If I was to choose my least favourite hour of the day, I would definitely cast my vote on lunch period. Mr Varner's Calculus would be at the second bottom but they still certainly had miles and miles of difference.

It was the gloating and unwanted pity that I hated. Jessica's and Lauren's eyes were disapproving of me sitting with them although they never would voice out anything negative directly to me. They were good at hinting about it though.

So at the lunch table, it was like there was an invisible partition between their group and me. When a conversation was going on, all heads were huddled but mine was still bowed to the tray before me. I was never interested enough to join in anyway but it was annoying nonetheless when Lauren would purposely talk about things I wouldn't understand but would never give the time of day to let me catch on.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lauren whisper something to Conner, the guy she had been dating. I tentatively looked at them out of curiosity and met their eyes. Lauren cupped Conner's chin and gave him a slow kiss in front of everyone. I struggled not to gag. If this was her ploy to remind me of someone, well, she was successful, but I wasn't going to let her know it!

I continued eating my pasta with fiercer determination, eager to finish as fast as I could. I looked around the table. Angela was sitting beside me, and on her right was Ben. Mike and Tyler were talking about sports. I never noticed before but Katie, my neighbour, was also there, which according to Angela, had been sitting with us since the start of the school year.

I was content to be the only one without someone to talk to when someone suddenly placed his tray opposite me. It took my eyes a longer time than average to survey the lanky body up to his head when I realized it was Eric Yorkie.

"Hi Eric. Umm. You've grown taller," I gave him a smile for his courage.

He gave me a shy smile. "Hi Bella. Is it okay?" His hand motioned at the seat next to him.

"By all means," I said cheerfully, but my mind was already wandering what brought this on. I glanced furtively at the others at the table. They were still busy conversing and apparently had not noticed Eric joining us.

"Bella, I'd like to ask you something," Eric beamed at me. He sounded really excited. "I know you happen to like books so I'd like to ask your opinion of this." He raised his hand from under the table and it was holding – I couldn't believe my eyes – a copy of Wuthering Heights.

My mouth dropped open. After a few seconds, realizing that it was gaping open, I shut it closed with a snap.

"Bella?" He looked confused.

I couldn't manage to look at him straight so I concentrated on the remaining pasta on my plate. I covered my face with both hands and breathed out, "Holy crow, holy crow, holy crow..."

I was stunned to say the least. Had I been almost baring my soul to Eric? It wouldn't be impossible! He knew about the book I mentioned to him last night, and being a candidate for class valedictorian, he could surely write the History homework on his own!

I watched him now and almost coughed at the sight. He had turned his head sideways to check his breath and even worse, sniffed both his underarms, and was trying his best not to look obvious while doing it! I gave him credit for trying so I pretended to look at something interesting on my shoes.

When I was finally ready, I asked him, "Why are you going to read that book?"

He shrugged. "I wanted to decide for myself if Heathcliff was being a hero or an anti-hero in the story."

I licked my lips. "Wouldn't you rather be doing something else than reading?"

"Well, I like to be well-rounded," he said with renewed confidence. "Not too good at P.E. though," he added with significant distaste in his tone.

"We're on the same boat," I agreed uneasily. Could he be Macto? The unknown guy whom I found so comfortable to talk to? It was Eric all along?

Eric started to dig in the chicken and mashed potato on his plate. He seemed nervous to me as his food sometimes dropped from his fork.

"Why are you staring at me?" He asked self-consciously.

Unfortunately, when he asked that question, the group who had been noisily talking with each other, also fell silent at that same time. Consequently, everyone at the table heard him. A loud, derisive laugh erupted from two familiar voices. I didn't need to look to know who they were. The other boys also couldn't help to join in because of the telltale blush coming from both Eric and me.

I felt sorry for Eric. He couldn't finish his meal any more and settled on burying his face in the wretched book. I sighed. I most definitely needed to chat with him tonight. I wasn't sure if he would still consider going online though.