Ridgewood Ep 4: Lunch Table Politics

The Ridgewood cafeteria wasn't a cafeteria. It was a five-star social arena.

Two-story glass walls spilled sunlight across marble floors. Sushi bar glimmered under neon lights. Smoothie stations flashed rainbow menus with QR codes for nutrition stats. Espresso machines hissed like exotic instruments. Even the wood-fired pizza ovens were Instagram - ready.

Tables weren't just tables__ they were kingdom

Athlete Core: Middle of the room--- football, soccer, tennis, track. Empire of sweat, glory, and reputation. Influencers: Window seats, ring lights blazing, Livestream rolling Legacy Kids: Balcony ruler, dripping in designer label, their parents' names etched into Ridgewood history. Everyone else: Scattered, watching, waiting for attention. Unspoken fuel: Where you sit🧐 defines who you are😏.

[Emma, Jasmine, Zara, Marcus sat at their usual Athlete Core table]

Jasmine

( biting protein bar) Why's everyone staring at the door like it's Coachella?

Zara

Because Tyler Brooks hasn't picked a seat yet.

Marcus

(scrolling phone) Hashtag #WhereWillTylerSit# is trending. Eight hundred post and counting.

(The cafeteria doors swung open.)

Tyler Brooks entered. Designer hoodie tray in hand. Phones rose. Even the sushi chef froze mid-slice.

Student 1:(whisper) He walks like he owns this place Student 2: He probably does.

The football team waved.

Chase Donovan

Yo, Brooks! Over here, man! This is your spot!

Tyler's eyes flicked over. Then smirked. He walked past the football table. Pas the influencers. Past the balcony. He stopped in front of Emma.

Tyler

(dropping tray) This seat taken?

Emma Ferrari

(without looking up) Yes.

Tyler

(sits anyway) Good. I'll take it.

The Cafeteria erupted. WHISPERS: #"No way he just did that" #"Brooks Vs. Ferrari? This is war? #"Are they flirting? "

Jasmine

Bold. You realize half the school is filming this?

Tyler

Let them.

Zara

Ridgewood politics is more dangerous than football.

Tyler

Then I'll rewrite the rule.

Emma Ferrari

Sitting here doesn't make you part of this table. Ridgewood doesn't work like that.

Tyler

Guess I'll just have to prove myself.

[Enter Ethan Rivera, livestreaming. ]

Ethan Rivera

"Ferrari vs. Brooks. Live from a Ridgewood! The quarterback sits with the soccer queen. Let's see how this plays out, folks!"

COMMENTS FLOODED: #"Brooks look so confident" #"Emma's side-eye could kill a man" #"Ship them. #FerrariBrooks"

Ethan panned to the Korean Students.

Soo-Min Park

"TikTok star trainee, dancing on the table while livestreaming "

Hae-Jun Kim

"Coding prodigy, quietly calculating Tyler's stats. "

Ji-Hoon Lee

"Tennis rival to Zara, arms Crossed, suspicious. "

Soo-Min Park

(smiling) "New kid sits with Ferrari? Drama already spicy"

Hae-Jun Kim

(mutter) "Let's see if his number back up the hype"

Ji-Hoon Lee

(eyeing Tyler) "He's flashy, Let's see if he can last".

[suddenly, phones buzzed:BTS was arriving at Ridgewood for a charity Mini-show.]

Student 1:OMG, BTS is here? Student 2:We're literally trending worldwide!

Soo-Min squealed quietly

Soo-Min Park

"Finally, a stage for me"

Ethan Rivera

(to camera) "You all, Ridgewood just got global, and it's about to get even messier".

Even Vice Principal Lee stopped in front of Tyler

Vice Principal Lee

"Mr. Brooks, settling in, I see. "

Tyler

(charming) just making friends.

Vice Principal Lee

Reputation here can break faster than they're built. Keep that in mind.

Emma stood abruptly, Tray untouched. Phone swiveled as she left like a runway exit. Tyler smirked.

Tyler

(softly) Oh, this is just the beginning

Within minutes, Ridgewood was viral:Discord, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram. Hashtags trending. #FerrariBrooks #RidgewoodXBTS #SooMinStage

Drama, rivalry, and K-pop stardom_____all colliding in one lunch.

To be continued!!!!