading home right away." I said.
I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to Mr. Clifford, asking him to come pick up Sylvia.
Sylvia wasn’t happy about it, but she still didn’t say anything.
Camila and Daniela walked out with us, Camila already scrolling through her phone while Daniela kept glancing between Sylvia and me.
We walked downstairs together. Sylvia’s car was already waiting by the time we reached the entrance.
Mr. Clifford stepped out and opened the door for her, and she climbed in without looking back at me.
"Bye." I said, lifting my hand in a small wave.
The car pulled away a moment later. I stood there for a second longer than I needed to, watching it disappear down the road.
"Trouble in paradise?" Camila asked, finally looking up from her phone.
"There’s no paradise to begin with." I said, turning to face her.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out, expecting a text from Mom or Dad.
Instead, it was the video from the cafeteria.
It was already everywhere.
And it had over fifty thousand views.
"This is really serious." I said, turning to Camila and Daniela.
"Bye." I said, already turning to leave.
"Wait, Lia, aren’t you meeting the tutor today?"
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