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Fiona had never felt this troubled in her life.
She knew how to make her own decisions.
She had always been decisive, careful, and quick to act.
And yet… here she was, torn between her brand-new friends and a boy she’d only heard ramble twice.
And the worst part? They were fighting over lunch.
Great.
She let out a long, exasperated sigh and pulled her arm away from Elliot’s persistent grip.
She raised her voice slightly, not angry—just firm enough to be heard over the hum of students filing out of the classrooms.
“I’m not going to eat lunch with either of you.”
Silence hit immediately.
Elliot froze, eyes wide, mouth slightly open, like he’d just been told the sun would rise in the west.
The three girls blinked in unison, unsure whether to be offended or impressed.
Fiona held their gazes evenly, calm in a way that startled them all.
“But… but you said you wouldn’t mind me talking!”
Elliot protested, his voice taking on a dramatic whine with just a hint of pleading. “I wanted to talk to you for so long!”
“And you said you wanted to have lunch with us,” Scarlett shot back, stepping forward deliberately.
Her scarred cheek seemed sharper somehow, her voice slow and deliberate.
“You don’t have to go with him. He’s a bother, and we all know it.”
“No, I’m not!” Elliot said, stamping his foot slightly.
“Yes, you are~” Julia chimed in, tilting her head with a frown, her twintails bouncing. “Come on… admit it.”
Fiona lifted a hand, placing it firmly between Elliot and the girls, stopping their verbal tug-of-war mid-air.
She squared her shoulders and fixed her gaze on them both, voice ringing with quiet authority.
“Enough!”
Both sides froze. Elliot blinked, caught mid-plea, while Scarlett and the others hesitated, unsure of what Fiona would do next.
“I’ll eat alone,” she declared.
The words hung in the air, small but weighty.
Elliot’s jaw dropped. He stepped forward, like he wanted to argue—but she held up a finger.
“No. You can’t.”
Fiona’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You don’t get to control me.”
Elliot’s mouth clamped shut.
His lips pursed.
He took a careful step back, eyes darting between Fiona and the girls, unsure if he’d lost or was just waiting for the next round.
Scarlett also stepped back, lowering her gaze just slightly.
Julia followed suit, while the third girl with sparkling eyes shyly looked down, hiding behind the others.
Fiona exhaled slowly, feeling a rush of relief.
She offered a soft smile.
“Thank you,” she said, the words simple but heavy with gratitude—not just to the girls, but to herself.
She turned on her heel and began to walk away, each step lighter than the last.
*************Victory never felt this sweet, she thought. Not since… well, not since that one day she’d finally stood up for herself long ago.
Elliot huffed, a small pout forming at the corner of his lips.
But he didn’t follow. Not yet.
Fiona glanced over her shoulder just as she reached the door.
Elliot’s eyes met hers, wide and glimmering, a storm of emotion swirling behind them: confusion, admiration, maybe even a hint of hurt pride.
Her chest warmed at the look.
Good. Let him think about it, she mused. Maybe he’ll learn something.
*****************As she stepped out into the bustling hallway, the sunlight streaming through the windows felt unusually warm, almost like it was congratulating her.
She tugged her bag strap higher on her shoulder, feeling taller somehow.
Lunch awaited—alone, as she had chosen—but for the first time that day, Fiona felt in control.
She had made the decision. She had set boundaries. She had… won.
And yet, in the corner of her mind, a tiny, teasing thought whispered:
Elliot isn’t done. Not by a long shot.
With that, Fiona walked toward the cafeteria, head high, heart a little lighter, and a small smile tugging at her lips.
Today, she had claimed her independence.
Tomorrow? Well… tomorrow might be a little more chaotic.
***************
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