Chapter 103 – Burgers–1
–LIA’S POV–
20 min left
We reached the burger joint Zane wanted to visit, and for the first time in months, things felt normal.
The place was smaller than I expected.
It sat on the corner of a quiet street, with fairy lights wrapped around its windows and a chalkboard menu propped beside the entrance. It smelled amazing—grilled meat, fresh fries, toasted buns—and the low buzz of chatter spilled out every time the door opened.
“I already like this place,” Christy announced, pulling her hoodie off as we stepped inside. Her curls bounced as she shook her head and scanned the place.
“It’s cule,” I commented, admiring it.
“Not as cule as me,” Zane said, pulling me to his side.
I smiled. “Of course nol.”
Sheila scoffed. “Zane and cute? He looks like he hasn’t combed
his hair in weeks.”
Zane snorted. “She’s not wrong.”
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I laughed.
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“Gross, even for an animal,” Ajax muttered, making my eyes widen. I immediately glanced at Christy for her reaction, but she was simply grinning with amusement.
“Relax,” Zane whispered in my ear, “she doesn’t know anything.”
I released a breath, relaxing.
“An animal?” Warner said. “That’s an insult.”
“To animals,” Aaron laughed.
The Hounds were in full form today—loud, sarcastic, constantly teasing each other. And honestly… I didn’t mind it. After everything lately, the noise and normalcy felt good. Like I could pretend, even just for a while, that things were okay.
Zane’s hand found mine as we all walked to the counter.
“Four double cheeseburgers,” Ajax said to the guy behind the counter, “three fries, and a strawberry milkshake.”
“You’re ordering for us all?” I asked, eyebrows raised.
“No, that’s just for me,” he replied.
I blinked. “All of it?”
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He grinned. “Just starters.”
19 min left
Christy ordered something simple, and I picked the chicken burger–safe and familiar. Zane ordered last, throwing in an extra portion of loaded fries “just in case.”
We slid into a big corner booth with red seats and a slightly sticky table. Warner and Aaron argued over who’d sit by the window, which ended with Sheila dragging Aaron down beside her by the collar. Christy sat beside me, and Zane took the spot to my right, caging me in—not that I was complaining.
“So,” Aaron said, unwrapping his burger the moment it arrived. “Do we talk about Blake or do we simply forget everything that happened?”
I tensed up. Zane stiffened as well.
“Why would you bring that piece of shit up? There’s food in front of us,” Zane said, making a disgusted face.
“Sorry,” Aaron said, biting into his burger.
“No, but seriously, did you forgive him, Lia?” Christy asked. “I heard about what happened at the cafeteria.”
“No,” I replied. “I just said that I did because I needed him to get off his knees.”
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19 min left
“Should’ve kept him there,” Warner commented, not looking up from his food.
“I agree,” Christy said. “He’s a jerk for what he did to you. That deserve punishment, not forgiveness.”
Zane smiled, glancing at me. “I like her.” He then looked at Christy. “What punishment would you suggest?”
“Hm,” Christy pretended to think, “we should burn his fingers
off.”
I grimaced.
“Wow,” Ajax laughed. “Someone took notes, didn’t they?”
“You didn’t do that to us,” I frowned.
“Yeah, but I almost did set fire to your hair once.”
“Not something to be proud of, Ajax,” Sheila sang.
“I’m sorry, did I sound proud?” Ajax smirked.
“Little bit.” I admitted.
“My bad.”
“Any other ideas, Chris? Something more original?” Zane asked, stuffing fries into his mouth.
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19 min left
Christy leaned back in her seal, arms folded as she grinned. “Oh, absolutely. I say we cover his scalp in glue and dump glitter on him. Permanent sparkle. Blakey Disco Ball.”
I burst into laughter, nearly choking on my french fry. “Oh my God.”
“That’s…” Zane blinked. “Weirdly creative.”
“Right?” Christy beamed. “He’d be sparkling for weeks. No matter how much he showered, there’d always be a little shimmer left. A reminder.”
Warner nodded slowly, chewing his burger like he was giving the idea real thought. “I kind of love it.”
“Cruel and unusual glitter punishment,” Aaron mused. “I’m impressed.”
“Thank you,” Christy said proudly, flipping her hair back. “I did drama in middle school.”
“I can tell,” Ajax said with a smirk.
I was still giggling when Zane leaned toward me, whispering, “We should keep her around. For the creativity.”
“She’s my best friend,” I whispered back. “She’s staying regardless.”
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He grinned. “Perfect.”
19 min left
Our food slowly disappeared as the chatter continued. The Hounds had somehow slipped into a heated debate over which condiment was superior: Sheila was Team Mayo, Ajax swore by Sriracha, and Aaron was trying to make a passionate case for honey mustard.
“It’s sweet! It’s tangy! It’s literally everything you want in a sauce!” Aaron said, slapping the table for emphasis.
“I literally don’t even know what it is,” Warner muttered.
“That’s because your taste buds are dead.”
“That’s because I don’t eat food that looks like it belongs on an art project.
I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt, and so was Christy. Even Zane cracked a rare full–on laugh, not just a smirk or chuckle, but a real one that made his eyes crinkle.
And for the first time in a long time, the tension in my chest loosened.
It felt good.
It felt normal.
