Kay's thoughts came back to the present as Mark's face was suddenly close to hers.

However, before she could say anything, Lance's arm streaked across and his hand planted itself right on Mark's face. With a shove, he pushed Mark back and said nonchalantly, "Behave."

"Ew ew ew ew," Mark complained, and got up, "Your hand is so sticky! How could you do that!"

Lance looked at his greasy hands in disgust as well, "Now I've got to wash my hands again."

He sighed as he got up, while Mark pointed a finger at him, "You're the one that smeared my beautiful face with your burger-greased hands first! I'm going to lock the door!!"

With that, he turned and ran to the bathroom, Lance hot on his heels.

Kay sat there, shaking her head in amusement as those two disappeared into the distance. She could hear a loud bang as a door was slammed shut, a shout and another bang. Obviously, Mark did not succeed in getting to the bathroom first as the muffled shouts continued.

Shaking her head while she thought how boys never grew up, she finished up her meal.

The waitress came to take away Mark's and Lance's empty dishes. Boys being boys, they ate very fast. It was as if they didn't chew, but instead, inhaled it.

"Could I have the dessert menu, please?" Kay asked politely as the waitress was about to leave.

"Sure thing, honey," she replied with a smile, "Would you like me top up your drink?"

Kay looked at her soda and shook her head, "No, but could I please have some plain water instead?"

She was the one with the sweet tooth and tended to take too many sugar-laden drinks but she was trying to change. There was no Kyle to stop her from going overboard and she was slowly learning to be more aware of her eating habits.

While Kay was looking through the menu, the sound of three annoying voices made Kay sighed internally.

"Oh look what we have here," sneered a very annoying voice.

"What? What?" picked up the annoying side-kick Pauline, "Oh, a sad, sad person having to eat all by her lonesome?"

"You mean, like a pitiful creature that no one really wants to hang out with?" commented another equally annoying but with a twinge of nasalness in her voice.

Kay looked up at them and replied, "I wonder who that can be."

She gave them a slow smile, putting her chin on the palm of her hand as she looked up at them.

Erica bristled.

Why was it, when she was the one who was standing, felt like she was being looked down upon? She even looked unbothered by the whole thing and looked at them like they were specks of dust.

"You ... you ..." Erica stammered, "Who else could it be but you?!"

"Yes, yes," Kay answered, waving her other hand, "Me, me ... just because you say so, I am thus?"

With a sigh, Kay sat back and tilted her head a bit as she continued to look at them, "What's with all of this antagonism? Hmmm? Have I said or done anything to bother you? Here I am, minding my own business, and you just have to pass by and make some snide comments about me sitting here?"

Kay then looked like she suddenly realised something, as she smacked a fist onto her palm, "Wait ! I got it!! I'm supposed to feel bad about it, aren't I? Did I perhaps not give the proper reaction? Hold on for a bit."

Kay looked down and took a deep breath. In a second, her shoulders started shaking a bit before she looked up, her eyes wet with tears that were threatening to fall. She bit her bottom lip that was quivering and she looked so pitiful and sad that everyone who saw this scene had a sense of protectiveness rise within them.

One of them was Mark, that was about to rush out when Lance stopped him, putting a hand over his mouth.

"Shut it. Can't you see she's handling it fine?" Lance hissed in his ear, "Now be a good boy, stand here and watch."

"Mmhmmsdfmmm," Mark mumbled against Lance's hand.

"No. If you're going to be stubborn, I'll put you in a headlock against the wall," Lance warned him, glaring at him.

Mark's shoulders slumped down and he nodded, knowing how painful that can be. He shuddered as he remembered some rather painful memories.

Lance was the school wrestling champion and he had been the recipient of Lance's practice sessions many a time, and there was no way he would volunteer himself for this torture.

Once he was satisfied that Mark would behave, Lance let go.

The two boys watched with interest from the back.

The three girls had their backs to them, so they didn't realise that they had an audience. In fact, they were so incensed with Kay that they didn't even realise the entire place was looking at their little show with interest.

Kay took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the side of her eyes, "I ... I ... I know no one likes me ... I ... have to eat alone like this ..."

Her voice hitched, and tears flowed down her face as she tried vainly to stop the tears as she tilted her head up.

"I'm not like you, so popular. So beautiful. I'm nothing," she said, her voice soft.

Everyone's heart wrenched at that. Even with tears falling down her face, she did not look any less beautiful. In fact, she looked so heavenly as she struggled to stop herself from crying.

Usually, when people cry, they look rather ugly with their contorted expressions, their noses red as snot falls from their nose. Yet, when Kay cried, it was like watching a delicate flower with dew upon its petals.

Kay turned her head, as if to hid her tears from everyone's view.

When she turned back, the tearful girl was gone.