UNGIFTED

CHAPTER 8

E arly. It was way too early for the cafeteria to be buzzing the way it was. Why some people had to be so loud in the morning, Ameria would never understand. Usually she would run by to pick up some quick cup of coffee and rush to the T&S office, but Rowan had insisted the group had breakfast together that morning.

"C'mon guys! When was the last time the seven of us had breakfast together?" She had asked. "For old time's sake." She had said trying to convince everyone.

Some said breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Some rarely ever had any breakfast at all. Rowan was part of the former. She had always been. Even during their school years, she had put herself in charge of going around waking every member of the group up to have the first meal of the day together. And their table usually ended up consisting of mostly grumpy faces and half opened eyes, but Rowan was happy they got some more time to spend together. As if they did not already share most of their time which each other.

Ameria liked to believe it was because she got to spend more time with Eroan, but Rowan would have never admitted to it. Not even after they had officially started dating. Instead, she just kept forcing everyone to start their mornings with a dose of their lovey-dovey selves.

And the tradition kept going on for years. Slowly decreasing the number of shared breakfasts. But still happening on special occasions, or whenever someone was insistent enough. In most cases, Rowan.

Ameria was part of the latter group of people. The ones that could go for a while without any breakfast. In fact, she preferred those extra minutes of sleep, to being sat at the cafeteria drinking some burnt coffee off of a random mug, and it showed.

With her head held up with one hand, and her coffee in the other, Ameria closed her eyes dozing off for a moment. Her brain struggling to mute the world around her. The lively chatter of her friends catching her attention every now and again.

"It's like I was saying-"

"Dude!" Eroan yelled, and the curiosity opened Ameria's eyes. "What happened to you?" He asked and everyone turned to look at whomever Eroan was talking to.

"What do you mean, man?" Ben questioned dropping on the chair at the end of the table with a yawn.

"This." Eroan said. His hand reaching out to touch the bandage on his neck.

"Oh, that? A vampire." Ben replied nonchalant, taking a sip of his drink. "You know how they get around this time of year..."

"Seriously B, what happened?" Clover asked standing up and walking towards him with concern.

"It's nothing." He responded carefully pushing her hand away.

"Is that-...Where were you last night young man?" Eroan asked. Hands on his hips; eyes narrowed. Clover crossed her arms on her chest waiting for the answer.

"What?"

"Did you, or did you not, engage in some interesting activities last night?"

"I'm not answering that." Ben stated hiding his face behind his mug.

"So, you did." Eroan assured, thoughtfully holding his chin in his hand like he was trying to solve some kind of mystery. "You little-... Were you out with a lady?" He asked wiggling his eyebrows. "Or shall I say ins- "

"Eroan!" Rowan scolded, gently slapping him on the shoulder. "Were you?"

"Of course not. Right B?" Clover asked looking down at Ben. "Right?" She asked again.

Ameria suppressed a groan but could not stop her eyes from rolling at the situation developing in front of her. Making a mental note to never let Rowan arrange breakfast again. Especially if they were going to discuss such matters.