Dangerous Deal

The next day at the cafeteria, I sat with Freda, Amaya, and Lana, poking at my lunch and hoping for a quiet break. But I know these three so well to know that peace was wishful thinking. The cafeteria was buzzing with voices, clinking plates, and drama brewing in every corner.

  “That reminds me,” Amaya said, stabbing a fry dramatically. “I heard you got into it with Slater in class the other day, Zephyria. How could you keep such a thing from us?”

I nearly choked on my drink. “It’s nothing, really. Just a misunderstanding. I… I've forgotten about all of it.”

  “Excuse me?” Lana gawked. “A face-off with the almighty Slater King isn’t nothing. And you didn’t tell us? We are your friends and we work for the school media. That’s headline material.”

  “Exactly what I told her,” Freda chimed in, nudging my arm with a wicked smile.

  “Freda? Not you too.”

  “Girl,” she grinned, “you’re literally the first person to shut him down in front of an audience. Do you know how big that is? If anyone else had done it, it would’ve been a TikTok trend by now.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, someone slid into the empty seat beside me, smooth and familiar.

  “Who got featured on the school blog?” a voice asked.

I blinked. “Oliver.”

My best guy friend. We met in the first year. Same energy, same humor, same everything. It was friendship at first sight.

  “No one,” I blurted quickly before the girls could beat me to it. “We were just talking about a movie.”

  “Oh? You know I’m a sucker for your movie recommendations,” he said, smiling. “So what’s this one called?”

Freda smirked. “It’s the one where Zephyria Holiday, the female lead, tells Slater King to wrap up whatever he has to say and shove it up his ass.”

  “Freda!” I hissed.

Oliver’s smile froze. “Wait… what?” His gaze whipped to Amaya and Lana. “Slater? As in Slater King?”

Amaya leaned in, unbothered. “She’s sitting right here, Oliver. Ask her.”

I looked down at my plate. Please, God. Let the earth open up and swallow me whole.

Oliver turned to me, jaw tight. “You and Slater? Since when do you hang with people like that?”

  “And by people like that,” Lana said, flicking her hair, “you mean rich, hot, semi-famous boys who rule campus and have girls lining up just to breathe their air?”

  “Exactly,” Oliver snapped. “That’s not her scene. And he’s not her kind of guy.”

  “And you know her too well to know her kind of guy, Mr. Best Male Buddy?” Lana asked sarcastically

   “At this point, it looks like you're just holding back on the things. Just say it already, Oliver. Tell Zephyria here how you truly feel.” Amaya seconded 

The tension thickened and the air felt heavy. I forced a laugh, trying to break it.

  “Alright, everyone. Can we chill? It’s not that deep.”

I turned to Oliver, giving him the most harmless smile I could manage. “Slater and I had a misunderstanding in English class, two days ago. That’s it. It’s been handled.”

  “I didn’t know you were friends with him now,” Oliver muttered, eyes dark.

  “I–”

There was a loud THUMP. A tray slammed down on our table. Our heads turned in sync. Slater King and two of his teammates had joined us uninvited.

  “Hey, ladies,” Slater said, flashing his teeth like he owned the place.

  “Hi, Slater,” Amaya and Lana chorused, lashes batting like butterflies.

My whole body tensed, with my shoulders stiffening like bricks under my hoodie. I could feel Oliver’s glare beside me, but I didn’t dare look at him.

Slater slid into the seat directly across from me, way too comfortable. His friends flanked him like bodyguards.

  “Did I hear someone mention me?” he asked, eyes never leaving mine.

  “No,” I said quickly. “We were just talking.”

  “Oh, come on, Zephy,” he said with a teasing smirk. “Don’t be shy. We’re all friends now, aren’t we?”

He was enjoying this. Playing it up. Turning the heat up just enough to make me break in front of the people I actually cared about.

I felt Freda nudge my leg gently under the table. “Are you okay?” but I didn’t respond.

Oliver folded his arms, voice low. “You don’t belong at this table, Slater.”

  “Relax, man,” Slater said, grinning. “We’re just grabbing lunch. Right, Zephyria? and I thought I should stop by and say hi to my new friend, Zephy. You see, we have unfinished business.”

