Chapter 3

"Dude, that’s so uncalled for!"

"Yeah, Amber stood in line for this. If you don't want it, fine, but lose the attitude!"

"She's totally doing this on purpose. She’s just jealous that everyone loves Amber."

The classmates around us immediately started taking sides.

Just like my past life.

No matter what I did, I was always the villain.

Amber’s eyes welled up with tears instantly. She grabbed Tyler’s sleeve, her voice trembling.

"Tyler, please don't yell at Chloe. Maybe the food really isn't good. Chloe is the expert, so it's normal she doesn't like it... It's all my fault..."

Her playing the victim immediately turned the whole room against me.

"Amber, don't cry! This has nothing to do with you!"

"Yeah, forget her! More for us. It's her loss anyway!"

A guy named Hunter took the lead, grabbing a leg and taking a massive bite to show his support for Amber.

"Oh my god! This is amazing! So flavorful!" he mumbled through a full mouth. "Better than any five-star restaurant!"

With the first follower, the rest quickly joined in.

"Let me try!"

"Give me one! Amber, you're a lifesaver!"

Within seconds, the tray was nearly empty. They stuffed their faces while throwing dirty looks at me.

Tyler sneered, picked up a piece, and held it to Amber's lips with a tender smile.

"Here, Amber. You eat too. Don't let irrelevant people ruin your day."

Amber smiled through her tears, took a bite from his hand, and closed her eyes happily. "Mm, so good!"

The surrounding classmates started chanting and cheering.

"Oh! Get a room, you two!"

"Tyler, you're so biased, only feeding Amber!"

I sneered inwardly.

*Since you all love it so much, eat up. Eat all of it.*

I pulled out my phone, checked the time for the afternoon exams, and started reviewing my study guides.

"Chloe, are you really not going to eat?"

My desk mate, Sarah, leaned in and whispered to me.

She was the only person in the room who hadn't joined the mob. In my past life, she was also the only one who had secretly handed me a tissue when everyone was screaming at me.

I glanced at her and kept my voice barely audible. "Don't eat it either."

Sarah blinked, looking at my dead-serious expression, and then at our classmates who were happily devouring the meat. She looked incredibly confused.

"Why?"

"If you want to be able to sit through the exam this afternoon, trust me just this once."

I didn't explain further.

Sarah hesitated for a few seconds, but looking at my eyes, she finally nodded and slowly put down the turkey leg she had just picked up.

Just then, Tyler stormed over, ripped my phone out of my hands, and slammed it onto the table.

"Chloe! I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?!"

The phone hit the wooden table with a loud, violent crack.