EUPHORIA

The cafeteria was loud—louder than usual. The upcoming games had the entire school buzzing, with students wearing team jerseys, debating game strategies, and throwing out predictions. Caroline had tuned most of it out, but then she saw her.

Ramsey.

Sitting at the far end of the cafeteria with Shelby and Riley, all three of them leaned in, engaged in a heated conversation. Riley was animated, hands moving wildly as she spoke, while Shelby, ever the calm one, smirked as she sipped from her water bottle. And Ramsey—

Ramsey sat there effortlessly, arms draped over the back of her chair, head tilted slightly as she listened. She looked so sure of herself, so comfortable. It was infuriating.

Caroline found herself staring too long, trying to catch bits of their conversation through the cafeteria noise. But then—

Ramsey looked up.

Not just looked up—looked at her.

Their eyes met, and instead of looking away, Ramsey smirked. A slow, knowing smirk, almost like a taunt. Or was it something else?

Caroline felt her pulse spike.

Oh, you think you're cute, don’t you?

Ramsey didn’t break eye contact. If anything, she seemed to be enjoying the attention.

Caroline’s grip on her fork tightened. Fine. Two can play this game.

But before she could decide how to respond, a shadow loomed over her table.

"Hey, Caroline."

Caroline turned just as Stiles, the captain of the men's football team, pulled up a chair beside her.

Perfect.

Stiles was a golden boy—popular, good-looking, and the type to flirt just because he could. Caroline didn't mind. Today, he had a purpose.

She glanced back at Ramsey, who hadn't looked away. But then—

She noticed something.

Ramsey's gaze wasn't locked on her anymore.

It was locked on something—or someone—behind her.

Caroline stiffened. A familiar scent of expensive perfume and a presence too confident to be ignored.

Oh, no.

Slowly, she turned her head, and there she was—the green-eyed girl.

Standing right behind her.

Ramsey’s girlfriend.

Caroline’s breath caught in her throat.

Standing right behind her was Delilah, the tall, dark-haired girl with piercing green eyes—Ramsey’s girlfriend. The one who had walked into the café days ago and ruined her mood in an instant.

And she was looking down at her with a perfectly neutral expression, but Caroline could feel the weight of her presence.

Shit.

“Oh,” Delilah said smoothly, her voice even and controlled. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Caroline forced a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. “You’re not.”

Stiles, ever the oblivious golden retriever, leaned back in his chair, flashing Delilah his usual charming grin. “Hey, Delilah. Didn’t know you were in our lunch rotation.”

“I’m not.” Delilah’s eyes flickered toward him for half a second before snapping back to Caroline. She tilted her head, almost amused. “I didn’t realize you two were close.”