Breaking the story

Eat a toastie, save a life

(India Eisley is how I imagine Beatrice)

Operation Menu was officially up and running. I was bursting with excitement and adrenaline as I sat frozen to my chair. As soon as I could, I was going to steal the menu and give it to Nathan. However, at that moment I was stuck in my chair. The latest scene involved Jenny, a flower and an angry Bloom who was having a great old time making cutting comments. The sunlight was leaving diamond patterns on a table and I was passing the time counting them. One diamond, you might die. Two diamonds, and by eating an apple which is so dumb. Three diamonds, I have to stop it. Four diamonds, Bloom's voice is getting really irritating.

"Can you even afford things like that?" Bloom sneered.

"What, a flower? Last I checked they grow outside," Jenny snapped back. Oh! I liked that. Finally, some backbone.

"The only thing you can afford are those disgusting shoes."

Who knows what the scene actually accomplished but not long after those words it ended. I flexed my fingers, glad to be in control again. Fake Beatrice's discomfort faded away like smoke.

I turned to Bloom, taking in her perfect red lipstick and slinky skirt. How was she getting away with the breach of uniform? Oh, to be a high school villainess. Some people get all the luck. I did my best impression of a mean girl hair flick. My dark hair got tangled in one nail as I tried to pull my hand away. The diamonds on the table caught my eye again and I ignored the morbid thoughts they inspired.

"Do you never wear joggers or something?" I asked Bloom, who stared at me as if I were a talking donkey. "I could not be bothered wearing skirts like that every day."

"I-I wear what I like. These are all designer," she stuttered, clutching her bag as if it was a lifeline.

"Designed to be uncomfortable, you mean? If this is a bid for male attention then you need to have a long hard think about your self-esteem. I'm sure there's a nice person trying to claw their way out of all...this." I gestured to all of her. "But you don't need to put other people down to feel good. It just comes across as insecure."

I patted her arm and gave her a bright grin. She opened her mouth and closed it again, doing a remarkable impression of a fish.

"I...I...I have got good self-esteem."

"Then it's time you show it."

Baiting Bloom really was a good distraction. Even if the apple juice carton peeking out of someone's bag was making my heart beat faster and faster. With one last look at Bloom's fabulous designer get-up, I followed Jenny out of the room.

I eyed the menu peeking out of Jenny's bag. It looked a bit tacky to be honest. The exciting option of a cheese toastie for dinner was not making me salivate. But Jenny had to introduce Lucas to 'normal people' food instead of gourmet steaks. The girl herself was staring vacantly out of a window in the hallway. I almost thought I spied drool at the corner of her mouth but it was just a shadow.

I sighed, still hearing the ominous beat of my heart. This plan had to work. Sorry, Jenny, but Lucas is not your destiny. Not if I have anything to say about it.

I sidled up to her and threw my arm around her shoulders. As I did this, I nicked the menu from her bag and swapped it into my other hand. She jumped and nearly headbutted me.

"It's just me!" I shouted. "No need to knock me out."

"Oh!" She said, her eyes wide. "Sorry Bea, you scared me."

"What were you looking at?"

"Just the sky." She sounded dreamy and I frowned.

"You feeling okay, Jenny?"