The Social Minefield
The cafeteria was buzzing with energy, and the faint smell of overcooked pasta wafted through the air. Holding your tray, you glanced around, unsure of where to sit. Your eyes landed on Jayce, waving you over to a table near the windows. Next to him sat two girls who couldn’t be more different.
“Over here, newbie!” Jayce called, his yellow eyes gleaming.
You made your way over, balancing your tray as you slid onto the bench. Caitlyn, a girl with sharp blue eyes and a poised demeanor, gave you a polite nod. Her perfectly ironed uniform and graceful posture immediately screamed “perfectionist.”
The other girl, Vi, lounged casually beside her, boots propped on the bench and a sly grin on her face. Her pink hair was cropped short, and a scar ran across one eyebrow, making her look like she’d been in a few fights—and won.
“Y/N, right?” Jayce asked. “This is Caitlyn and Vi.”
“Nice to meet you,” Caitlyn said, her tone formal but not unkind. “How’s your first day going?”
“Overwhelming,” you admitted. “I got lost like five times already.”
Vi snorted. “Classic. They should hand out compasses with the schedules.”
Jayce laughed, but before the conversation could go any further, a tray slammed down on the table across from you.
“Look who’s making new friends,” Jinx announced, leaning forward with her long blue braids swinging. Her grin was unsettling, sharp and playful, like she was always two seconds away from starting chaos. Ekko appeared beside her, shaking his head but clearly amused.
“Don’t mind her,” Ekko said, sitting down with a casual shrug. “She likes to scare people.”
“Is it working?” Jinx asked, her grin widening as she stared at you.
You hesitated, unsure of how to respond. “Not really.”
Jinx’s eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. “Oh, we’ve got a tough one here.”
“Jinx, leave them alone,” Caitlyn said, her voice firm but calm.
“Relax, cupcake,” Jinx replied, throwing Caitlyn a teasing smirk. “I’m just getting to know the new kid.”
Vi groaned. “Don’t call her that.”
“What? Cupcake’s a cute nickname,” Jinx said, leaning back and tossing one of her braids over her shoulder.
“Y/N, right?” Ekko said, cutting through the tension. “What brings you to Piltover High?”
You shrugged. “Family moved here for work, so… new school, new start, I guess.”
“Sounds rough,” he said, his tone sympathetic.
“Eh, it’s not so bad,” you replied. “Just trying to figure out where I fit in.”
Jinx leaned forward again, her eyes narrowing mischievously. “Well, if you’re looking for excitement, stick with me. Things around here get pretty boring without a little chaos.”
“Don’t encourage them,” Caitlyn said, her tone sharp.
“Don’t discourage them,” Vi countered, smirking at Caitlyn.
Before you could decide whose advice to follow, a voice interrupted.
“Jayce!”
You all turned to see Mel approaching the table, her presence commanding immediate attention. She was tall, elegant, and impeccably dressed, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders.
“Hey, Mel,” Jayce said, his tone shifting to something almost reverent.
“I need to talk to you about the student council meeting,” she said, barely glancing at the rest of you.
“Sure,” Jayce said, standing up quickly. “Catch you guys later.”
As Mel and Jayce walked away, Ekko leaned toward you. “Word of advice: don’t get on her bad side. Mel practically runs this place.”
“Noted,” you said, watching as she led Jayce toward the other side of the cafeteria.
The rest of lunch passed in a blur of conversations. Caitlyn and Vi were surprisingly easy to talk to, though their constant bickering made you feel like you were caught between a married couple. Jinx, on the other hand, was unpredictable—one moment she was joking, the next she was throwing fries at Ekko for teasing her.
By the time the bell rang, you felt both exhausted and oddly exhilarated.
Later That Day
Your last class was biology, and you were relieved to find Viktor sitting at one of the lab benches. He nodded as you approached, gesturing for you to take the seat next to him.
“Ready for this?” you asked, glancing at the complicated diagram on the board.
“Always,” Viktor said, his voice calm but with a hint of amusement.
As the lesson began, you found yourself impressed by Viktor’s knowledge. He explained concepts with ease, his sharp mind evident in every answer he gave.
“You’re pretty good at this,” you said during a break in the lecture.
He shrugged. “It comes naturally. Science is… predictable. People, not so much.”
You nodded, thinking back to the chaos of lunch. “Yeah, I get that.”
Viktor gave you a small smile, the first hint of warmth you’d seen from him all day.
After School
The walk home felt like a chance to breathe after the whirlwind of the day. As you passed by the soccer field, you spotted Jayce running drills with the team, his determination evident even from a distance. Nearby, Jinx and Ekko were perched on the bleachers, laughing about something you couldn’t hear.
It struck you then how different everyone was—each person you’d met today seemed to exist in their own little world, and yet they all seemed connected in ways you didn’t fully understand.
And now, you were part of it.