They laughed bitterly and muttered, "Well I guess you haven't heard the news, everyone was invited here. By someone different, which means, that you got tricked, you idiot." Nina shook their head slowly. "Besides, I have friends..."

(Everyone was sent to the cafe by a mysterious messager, pretending to be someone that each person knew.)

Ryan tried his best to appear casual. He really did. The coffee place was a normal meeting spot for people like... people like him. But he lost his cool as soon as he spotted the group arguing at a table nearby. Monica Heather- he knew her. Everyone knew her. There was that other one, Olive, and the preppy River girl or whatever her name was. There were a few others he didn't recognize, they probably weren't that important anyway. He looked around for his friend, the one that had texted him with an invitation. He just shrugged and leaned against the wall, looking around.

___

Cassidy shoved the door open with one hand, raising her eyebrows at the random people who were exiting the coffee house. She sashayed into the crowded building, trying to appear as superior as possible by adding a haughty expression to her face. She was a bit melodramatic at times- anyone who looked at her knew that. In her head, she wanted to laugh at all the confused expressions strangers gave her.

((Who already knows Ryan and who already knows Cass?))

Monica just blinked. "But... if you're here too, doesn't mean you got tricked too, idiot?" Monica said with a slight smirk.

(I thought maybe Nina could know Cass but more of a say hi in the hallways and Nina internally freaks out every time.)

((Haha yeah))

Nina looked at her blandly, "No, I got a text from a weirdo claiming to be Cam and I decided to come to see who was faking being my best friend."

Nina turned to see Cassidy and turned back around immediately, their face slightly pink. "Oh... Dear Lord..." They bit down on their lip, staring down at the ground.

"I'll pretend to know who Cam is for the sake of this conversation, but the one who texted me said they were someone I met at a party named Finn, I figured I just forgot who they were" Monica shrugged

River had had enough bickering, she was in a bad mood as well. Her phone started ringing. Her fathers icon appeared on the screen.

" Hang on. Let me take this. " She said quietly. She walked outside to take the call. She answered it and put it up to her ear, and nearly flinched as her fathers voice spoke.
" Where are you? I told you I wanted you home after school. " He said harshly.
" I'm sorry. I just wanted- " Her father cut her off.
" Wanted to what? Go out with a friend? I know you don't have friends River. Not real ones anyway. Stop trying to run away from me. You're so pathetic like your mother. Always making excuses to leave. I'm in charge here, and you are not to leave the house unless you're going to school. Failure to obey me will reward you with some nasty bruises understand? " His voice had a sting at the last word. She winced slightly.
" Yes father. " River said quietly. He hung up. She put her phone away. She wiped her eyes. He knew where to hit her. By making her feel isolated. She had no desire to go home. He would hit her anyways. Even if she was obeying him. She decided to just stay here. She took a moment to calm down. She had a lot on her mind.