113: New Friends.

Mia.

I walked into the cafeteria with a sinking feeling in my stomach. The detention I had to endure earlier left a bad taste in my mouth, and I knew my classmates would be gossiping about it. As I headed towards the usual table where Andrew and his friends sat, I noticed the twins waving at me from the corner of my eye. I was pleasantly surprised. They had been kind to me before, but I didn't expect them to go so far as to invite me to sit with them during lunch.

Approaching them, they smiled and motioned for me to join them. I felt a bit nervous, but I decided to take them up on their offer. After all, they had stood up for me during the fight, and I felt indebted to them. I settled down beside them, and they introduced me to their friends, who were surprisingly welcoming.

We started talking, and I found myself opening up to them more than I ever did with Andrew's friends. They genuinely cared about what I had to say and didn't judge me. I found myself laughing and enjoying their company. It had been ages since I had felt so much joy during lunchtime.

As we ate, the twins shared their life stories with me. They came from a tough neighborhood and had to stick together to survive. They spoke of their struggles and how they had developed resilience. I was amazed by their strength and perseverance, and I couldn't help but admire them.

I didn't reveal much about my own life, but they listened attentively. They were surprised to learn that I brought my own lunch to school and inquired about the reasons. I gave them vague explanations, not delving into the details. They nodded understandingly, and we bonded over our shared experiences and hardships. I felt incredibly grateful to have found friends who truly understood me.

This was a significant step forward in making friends and fitting in at school. Andrew was happy for me too and welcomed the twins into our group, but not without issuing a stern warning.

"Listen carefully," Andrew said, his tone serious. "If any of you say anything that offends Mia, I won't hesitate to intervene."

The twins giggled in response, but I knew Andrew meant business. He was always protective of me, and he didn't shy away from physical confrontation when needed. It was one of the things I appreciated about him.

"Don't worry, Andrew," Olivia said, still giggling. "We won't say anything to hurt her. We're glad to have her here with us."

"Good," Andrew replied, easing up a bit. "I just want to ensure she feels safe and comfortable."

As I listened to their conversation, a warm feeling spread through my chest. These people were willing to go to great lengths to ensure my well-being. It was a new and heartwarming experience for me.

The twins laughed along with Andrew, but I could see that they took his warning seriously. I appreciated his protective nature, but I didn't want him fighting on my behalf. I knew I could handle myself, and I had proven it long before this moment.

We made more small talk here and there, and eventually, I worked up the courage to ask the twins the question that's been on my mind. "Why did you always bully me before?" I asked out of the blue. And to my greatest shock, Olivia, one of the twins suddenly bursts into tears and runs away, leaving her sister and me stunned. I did not know what to say, and the sister looked just as shocked. Andrew, who had been engrossed in a joke, turned in time to see the twin running off.

"What's wrong? Did they upset you again? Was it just a trap to hurt you?" he asked, looking at me.

I shook my head, still processing what just happened. "I don't know, I think its the other way round. I think I am the one who upset them with my question, I don’t understand though," I said truthfully, suspecting that I might have upset them instead. I didn't mean to make anyone cry, but I'm glad that they're now on my side.

Andrew seemed confused but did not push the issue. Instead, he put his arm around me and pulled me close. "Don't worry about it," he said, his voice soft. "They're on our side now, and that's all that matters."

I nodded, feeling grateful for his support. With Andrew by my side, I feel like I can handle anything that comes my way, even if it means dealing with the unexpected emotions of former bullies.

Class ended in a blur as I sat there lost in thought. The events of the day had left me feeling confused and uncertain. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was not quite right. Despite having the twins on my side and being on good terms with Andrew, there was still an unsettling feeling that lingered in the back of my mind.

I couldn't help but wonder about the twins, who had always been the bane of my existence in school. I still couldn't figure out why they had bullied me in the first place. It was something that bothered me, but I couldn't bring myself to ask them about it again.

Diego's behavior was also starting to get on my nerves. He seemed to be acting weirdly and was always avoiding me. I couldn't figure out why he was acting that way, but I decided to let it go for now. I had other things to worry about.

And at least, things were going well with Andrew. However, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I wasn't good enough for him. I felt like I was out of his league, and he could do better than me. What if he decided to dump me one day for someone else? The thought of losing him made me feel sick to my stomach. I knew I had to stop thinking that way, but it was easier said than done.