Tomatoes on Toast

hey everyone! just a heads up, this chapter gets into some pretty intense bullying, so if youre sensitive to that sort of thing, you might want to skip to the next chapter. but if you can handle it, you wont be sorry, because theres some juicy tension between Sima and Peyton O-o – androidluver4723

Ah lunch! The best part of my day! Today I'm eating uncooked ramen noodles. (I have to cook for myself since my parents are away on a business trip and I’m just such a klutz in the kitchen that I didn’t even bother trying, I probably would have just burnt it anyway). It was a little crunchy, but that's how I like it. I love lunch because I get to hang out with my friends, like my best friend Caitlyn.

As I sit down I take out my food and turn to Caitlyn, who is sitting next to me, and say “Wow Caitlyn, you wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had so far.”

“Is Shell bothering you again? Ugh she’s so awful, you need to learn to stand up to her.”

This is my best friend in the world, Caitlyn. She has straight blonde hair and is the second prettiest girl in school (Right behind me of course ;) ). We’ve been besties since elementary school and are practically inseparable.

“Hmph. I try.. But she always gets worse when I do.. Earlier today she called me Toast Girl! What does that even mean…” I pout.

Before Caitlyn can answer though, some of the brainless jocks from the football team walk up behind me and sneer, “Hey look everyone! It’s Toast Girl!”

“What are you, an anime girl or something, haha.” Another jock snickers at me

“Back off!” Caitlyn snaps back “Or do you need someone to put you in your place!” She says, standing up and moving towards the pair.

“Caitlyn, wait!” I protest, standing and reaching for Caitlyn’s arm. “They’re not worth the trouble.”

“What was that, brat?” One of them says to me, “Just because you’re pretty doesn’t mean you’ll get off easy.”

Just before things looked like they were about to get heated, I feel a warm presence behind me and a hand on my shoulder.

“Back off you two.” Peyton growls.

My face turns beet red as the jocks slowly back away. (Peyton has never touched me before, I was sooo embarrassed)

“Woah, calm down dude.” one says, clearly intimidated by Peyton. (Probably because he’s the head of the football team for a reason

“We were just messin’ around” The other says.

Before they’re even gone though I hear a shout from across the room, “Hey Toast Girl! Catch!”

A slice of toast aimed perfectly at my face hits me square in the head. As I recover from the hit, I look up in the direction the toast came from and see none other than Shell, looking proudly at someone with a loaf of toast, hand on their shoulder. Ugh!!! Of course it’s that BULLY Shell! She’s always out to get me, always out to make my life a nightmare! Just as I’m plotting how to get my revenge I hear another yell from nearby.

“FOOD FIGHT!”

Suddenly the cafeteria erupts into chaos, food being thrown from one end to the other, shouting from everyone nearby, the faculty rushing to try and put a stop to the ruckus. Almost immediately a tomato flies directly at me and smacks right into my face covering it and making me unable to see. Before I panic though I feel a hand grasp mine and sweep me under the table to safety. Thank god Caitlyn was here to save me from any further humiliation. I feel the hand move up to wipe the smashed tomato from my face and as the light hits my eyes I am faced with… Peyton?

“Eep!” I squeak out, my face turning bright red underneath the also red tomato paste.

“I saw you get hit by that tomato. Are you okay? Hold on, there’s still some more on your face. Huh, that’s weird. It doesn’t seem to be coming off. Peyton says as he wipes the remaining tomato away.

Oh g*d, I must be blushing so hard he thinks it tomato paste. This is so embarrassing, I’m going to start blushing even harder if he keeps this up.

“O-oh d-d-don’t worry about it, haha. I’ll clean it myself.” I stammer, not wanting him to stare at my face so intensely.

“It's ok, I don’t mind looking at your face!” Peyton says obliviously before realizing what he just said. “W-wait I didn’t mean it like that.” Peyton begins to blush slightly.

I notice and giggle a bit at the realization. “Looks like you got a bit of tomato on your face too!” I say teasingly

Peyton and I laugh a bit and then, realizing the commotion has quieted down, he says to me “It sounds like the teachers got everything under control. I think it’s safe to leave now.”

We peek our heads out from the cover of the table and sure enough Principle Viden is putting an end to the fight.

“You two lovebirds okay down there?” Caitlyn teases.

“I- No that's not- we were just- Ughh” I stutter as I bury my blushing face in my hands.

