Serendipity

You've eaten grass?

I grab two plates and hand one to Tim, who stays behind me, using me to shield himself from Lina, who mumbles quietly to herself from the other side of the table, placing several buns on her plate.

The table is set up like how it usually is: all the food available for tonight's meal set out in their little bowls or containers, plates and silverware in little piles off to the side. Bottles of water are in the middle, enough for everyone to have at least one.

I grab a handful of chips and drop them onto my plate. Tim does the same, and then grabs a couple buns. He takes three slices of cheese and places them near the buns.

"I can really get whatever I want?" Tim whispers again, as if making sure we wouldn't bite if he took a couple more celery sticks. I definitely don't mind him chipping away at the seemingly endless supply of celery we always have. Seriously, where does mom get all this celery?

"Yes," I whisper back. "Help yourself."

He makes a small noise of disbelief, but places several more celery sticks on his plate, beside the buns and cheese.

"And then we just... Go back upstairs?" He says. "And eat?"

"Yeah," I nod. "And why are you so shocked? Didn't you eat chips in your room a while back ago?"

"Well, yeah," He mumbles. "But having a snack in your room is different than having an entire meal."

"I guess," I shrug. "Anyways, are you done? I wanna go back upstairs."

"Sorry, sorry," He shakes his head, quickly grabbing a couple bottles of water and tucking them under his arm. He also places another slice of cheese on his plate. "I'm done."

"Cool," I turn. "Let's go."

"Wait—" Tim says. I pause.

"Yes?" I say when he doesn't continue.

"Uh," He coughs, shaking his head again. "Nevermind. Let's go."

But I notice his eyes darting to my plate, the measly amount of chips and single bun and celery stick sliding around as I walk up the stairs. He doesn't make any comments on it though, which I appreciate.

"I still feel bad about eating in your room," He mutters when I nudge open the door. "I feel like I'm gonna get it all dirty or something."

"Well, don't," I say, shrugging. "And even if you do, I vacuum occasionally, so it'll be fine."

He nods, carefully placing his plate on my desk. He grabs a chip and pops it into his mouth.

"Mm," He groans. "What kind are these? They're amazing."

"Pretty sure..." I slide down to the floor and take a bite of a chip hanging out by the celery. "They're plain."

"Wow," He shakes his head. "Still good though."

I snort, but he keeps going at his chips with a gusto that rivals Tai's.

I take several bites of my bun. The bread is delicious, but I can't help the slight churning my stomach does when I swallow. I try telling myself to calm down, that it's only Tim. He's much too preoccupied with his own food to notice my little struggle.

"You okay?" He asks, startling me and proving me wrong at the same time. "Want me to leave?"

"Where would you go?" I ask, shaking my head and nibbling at the bun some more.

"The...hall," He says decisively after a moment. "Since I feel like hanging out with your family without you would be a little awkward."

"Just a little," I agree, snorting.