Land of Z

1

"We have to break up.."

"WHAT!?" A boy hollered, standing up in the middle of the lunch room causing everyone to look at his group.

A girl sighed, "Steven, listen. It just isn't working. I gave you a shot and my gut is telling me you aren't worth it. Plus you don't turn me on.." the calm look on her face made her words worse, she didn't care.

Mutters could be heard from all around them, some people started recording. Steven looked around at the crowd.

"FUCK ARE YOU RECORDING FOR?? AND SHIT ISNT FUNNY. AND YOU-!" He pointed towards his now ex girlfriend. "Brenda FUCK you!! IVE BEEN NOTHING BUT A GOOD GUY! So maybe this is just you being picky and fucking crazy again!!" He screamed.

Brenda didn't even flinch, this is the same argument every single time. "Steven, you're boring. And quite frankly not many people like you, I can do better. Much, much better. Check that attitude though, and I bet you'll think I'll regret this later. I won't." She shrugged, and continued to eat her lunch.

"What- I can't even- ARGHHHH!!!!!" He screamed again, storming out the lunch room with what should've been fumes coming from his head. The doors to the lunchroom slammed shut, immediately quieting the crowd.

A minute passed...

Two minutes passed... and then suddenly.. "I GOT THAT ON VIDEO WHO WANTS IT!?" Someone yelled from somewhere nearby Brenda's table. The noisy voices and random noise of clutter immediately returned.

"Damnnn Brenda, you didn't have to do him like that!" Another guy at her table said. "Fuck off, you were the one who told me if he can't get me excited to drop his ass." She rolled her eyes, already bored of the topic. "To be fair..you DID say originally you weren't interested." A shorter guy commented at the table.

Brenda sighed, "Jayden and Geovanni. If I WANTED commentary I'd ask one of the randoms who watched from a distance. Don't fuck with me." They held their hands up in defense. "Alright! Alright! Relax man- I mean girl. I was JUST saying..you could've let him down over text like you did the last guy.." Jayden shrugged.

The conversation flow was starting to go back to normal. Which was a problem found at another table.

"Sometimes I wish I could turn invisible. Then, I won't have to worry about people staring at me weird." A boy with glasses complained at a far table nearby the lunch lines. He pushed and picked at his food uncomfortably. A group of irrelevant girls were giggling and pointing at him. Probably freshmen.

"Well, Riley, I wish people stopped assuming that we're dating because we sit at the same table alone everyday. That would get all eyes on you, off of me." A girl complained. She bought food from home, but it was just a pb&j that she wasn't eating. He just hummed at her words.

"Hey. You've been dealing with assholes like that since freshman year. Plus they probably ARE in their freshman year. Don't take it to heart." She lightly kicked his leg under the table. "Easy for you Gia. You had one 'scandal' and people just don't fuck with you. I have been getting bullied since before I got here." He flung his fork back into the tray. "And this is nasty."

School lunch there could give someone a virus honestly.

"Well. You know how people are Rye. They see a smart, well dressed, Hispanic man and they get intimidated. And you aren't bad on looks. Maybe they're secretly crushing on you." Riley kicked her leg back, but with much more force. "Watch it. I have practice today. And it's just a joke relax."

He sighed, "You're right I'm sorry. It's just that gut feeling. Anxiety. I just think something bad is gonna happen soon. I don't know. You know how it gets. Probably need to get my prescription refilled." Gia shook her head. "For sure. You need a ride today?"