“It's not like that!” Peyton says “We were just getting away from the fight.”

I try to get out from the table and stand up, but my legs wobble and collapse under me, weak from how flustered I am. I start to fall to the ground again but before I even process what’s going on I feel my back press up against Peyton’s chest. He wraps his arms around me so I don’t lose my balance. It feels so comforting, like coming home to a warm fire after a cold winter day. For a moment when I look up at him I still feel like I’m falling, but his warm embrace immediately puts me at ease. I could stay like this for hours, but Peyton’s voice quickly snaps me out of it.

“Woah, you ok Sima?” He asks as he catches me.

AHHHH!! I just processed what's going on. I always get suuuuper embarrassed when he says my name. AND HE'S HOLDING ME TOO. He’s so concerned about me, could it mean he- no, no, what am I thinking, It’s just because he’s such a good guy. Ugh, I think I’m going to die, this is all way too much for me.

“Y-yeah I’m ok” I say meekly, still blushing hard

“You’re lucky you’re such a smol potato, if you weren't I could have dropped you.” Peyton says with a slight giggle and that handsome smile of his.

“WHAT? You take that back, I’m not that tiny!” I protest. (even though hes kinda right :P)

“Just getting away from the fight huh?” Caitlyn says skeptically looking at us.

“Yes, really, that's all it was!” I insist. “Nothing weird was going on down there, honestly!”

“Okayy, whatever you say tomato.” Caitlyn lightly teases, probably from noticing how much I’m blushing.

“Great, just what I need, another nickname.” I say, slightly betrayed.

“Oh yeah, so what was all that about Toast Girl?” Peyton asks

“Oh um, haha, it was nothing, i don't know what they were talking about-.” I lie, looking down at the watch, still resting on my wrist. Lunch is almost over and I want to get out of that awkward situation as fast as possible. “Well anyway, thanks for the help, I gotta go if I want to get to class on time!” I say, dashing out of the cafeteria.

The rest of my day was pretty uneventful thankfully. I had a few more classes that I got through pretty easily because I’m actually pretty good at school. As the school day ends I begin to walk through the halls and make my way to cheerleading practice. Cheerleading is always my favorite part of the day. The boys practice on the field at the same time as us, so I always get a good look at Peyton to keep me motivated ;)

I barely make it a few steps past the school’s doors though before I hear a familiar, obnoxious, voice ahead of me. “How was your lunch, Toast Girl?” I hear Shell yell at me.

Ugh, of course it wasn’t enough for her to get someone to hit me with toast and to start a massive food fight like that. Of course she isn’t done tormenting me. They have to make every moment of my life awful. I really do hate her.

“What is it now Shell? Was ruining my lunch not enough for you??” I say.

“Ruin your lunch? I don’t quite understand what you mean, Sima.” Shell sneers back at me, their tone along with the smirk on her face told me she knows exactly what I mean.

“You aren’t fooling anyone Shell. I saw you with your little henchman who started the food fight.

“What are you going to do, tell a teacher?” Shell mocks at me

“No, besides, no one would believe me.” I say “Everyone thinks you’re this perfect little angel who could never do anything wrong.”

“What, are you buthurt that I’m way more popular than you? I didn’t even have to join that stupid cheerleading team for attention, unlike you.” Shell sneers

“I didn’t join for attention!” I deny while starting to blush.

The truth is, I did partially join for attention. I had a crush on Peyton and I knew he was on the football team, so I thought this was the best way to get closer to him. But I do really enjoy cheerleading! I just sometimes feel bad I had ulterior motives when signing up.

“Aw, looks like someone still has a bit of tomato on them.” Shell taunts, noticing how much I’m blushing.

“Cut it out!” I protest.

“Here, let me help you clean up” Shell says with a grin as she pushes me back towards the fountain.

SPLASH

I fall right into the cold fountain water, soaking my bag and my clothes. My hair droops straight down and covers my face, the way a dog's fur does when it stays in the rain.

“WHAT THE HECK?” I yell, starting to shiver.

“Maybe this’ll teach you not to talk back to me, Toast Girl.” Shell snickers as they walk off.

I sit there stunned for a moment before I stand and try to collect myself. I look down at my watch on my wrist, the hands stand still, broken from the water. I know anyway cheerleading practice had already started. Oh well, I might as well just go home since me and my uniform are soaked.. (poor sima ;-;)

"Achoo!” I sneeze. Oh no.

The last thing I need is to catch a cold…