By the time fourth period ended, Ridgewood High felt like it was running on gossip fuel.
Lila could feel the stares. The whispers. The way people leaned together just as she passed.
She knew what they were saying. She didn't even need to hear the words.
Cole and Hart.Did you see her brothers?This is going to end in blood.
She wanted to crawl into a hole. Instead, she trudged into the cafeteria with Harper and Maya flanking her like bodyguards.
"Okay," Harper whispered as they slid into their usual table. "Rule number one: don't look at him."
"Rule number two," Maya added, "don't smile at him."
"Rule number three," Harper said, "if all else fails, pretend you're blind."
Lila groaned. "You guys aren't helping."
But then the cafeteria doors swung open, and all three of them went still.
Ethan Cole.
Golden boy. Football captain. Obvious trouble.
He strolled in with Lukas and Zane at his sides, laughter rolling off them like they didn't have a care in the world. Except Ethan wasn't laughing. His eyes were searching.
And then—he found her.
The smirk was instant. Dangerous.
Lila's stomach flipped.
"Don't you dare—" Harper started.
Too late. Ethan was already crossing the cafeteria.
He dropped his tray on the table with a thud and sat down right next to Lila like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Move," Aiden snapped, appearing out of nowhere.
Of course. Her brothers had been watching.
Ethan didn't even glance at him. "Nah. I'm good here."
Jordan appeared on her other side, looming. "You're not wanted."
Caleb sat across from them, grinning like he was watching his favorite soap opera. "Correction. I want him here. This is better than Netflix."
"CALEB!" Lila hissed.
Tyler finally arrived, dropping his tray on the table with a heavy sigh. His expression screamed I'm so done with all of you.
The cafeteria buzzed louder, phones out, whispers spreading. Half the school was already recording.
Harper muttered, "This is insanity."Maya whispered, "This is iconic."Ryan and Ben—their guy friends—looked like they'd been dragged into a war they didn't sign up for.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, arm casually slung across the back of Lila's seat. "So. How's everyone's lunch?"
Aiden lunged. Jordan caught him again. Tyler pinched the bridge of his nose. Caleb clapped like this was entertainment.
And Lila? She wanted to scream.
"Get your arm off me," she hissed.
Ethan tilted his head, eyes burning into hers. "No."
The single word was enough to silence the table. Enough to make her brothers stiffen. Enough to make the cafeteria lean in, waiting for the explosion.
But Ethan didn't stop there.
He leaned closer, voice dropping low, just for her. "You can fight me all you want, sunshine. But I'm not letting go."
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
Her brothers roared at once—Aiden swearing, Jordan snapping, Tyler standing like he was ready to drag Ethan out by force. Caleb nearly choked on his soda from laughing too hard.
The cafeteria erupted in chaos.
And Lila knew one thing for certain.
This wasn't just high school drama anymore.
This was war.