As our eyes met, something inside me snapped. The pain, the anger, and the hurt boiled over, and I lost all composure. I strode across the cafeteria, my feet carrying me towards Lucas without conscious thought, my heart pounding in my chest.
Emily's voice echoed behind me, "Dorothy, don't! Think about what you're doing!" But I ignored her warning, driven by a primal urge to confront Lucas.
I stopped in front of Lucas and his girlfriend, my eyes blazing with fury, my face hot with emotion. "How could you?" I demanded, my voice rising above the cafeteria noise, echoing off the walls.
Lucas looked up, a smirk spreading across his face, his eyes glinting with amusement. "How could I what?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm, his voice dripping with condescension.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," I spat, my words tumbling out in a rush, my anger and hurt pouring out like a tidal wave. "You're with her now? Already? After everything we shared? After everything you promised me?"
Lucas's girlfriend looked uncomfortable, shifting in her seat, her eyes darting between us. But Lucas just chuckled, his smile growing wider. "Oh, Dorothy, you're still stuck on me?"
His mocking tone ignited a fire within me, fueling my rage. "You're unbelievable," I hissed, my voice venomous. "You break my heart, and now you're rubbing it in my face? You're enjoying my pain?"
The cafeteria fell silent, students' eyes fixed on our confrontation, their faces a mixture of shock and fascination. But I didn't care. I was beyond caring, driven by my emotions.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You're just mad because you're not the center of my attention anymore," he said, his voice dripping with disdain.
I felt a sting from his words, but I refused to back down, my anger and hurt fueling my defiance. "You never cared about me," I accused, my voice shaking with emotion. "You only cared about yourself, your own desires, your own needs."
Lucas's smirk grew wider. "And you never cared about me either," he shot back, his voice cold, calculated. "You only cared about what I could do for you, how I could make you feel."
His words cut deep, piercing my heart like a dagger. But I knew they weren't true. I had loved him, truly loved him, with all my heart and soul.
"That's not fair," I protested, my voice cracking with emotion.
Lucas shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling in a dismissive gesture. "Life's not fair, Dorothy. Get over it," he said, his voice dripping with cruelty.
His girlfriend stood up, her eyes flashing with anger. "Lucas, stop. This is getting out of hand," she warned, her voice firm.
But Lucas waved her off, his hand dismissing her concerns. "No, let her have her moment. It's entertaining," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
I felt a surge of rage, my hands clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I spat, my voice venomous. "You're enjoying watching me suffer?"
Lucas grinned, his smile twisted. "Yeah, I am. You're making a fool of yourself," he sneered.
The cafeteria erupted into whispers and gasps, students' faces reflecting their shock and discomfort. I knew I'd made a scene, but I didn't care. I'd spoken my truth.
Emily and Max appeared at my sides, trying to pull me away, their voices soft and soothing. "Dorothy, stop. This isn't worth it," Emily whispered.
But I shook them off, my eyes locked on Lucas. "No, I need to say this," I insisted, my voice firm.
"You're a coward," I told Lucas, my voice trembling with emotion. "You're afraid to face the truth – that you hurt me, that you broke me. You're afraid to face your own guilt."
Lucas's smirk faltered for a moment, but he recovered quickly. "You're just dramatic," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
The cafeteria noise swirled around me, but I tuned it out, focused on Lucas. "You're wrong," I said, my voice firm. "I'm not dramatic. I'm hurt. And you're the one who hurt me."
As I turned to walk away, Lucas's parting words cut through the noise: "You're just a memory, Dorothy. A forgotten memory."
I stumbled out of the cafeteria, Emily and Max flanking
As we stepped out of the cafeteria, the tension between us was palpable. Emily and Max flanked me, their concerned expressions a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside me. The sounds of clinking utensils and muted conversations faded into the background as we walked away from the confrontation with Lucas.
But before we could take another step, a commotion erupted from within the cafeteria. The sounds of shouting, chairs scraping, and fists pounding on tables sent us rushing back inside. The noise grew louder, and my heart began to race.
We burst through the doors, and my eyes scanned the chaotic scene unfolding before me. Ethan and Lucas were locked in a heated confrontation, their faces inches apart. The air was electric with tension.
"You think you can just disrespect her like that?" Ethan growled, his voice low and menacing. His eyes blazed with anger, his jaw clenched.
Lucas sneered, his face twisted in contempt. "Mind your own business, Ethan. This has nothing to do with you."
Ethan's eyes flashed with anger. "She is my business," he said, his fists clenched. His voice was firm, resolute.
The cafeteria fell silent, students watching in awe as the two boys clashed. Some looked frightened, while others seemed thrilled by the prospect of a fight.
"You're just mad because she chose me over you," Lucas taunted, his voice dripping with malice.
Ethan's face twisted in rage. "You have no idea what you're talking about," he snarled, his words barely audible over the pounding of my heart.
Without warning, Ethan's fist connected with Lucas's jaw, sending him stumbling backward. The cafeteria erupted into gasps and cheers. Some students shouted encouragement, while others cried out in alarm.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" someone chanted, the refrain growing louder.
Lucas charged at Ethan, but Ethan was ready. He landed another punch, and Lucas crashed to the floor. The sound of his body hitting the ground was like a crack of thunder.
"That's enough!" a teacher shouted, rushing into the fray. Mr. Fredrick, the Economics teacher, grabbed Ethan's arm, pulling him away from Lucas.
Ethan shook off Mr. Johnson's grip. "You don't get to treat her like that," he growled, his eyes blazing with fury.
Lucas struggled to his feet, his face bloody. "You'll pay for this," he snarled, his eyes flashing with anger.
The teacher intervened, stepping between the two boys. "Both of you, to the principal's office, now!" Mr. Fredrick ordered, his voice firm.
As Ethan stormed out of the cafeteria, our eyes met. For a fleeting moment, I saw a glimmer of the boy who once cared for me. His expression softened, and I thought I saw a flicker of regret.
Emily grasped my arm. "Are you okay?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
I nodded, still reeling from the unexpected turn of events.
Max frowned. "Ethan didn't have to do that. He's not your boyfriend, he just got himself into a messy spot."
I shook my head. "He did it for himself, not for me," I said, trying to process my emotions.
But deep down, I knew that wasn't entirely true. Ethan may not want me back, but he couldn't bear the thought of anyone hurting me. His actions were a mix of guilt, anger, and protectiveness.
As we left the cafeteria, the noise and chaos faded into the background, replaced by the quiet realization that some wounds never fully heal.
But maybe, just maybe, Ethan's actions were a step toward healing – not for us, but for me.