The next day, the cafeteria smelled like burnt cheese and betrayal. That should’ve been my first clue. The second was the giant banner over the lunch line, screaming “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NOAH!” in glitter paint thick enough to blind someone. Minor detail: my birthday’s in June.
At first, I just stood there. Blinking. Confused. A few people clapped. Someone blew a party horn. Jace emerged from the crowd, holding a ridiculous cake frosted in Barbie pink. My heart dropped into my shoes.
“Come on, Linwood,” he shouted. “Time to make a wish!”
My feet refused to move. Every nerve screamed that something was wrong. The whole room was too loud. Jace grinned wider, like a villain in a bad teen movie. I took one step forward, and that was all he needed.
Without warning, he slammed the cake into my face.
Laughter erupted. High, sharp, endless. The frosting clung to my lashes, slid down my neck, filled my nose with a sickening swirl of vanilla and humiliation. I didn’t move. Couldn’t. Just stood there like a statue in a frosting grave.
Phones came out. Snaps, videos, more laughter. I heard my name like a curse and a punchline. “Oh my god.” “Look at him.” “He’s actually crying—wait, is he crying?”
I wasn’t. Not yet. But it was close.
Luca stepped around the table, and holy shit, I’d never seen him look like this. His usual easy smile was gone, replaced by something sharp and dangerous. The kind of angry that made smart people step back and give him space.
“I asked you a question, Morrison.” Luca’s voice was deadly quiet. “From who?”
“Luca, hey—” Jace tried to turn on the charm, but it came out strangled. “I was just—”
“You were just what? Harassing my friend?” Luca moved closer, and Jace actually flinched. “Again?”
“It’s not like that—”
“Then what’s it like?” Luca’s hands were clenched at his sides. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re taking out your pathetic jealousy on someone who never did shit to you.”
Everything paused. A record scratch moment, except the DJ was God and He clearly hated me. Jace turned, cocky as ever. “Relax, it’s just a joke.”
Luca’s voice dropped an octave. “That wasn’t funny. That was pathetic.”
“Come on,” Jace shrugged. “Your boyfriend’s fine. He loves attention. Right, Linwood?”
I shoved past them both, fists clenched, eyes burning. The cafeteria blurred at the edges, but I didn’t stop until I reached the hallway. I didn’t care where I was going—just that it wasn’t here. I found a bathroom, locked the door, and braced myself against the sink.
My reflection was worse than I expected. Pink icing smeared in my hair, my shirt ruined, eyes glossy with tears I refused to let fall. I ripped off paper towels and scrubbed hard, but nothing could clean the feeling of being laughed at. Like I wasn’t a person, just a punchline wearing glasses and panic.
The door opened behind me. I didn’t turn. “Go away.”
“I’m not leaving.” Luca’s voice was quiet, but steady. Too steady.
“I’m fine,” I said, which was obviously a lie.
“No, you’re not. And that’s okay.”
His footsteps came closer. I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t. “Everyone was watching,” I muttered. “They loved it. They think I’m a joke.”
“They’re idiots.”
I laughed, but it came out bitter. “You think defending me makes this better?”
“No,” Luca said, jaw tight. “But it makes it fair.”
I turned to face him. His eyes weren’t soft—they were burning. Not with pity. With rage. And not at me. He looked like he wanted to throw Jace through a locker.
“You didn’t have to say anything,” I said.
“Yes, I did.”
“Why?” My voice cracked. “Why do you care so much?”
He stepped closer, eyes locked on mine. “Because I want to.”
“That’s not a reason. That’s a risk. If Coach finds out—if your dad—”
“I know,” he cut in. “Trust me, I know exactly what I’m putting on the line.”
“Your team. Your perfect reputation. Kissing me is one thing, but openly dating?”
“Then they’re not worth it if staying quiet is the cost.”
I stared at him. “You’d really go to war over me?”
He didn’t hesitate. “If Jace tries that shit again, I will wreck him.”
Then softer, almost like he hated having to say it: “And yeah. I care. A lot more than I probably should.”
“I don’t want to be some pity project,” I said, quieter now.
“You’re not.”
“I don’t get it,” I admitted. “You could hang out with anyone. Be anywhere. And you keep choosing me.”
He gave a crooked smile. “You ever think I choose you because I want to?”
“No.”
“Well, I do.”
We stood in silence, surrounded by harsh lights and half-melted dignity. I still felt raw. Still a little shaky. But less alone.
Luca leaned in, not to kiss me this time, but just to be near. His forehead almost touched mine. “You’re not weak for being hurt,” he said. “And you’re not broken because you feel too much.”
My throat tightened. “I just—”
He cut me off gently. “You’re not a joke to me.”
But kindness couldn’t erase what Jace did. And I was done playing nice.