Emma’s POV
A few of Caleb’s friends exchanged glances, stifling laughs. Vanessa’s face hardened, but she wasn’t backing down. “Oh, please,” she said, her voice dripping with condescension. “You’re not exactly innocent here, Caleb. Don’t act like you weren’t into it.”
Caleb leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “You mean when you threw yourself at me? Yeah, not my proudest moment. But that’s on you, not me.”
The cafeteria was dead silent now, all eyes on them. Vanessa’s composure was slipping, her cheeks flushing with anger. “You didn’t exactly push me away,” she snapped.
Caleb smirked, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Yeah, well, even hoes get lucky sometimes.”
The room erupted into gasps and muffled laughter. Vanessa’s eyes widened, her jaw tightening as she realized the weight of his words. She opened her mouth to respond, but Caleb wasn’t done.
“Seriously, Vanessa,” he said, his tone turning serious. “Find someone else to mess with. I’m done playing your games.”
Vanessa stood frozen for a moment, her face a mix of fury and humiliation. Then she turned on her heel and stormed out of the cafeteria, her heels clicking sharply against the tile. The whispers started immediately, spreading like wildfire through the room.
I sat there, stunned, as Caleb caught my eye from across the room. He stood up and started walking toward me, ignoring the buzz of conversation that followed him.
I raised an eyebrow. “That was... dramatic.”
He shrugged, sliding into the seat next to me. “She deserved it.”
“She’s not going to let this go, you know.”
“I’m not afraid of her,” Caleb said, leaning closer. “I meant what I said, Emma. I’m done with her. With all of it. It’s you I care about.”
I wanted to believe him, but Vanessa’s shadow loomed over everything. Still, his words and the way he’d stood up to her made something in my chest soften.
“For now,” I said, giving him a small smile. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Caleb grinned, reaching for my hand. “That’s all I need.”