Great Wishes

Alenor walked down the cafeteria of the prestigious Pierry Mills Academy. Her steps measured, her mind elsewhere. The aroma of freshly baked pastries mingled with the chatter of students, their voices rising and falling like waves. Laughter rang from the far end, where students flaunted their latest designer bags and gossiped about luxurious vacations. She slid into her usual seat, waiting for her friend Nella, her eyes scanning the room for a familiar face. Suddenly, a sickeningly familiar voice cut through the noise. Alenor sighed before looking up. Mindy Anderson. The daughter of the school’s Chairman stood before her, flanked by her ever-present minions. Their arms were crossed, their expressions smug.

"Hey, loser! That's our seat, you know," Mindy spat, her voice dripping with disdain.

Alenor remained silent, her gaze shifting around the room in search of Nella. She wasn’t going to entertain Mindy’s theatrics today.

"I'm talking to you, you poor freak," Mindy sneered, her voice deliberately loud enough to draw the attention of everyone in the cafeteria.

The rich and pretentious students of Pierry Mills, who usually sat in the cafeteria to flaunt their wealth, now turned their attention to the unfolding scene. Even the most self-assured among them couldn't help but watch as the tension built. Everyone knew Mindy didn’t like Alenor, she always made it a point to make sure Alenor and everyone knew just how much she disliked poor people.
“I’m not moving, Mindy," Alenor retorted, her tone even. "You and your minions can find somewhere else to sit.”

Mindy’s eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?”

Before she could respond, Nella arrived, with a tray in hand. She glanced between Alenor and Mindy before lowering her voice. "What do they want this time?”
Her friend gave a small, dry smile. "The usual. Apparently, this is her seat now."

Nella rolled her eyes. "Of course it is."

Mindy, clearly annoyed at being ignored, flipped her hair dramatically. "Stop embarrassing yourselves and just move. My personal chef is arriving soon, and we need this spot.” She asserted, her voice carrying through the room.
The murmurs grew among the students. "A private chef?" Someone whispered

“ They should just move or this definitely won't end well for them." Another student muttered.

"Yeah, after all, her dad is the school's chairman.”

The two best friends, usually introverted, felt the weight of the stares. Nella, being more reserved, tugged at her friend's sleeve. "Let's just go, Ally."

Alenor also hated being the center of attention, but she refused to shrink away. "No, Nella, we’ve always sat here. How has this become her seat all of a sudden?" She turned to face Mindy, her voice calm but firm. "You’ve never even sat here, so stop bothering us already.”

She was a smart and straightforward girl; and was far from being a pushover. Before Mindy could respond, the cafeteria doors were swung open by two men in black suits. Their presence commanded attention, their dark sunglasses and earpieces marking them as high-profile bodyguards. A tall man in a tailored uniform suit walked through the open doors with a service cart in front of him and turned to the table where Mindy stood, bowing his head slightly.

"Miss Anderson, I have brought your meal. Your chef was unavailable as Sir Cliff needed him for a yacht party."

Mindy grunted, clearly annoyed by her brother's antics. The butler’s gaze then fell upon Alenor, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face before he quickly composed himself. The man briefly paused and suddenly bowed toward Alenor.

"Miss Meyers, forgive me for not noticing you. How are you?"

The room fell into stunned silence. Mindy, now visibly unsettled, struggled to find words. "Why are you talking to this nobody with so much respect?"

"Miss Anderson, did you not know? She is one of Mr. William-" Sebastian began, only to be cut off by Alenor’s subtle gesture.

Mindy laughed, a harsh sound. "Oh, I get it. You must be a maid at the Williams estate. No wonder he’s so polite to you.” She was now looking down on Alenor even more mockingly than before.
“ I'm sorry you have to bear this Nella,” Alenor said, her voice carrying a note of apology. Nella, though clearly curious, nodded. She had learned that if Alenor didn’t want to explain something, there was no forcing it out of her. Even though Nella had known her best friend for quite some time, Alenor was still a mystery to her. Just then, Alenor’s phone rang, pulling her attention away.