carpe noctem// rick and morty

yum

lunch time had come by quicker than expected, and soon aster found herself making her way to the cafeteria. she had been trying to figure out why it was called lunch if it was at 12 pm and the kids would also be eating at home.

did american children really eat two lunches? well, only time would tell, so aster chose to focus on the present. entering the cafeteria, aster was... really not that impressed.

maybe all those american high school movies she watched desensitized her to the difference between european and american public schools.

summer had told her to meet at the table by the window after she had got her lunch. she could take her time because summer had gotten there first so no one could occupy the table before them.

there had been a surprisingly vast selection of food to choose from, so much so that aster had been close to holding up the line, if not for her momentary decisiveness (usually she was indecisive asf, hence the term "momentary").

walking away with more food than what she might be able to handle, aster made her way to the designated table. summer had been there already, joined by... morty(?) for some reason. man, news sure travels fast when you are in high school.

aster was glad her goal seemed way closer now, but the idea that her arrival caused an uproar enough for the two smith teens to sit together at lunch? a bit overwhelming if you ask me.

sitting down at the table, aster could already tell this could be either an extremely awkward or an amazing start at her shot of being friends with the two. no matter what though it would be a start, which was still good in asters' opinion.

"hey summer" aster said as she plopped in her seat.

"what's up" summer replied nonchalantly, followed by an awkward wave and smile by morty, which was shot down by the girl.

"who is this?"

"oh that's just my brother, he doesn't have any friends and decided to annoy me. pay him no mind, ill tell him to leave if he's bothering you." summer had a stiff expression as if she'd been worried aster would judge her.

"oh cool, what's your name?" aster tried to lighten the mood, shifting the attention to morty this time.

"im morty, nice t'meetcha" aster almost laughed at that, she found it adorable how both of them were trying to appeal to her (kind of ironic if she thought about it when she was the one who would eventually benefit more if they got close)

"im aster, nice to meet you too," aster said amusingly, trying to bite back her smile, albeit failing. both siblings relaxed significantly, maybe because they understood aster wasn't judging them.

"ive been wondering, how old are you aster?" summer was the one to speak this time.

"im 16 haha. i was placed a year above other kids my age because of a difference in our progress i think? im not sure, that's what i was told by the principal"

"wait really? you dont look like it" morty said in disbelief.

"uh im not entirely sure whether that was a compliment, but thank you?... i guess" aster was the awkward one this time around.

" oh no no, it was definitely a compliment, i mean you could totally get alcohol without being asked to show your id" morty tried to save the situation, although aster was sure he wasnt doing a very good job.

she appreciated the effort though.

"thanks morty, that's cute of you to say" she chuckled

"oh yeah, totally" the boy fell silent.

"soo, you have any plans after school?" summer chimed in, feeling left out.

"not really, i mean there's not much to do when you don't know anyone here haha", aster wasn't lying, if you exclude jasper that is. well, it wasn't like he'd told her to hang out or anything, but he did say he was going to pick her up after school.

"that's great! i mean- no it's not, but you could totally come over for lunch. we could get some homework done too if you want to, but that's totally up to you, you know?" the older girl chuckled nervously.

jackpot. aster felt like she'd just won the lottery. if she were to follow the outline she drew of her plan, that moment would have come a month later, after a very careful approach and slow progress.

she would never turn such a golden opportunity in her lifetime, not when it involved her eventual start in interdimensional adventures with rick mfing sanchez of all people.

"id love to actually! anything is better than staying home alone haha"

"great! let's say we will meet up at the front gate when school is out?" summer replied.

"we go home by car, are you okay with that?" morty added.

"yeah that's fine, if we didn't hang out id be going home on a motorcycle anyway."

"really? thats so cool"(m)

"totally"(s)

the bell rang, signalling the end of lunchtime, and soon class began once again.