𝐈𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝

Chapter Thirty-Three: Mac and Cheese

Dylan, Sam, and I stayed in the tent for five more minutes until we heard movement and voices coming from outside. All three of us stepped out of the tent to see a group of people lined up behind something. When I caught sight of short light blonde hair I started jogging over to Raine with Dylan and Sam right beside me.

"Hey, Raine, what is going on?" I asked once I caught up with her. Raine smiled and moved over so I could see behind her. Oh sweet Jesus! I could practically feel my mouth watering when I saw tables filled with food; chicken, pasta, vegetables, and tons of bowls of food.

"Oh yes, I'm starving," I grinned and excitedly hopped in line behind Raine.

I hadn't eaten real food in so freaking long. No more gas station food! Actual food that's warm and cooked! Glorious!

Raine started piling chicken, pasta and green beans onto her plate. She also grabbed a couple slices of pickles, giving me an excited grin as she did so. We loved pickles.

I grabbed a plate from the stack and followed behind Raine, picking up some chicken tenders, green beans, and pickle slices on the way until Raine turned around with a sly smirk. I furrowed my brow before Raine gestured to what was in front of her. No. Freaking. Way. MAC AND CHEESE.

My eyes lit up and I immediately pushed Raine out of the way to start shoveling the mac and cheese onto my plate. After piling on an unholy amount of mac and cheese and receiving several confused and funny looks from the people around me, I followed Raine to the picnic tables that Fed, Jack and Thomas were sitting at. Dylan, Charlie and Sam were still in line, so we saved them seats.

Not that anybody would attempt to sit next to us. Especially not after I almost single handedly wiped out their entire mac and cheese supply. I plopped down on the bench next to Raine and on the opposite side of Thomas and Jack. Fed gave me a warm smile before his eyes flickered to the mac and cheese on my plate.

"Right, the mac and cheese thing," he said, rolling his eyes and laughing.

"Okay, I'm sorry. Let me know when you find a better, more tasty, delicious, and beautiful food than mac and cheese," I sassed back and continued speaking before anyone could interject. "That's right, you can't find a better food. Mac and cheese one, Fed zero."

I smirked and took a bite of chicken while the rest of the table giggled. Raine popped a slice of a pickle into her mouth as she laughed.

"What are we talking about?" Sam asked as he plopped down on the seat beside Fed. Dylan sat down next to Jack while Charlie found the other side of Sam.

"Just Nora's obsession with mac and cheese, nothing new," Raine said casually.

"It's not an obsession!" I protested. "It's just an overwhelming and might I add, deserving, appreciation for the awesomeness and deliciousness of a beautiful food."

Raine laughed and rolled her eyes while Dylan grinned and shook his head.

"Why mac and cheese?" Jack asked. My head shot up and I looked back at him with an obvious flash of disbelief. I dropped my fork onto my plate and prepared to give a speech.

"Why mac and cheese? Is that even a question? I mean it is one of humanity's greatest creations. The combination of pasta and cheese is just heavenly. And there are so many different noodles and types of cheeses you can use, however the shell noodles reign supreme in my opinion, which is, in fact, expert. Raine can confirm," I looked to Raine who nodded through her grin. "And not to mention the fact that it brings literal joy to your stomach when you eat it. It literally warms you from the inside. Just amazing. Absolute perfection," I explained passionately and took another bite.