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The college cafeteria was buzzing with the usual midday energy, a symphony of clattering trays, lively chatter, and the occasional laughter echoing through the room. At a large table in the corner, the group was gathered, their faces reflecting a mix of emotions - relief, understanding, and a newfound closeness after the intense meeting where they had shared their backstories.
Plates piled high with the day’s specials, cups of coffee steaming, and the occasional treat from the dessert counter were spread out before them, causing them to forget about each other for the time-being.
Selena’s gaze shifted from one person to the other, waiting for someone to break the ice. She watched as everyone was either lost in their phones, their plates, or, in Aurelia’s case, floating a few inches above everyone, but even she was lost in her plate. She would have usually done it herself, but she just didn’t feel like it. But she had to. “So, what’s up with all of you?”
Her question hung in the air for a moment, cutting through the hum of the cafeteria. The group looked up, their attention shifting from their plates and screens to Selena. There was a brief silence, a collective intake of oxygen as if they were all surfacing from their individual little worlds.
Aurelia, still floating slightly above her seat, was the first to respond. She put down her fork, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and with a small smile said, “Well, I was just thinking about our meeting earlier. It’s not every day you get to know people on such a deep level.”
Lead shrugged, his tone casual yet slightly probing. “Huh, makes sense. Though if you ask me, this is barely scratching the surface. Thalia and I don’t know you guys that much.”
Thalia raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with a hint of pride. “Well, I probably know Aurelia better than you all combined,” she corrected him.
Nickolas’s expression soured slightly, his words tinged with mock offense. “That’s almost insulting,” he remarked.
Gallus, who had been quietly munching away, looked up, confusion evident in his voice. “What do you mean?” he asked, his mouth still full of food.
“Yeah, that’s not an insult, Nickolas, that’s a fact.” Thalia replied, taking in a bite of her roll. “Aurelia and I both lived in the campus our whole lives. So of course we know each other well.”
Aurelia’s laughter was light, a clear bell in the quiet room. “I think what he’s trying to say is that—actually, I’m at a loss for words. Selena, assistance, please?”
Selena stepped in, her voice laced with a playful tone. “What she’s attempting to convey is that he’s green with envy because Thalia has a deeper knowledge of his better half than he himself does,” she clarified, talking rapidly.
“Exactly… hold on, what? Green with envy? Better half? That’s not true!”
“Gotcha…” Lead chuckled, the corners of his mouth lifting in a mischievous smile.
The group erupted into a chorus of chuckles, the tension dissolving into the air. Nickolas shook his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “Alright, alright, you caught me,” he conceded. “But can you blame me? She’s really observant.”
Thalia winked, “It’s a gift,” she said modestly, her eyes dancing with humor. “But don’t worry, Nickolas. There’s plenty of time to catch up. After all, we’re all in this together.”
Lead gave a light punch to his arm, a knowing look in his eyes. “Well, at least, you know where to go if you ever need any information on Aurelia, man.”
Nickolas buried his face in his hands, his voice tinged with feigned exasperation. “Not you, too…” He let out a muffled sigh. “I hate all of you.”
Aurelia’s voice was warm, her smile audible. “We love you, too, Nicky.”
He grumbled, his words barely escaping his fingers. “And I hate you the most… couldn’t I have gotten a more normal set of people to save the world with?”
Gallus responded with a matter-of-fact tone. “Nope. You’re stuck to us like a north pole to its south pole. Even if you break a magnet in two, each half has both poles, you know?”
Nickolas’s frustration was clear. “I hate when you guys use magnet metaphors.”
With a playful smirk, Selena chimed in. “Then you shouldn’t have chosen Magnetism.”
“Nah, I like it too much. THE SUBJECT.”
Once the laughter died down, the group continued to eat, in silence. Aurelia decided to take a break and actually sit down and eat. Until, for once, it was Lead who broke the silence. “Yo, Goldie, where are we headed first?” he asked Aurelia, standing up, an empty tray in his hands.
That was the last straw for Nickolas.
He slammed his fist on the table, causing the cutlery to clatter. “That’s it!” he said, in a firm tone, glaring at Lead. “Stop calling her ‘Goldie’. That’s my nickname for her!”