  “You have no business with her, I would advise you to leave now. We don't want any more drama.” Oliver replied.

  “And who are you? Her boyfriend?”

  “Definitely no!” Amaya responded too fast. “He’s just a friend to her… to us all.”

I rolled my eyes, but before I could respond, Slater turned to the others. “Mind giving us a minute? I’d like to talk to Zephyria alone.”

He said my name like it was candy on his tongue. And made his request sound more like a sweet order. To my surprise and horror, Amaya and Lana started to stand. Even Freda gave me a look like, ‘You’ll be fine’.

But Oliver wasn’t having it, he crossed his arms and stared Slater down. “What makes you think you can just walk over, dismiss everyone, and act like this table belongs to you?”

Slater’s grin didn’t budge. “Relax, bro. I just want a private chat with Zephy.”

  “Then ask. Don’t treat her friends like they're invisible.”

  “Is this your table now?” Slater asked, voice calm but sharp.

Oliver stood. “No, but at least I know how to respect people.”

Slater stood too, smile fading. “You sure you’re not trying too hard to impress someone who doesn’t even want saving?”

That was it, Oliver shoved his chair back and got in Slater’s face. “Say that again.”

Slater chuckled but stepped forward anyway, chest brushing Oliver’s. “You heard me the first time, Mr. Hero.”

Before Oliver could reply, Slater pushed him. Nothing heavy, just a sharp jab to the shoulder. Oliver didn’t back down. He shoved him right back, harder.

  “Guys!” I jumped between them, placing my hands on both their chests. “Not here. Not now. You’re drawing attention, security will come at any moment.”

They were both breathing hard, eyes locked, jaws clenched. Slater’s boys had taken a step forward, ready, but so had Freda. I was sandwiched between them, tension thick enough to slice with a spoon. My heart pounded.

  “Guys, please,” I said, standing halfway. “It’s fine. Oliver, can you go with Freda? I’ll talk to him and join you.”

Oliver looked like he’d rather punch something, but after a beat, he exhaled and nodded stiffly. “You sure?”

I nodded. “I’ve got this.”

He left reluctantly, but not without giving Slater one last glare. Slater just chuckled as if he’d already won.

  “What do you want now?” I asked, trying to steady my voice. “And for the record, it was rude of you to dismiss my friends like that.”

Slater smirked. “They didn’t seem to mind, obedient little angels. Unlike Mr. Macho Bestie who thought he could play knight in shining armor.”

I rolled my eyes. “Just get to the point, Slater. I’m not in the mood for whatever this is.”

  “You owe me, Zephyria.” I blinked. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. You embarrassed me in class and I still haven’t forgotten the look on everyone’s faces.”

  “Oh, please,” I scoffed. “That whole scene was a prank. A joke between you and your boys. You were clearly looking for a reaction, which you got.”

Slater turned to his guys, who were hovering like bodyguards. “You hear that, boys? False accusations again.”

  “Not cool,” one of them muttered with a shake of his head.

Slater turned back to me, his grin widening. “Even my boys agree. So, here’s how you make it up to me. You’re going to handle all my school work until I say otherwise.”

I stared at him, certain I hadn’t heard right. “What!?”

A few heads turned, but the room had already gone quieter than usual. Zephyria Holiday and Slater King sitting together? Of course people were listening.

  “You heard me, sweetheart,” he said, stealing the apple off my tray and taking a bite like he owned it, and me. “Essays. Notes. Projects. Anything. I don’t care if it’s outside your major. Just get it done.”

  “You’re insane,” I muttered. “And unbelievably full of yourself. You are going to sit here and act like you didn't plant a dead rat with blood in my locker too? ”

  “Maybe I'm insane, but I sure didn't plant any dead rat in anyone’s locker.” he said with a shrug, chewing slowly. “But you’re still going to do what I asked. If you don't want me pressing charges for assault, everyone saw you pour water on me.”

My hands curled into fists under the table.

  “Oh, and one more thing,” he added, wiping the corner of his mouth with my napkin like this was a date. “No one can know. Not your girl gang, not your precious Oliver. This stays between us.”

I stared at him, pulse thudding in my ears. My life on campus had turned into a power play, and somehow, I was the pawn.