Lunch was supposed to be peaceful.
Supposed to be normal.

But when did anything ever go as planned?

Ava was mid-bite into her sandwich, surrounded by Section E’s usual chaos. Jae was next to her, stealing fries from her plate. Minho and Lily were locked in their own little world, while Kai dramatically whined about his "near-death experience" from the last gunshot incident.

Eli snorted. “Kai, you’re acting like you died.”

“I ALMOST DID,” Kai huffed. “If I had stepped an inch to the left—”

BANG.

Ava felt it before she understood it.

A burning, searing pain tore through her arm. Her body jerked back. The tray of food clattered to the floor.

The cafeteria erupted into screams.

Blood.

Ava’s blood.

The world spun. Jae was in front of her in a second, grabbing her before she collapsed.

“Ava?” His voice was shaking. “AVA!”

Her fingers trembled as she clutched her bleeding arm. “J-Jae…?”

She could see it. The way his entire body tensed. The way his eyes burned with rage.

Ava tried to speak, but the pain was too much.

Jae’s jaw clenched so tightly she thought his teeth might shatter. He turned toward the direction of the shooter— but whoever it was had vanished.

Section E moved instantly.

Kai slammed the cafeteria doors shut. Eli and Minho shoved tables over, creating a barrier. The rest of the section formed a shield around Ava and Jae.

“No one touches her,” Lily hissed, her voice deadly.

Jae pressed his forehead against Ava’s, his hands covered in her blood as he tried to stop the bleeding.

“Ava, stay awake,” he pleaded. “Please. Stay with me.”

She nodded weakly. “M’not dying yet…” she whispered, forcing a smile.

Jae let out a shaky breath, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I swear, whoever did this—I’ll kill them.”

And for once, nobody doubted that he meant it.