Lead blinked, taken aback. “Whoa, chill, man. I didn’t know it was a big deal. I had no idea you even called her that in the first place.”
“Well, it is,” Nickolas snapped, his eyes still blazing with anger. “And if you can’t respect that, then maybe you should find another group to save the world with.”
Nobody had any idea what to say next. Not even the ever-chirpy Selena Platina who always had an ice-breaker. Aurelia, who had been silently eating all this while, spoke up, trying to distract the boys. She slowly picked up her tray, and backed up. “All right, I’m done eating. I’m heading to the main block… catch you later.”
“Sounds fair…” Thalia remarked, standing up with her own empty tray. Slowly, Gallus got up and walked away as well. The three of them had no idea what to do for their friends except stay back.
Selena. however, stayed behind, camera in hand, capturing the unfolding drama. A ruffled Nickolas was a viral Nickolas, and she knew it—this was the kind of content that could skyrocket her channel past the million-subscriber milestone. (Come to Selena, play button!)
“Look,” Lead said, a firm tone in his voice. “I get that you don’t seem to like me using the nickname, but I genuinely didn’t know.”
Nickolas, still fuming, shot back, “Well, now you do. So, no more ‘Goldie’, okay?” His tone was icy, his gaze unwavering.
Lead held up his hands in a shielding gesture. “Alright, alright. No more ‘Goldie’. Got it.” He paused, then added, “But you gotta chill, man. We’re all on the same team here.”
Selena, sensing an opportunity, continued to film, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. This was the kind of drama that her viewers lived for. Meanwhile, the rest of the group could only watch from afar, in silence, hoping that the argument would soon blow over.
Nickolas crossed his arms, his expression still stern. “It’s not just about the nickname, Lead. It’s about respect. You can’t just come in here and act like you own the place.”
Lead sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not trying to ‘own’ anything. I’m just trying to fit in, same as you.”
“By acting like you own the place?” Nickolas retorted.
“No, by being myself,” Lead shot back. “If that’s not good enough for you, then maybe you’re the one who needs to find another group.”
“Fine, then. Who do you think the others would choose to hang out with? One of their friends, or a random classmate?”
Lead frowned, clenching his fists. It was clear that he was offended by this.
“Enough!” A voice boomed through the room, silencing everyone. It was Aurelia. She was tired of being quiet, observing from the sidelines. But when she spoke, everyone listened. Nobody noticed her float in from above, but now, they did.
“Look, guys. This is completely stupid. You’re arguing over a nickname. Of all the things in the world you could have chosen to argue about, you chose this. Wow, and here I thought you were both at least a bit sensible.” she said, a frown on her face.
Nickolas and Lead exchanged glances, still both angry. But neither of them said anything.
“Good,” Aurelia nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Now, let’s get back to work. We have a school to search.”
As the group dispersed, Selena lowered her camera, a thoughtful expression on her face. This was more than just good drama. It was a lesson in teamwork and unity. And she couldn’t wait to share it with her viewers. The room buzzed with renewed energy as everyone got back to their tasks, the earlier conflict forgotten… for now.
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The echoes of their argument still hung in the air as the group of six - Aurelia, Nickolas, Lead, Thalia, Gallus, and Selena - stood at the entrance of the main school building. The grandeur of the architecture, the silent hallways, and the closed doors held a promise of secrets waiting to be discovered.
“Alright, team,” Aurelia began, her voice steady and commanding, “We have a school to explore. Let’s split up into pairs. We’ll cover more ground that way.”
Nickolas, still smarting from his argument with Lead, quickly stepped to Aurelia’s side. “I’m with Goldie,” he declared, throwing a challenging look at Lead.
Lead simply shrugged, unfazed. “Fine by me. Thalia, you’re with me?”
Thalia nodded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Sounds like a plan.”
That left Gallus and Selena. Gallus looked at Selena, a small smile playing on his lips. “Guess that leaves us, huh?”
Selena, her camera at the ready, grinned back. “Looks like it. This should be fun.”
With their pairs decided, they ventured deeper into the school, each pair choosing a different direction. The exploration had officially begun.
[Dude, overreact much, Nick? Bro is confused af about Aurelia. See, like I said earlier, overexposure to Au (3) O]
ns 15.158.61.8da2
