Lucretia turned to meet the sneers and curious looks of the students around them in the bustling cafeteria. She forced a sheepish smile, feeling the weight of their stares.

"Uh, sorry..." she muttered awkwardly to the crowd, slowly facing back toward her friends.

"Keep it down, guys," she sighed, trying to collect herself.

Crystal looked at her, clearly puzzled. "Wait… what did you just say, Lucretia?"

Mimie chimed in, equally confused, "Did we hear that right? ...