Chapter 3 – Cafeteria

The three friends un-linked arms as they walked into the caf.

"I'll go find us seats, just pick me up like… a bag of chips or something. I'm not that hungry." Tori said as she walked off past the sea of students.

"'Kay, Tors." Tristan waved briefly to her with a smile. In a flash his attention was directed back to Maya.

"So Maya," he started as they walked on line for lunch "About this party. I was thinking you should wear a dress. Y'know, a sexy one. Not one of those regular old grandma-came-to-visit sundresses you have in your closet."

"Hey! Do you have a problem with my wardrobe or something?" Maya refuted, slightly annoyed.

"Not on a regular day, but for now, yes Maya." Tristan said, picking up his tray and joining the line. "Tori and I are taking you shopping. Today. After school. Sharp." He added, surveying the display of food to his left.

Maya looked down at her body. "Do you have a problem with my outfit right now, too?" she snapped and then sighed. Tristan paid her no attention.

As the two walked off the line to find Tori with their table, Tristan suddenly slapped his hand to his forehead and closed his eyes. "UGH I forgot Tori's chips. So forgetful. I'll meet you at the table." He sped-walked back in the other direction.

Maya scanned the lunchroom for Tori.

Eventually she spotted her and Zig sitting at a table with a few empty seats. Tori was scooping up a finger-full of Zig's pudding and dotting it onto his nose.

"You think that's funny huh?" Zig joked as he looked for a napkin while Tori laughed her head off.

Maya chuckled.

"Hey Matlin!"

She turned to the caller. She saw the Ice Hounds sitting at a table. Cam was looking up at her.

"Yes, you." Ice Hound Mike Dallas impatiently waved her over.

Maya looked back over at Tori and Zig. Now Tori was mindlessly telling some boring story to Zig as he spaced out with a french fry hanging out of his mouth. She looked over at the snack bar for Tristan. No sight of him. Finally she looked back to the Hounds' table. Dallas raised one eyebrow.

Maya mentally shrugged her shoulders and walked over to the table with her tray in hand.

"'Sup Ms. Saunders? Couldn't resist the call of the wild?" Dallas playfully smirked; all of the Ice Hounds bellowing canine-like sounds at her to backup their leader, and then dissolving into playful laughter.

Maya laughed as if it were funny and took a seat next to Cam.

"Oh loosen up Matlin. We just wanna talk." Dallas reassured her. Maya looked up at him. Cam stared off into the distance.

"'Heard your little boyfriend here invited you to our party, huh?" He continued. "Well I for one think that's just cute." Dallas puckered and then took a long swig of coke.

"Yeah, well…" Maya mustered up. "It better be fun." She glared mockingly at the pigheaded jock and took a swig from her own can.

"Oooooh…" the hounds boomed in the background.

"Oh so you wanna play tough huh?" Dallas shot back. "Don't worry. We hounds know how to have fun." He continued. "Just bring that attitude to the party," he took another swig, "and you'll have fun too." He laughed.

Maya smiled nervously and began to pick at her food. She looked over at Cam, who was already looking at her. His face broke into a reassuring smile. Maya smiled back, and without thinking leaned in and kissed Cam on the cheek.

"Awwww!" echoed the hounds. At first Cam had looked worried, almost scared, but eventually his face melted into joy, and he leaned in for another loving kiss from Maya. This time on the lips.

"Hey chill out niners." Dallas joked. "Save that stuff for the party!" he laughed and slapped five with one of the hounds behind him.

Maya could care less about what they had just said.