Malora

11 | A welcome surprise - 2

Nor swallowed the mouthful he had and continued. "But hey, look on the bright side,"

"I don't think there is a bright side,"

"Come on, there's always a bright side!" His cheery expression returned. "I'm pretty sure no one even saw it,"

"I think you were the only one who didn't," Malora replied. She unknowingly wanted to prove her point, to prove to him that there was no positives to her situation—to prove to herself that she was in the right for feeling how she felt.

"What? Really?" Nor asked in disbelief. "Okay, well look at the other bright side. Now that your stomach is empty, you can eat more food!" He said as he guided a piece of meat into his mouth.

A smile tugged at only a single side of Malora's lips. Although she wasn't even sure she wanted to eat anymore, just seeing Nor think of positives to outweigh her negatives made her stomach feel a little lighter.

"Speaking of, are you going to eat that?" Nor asked, eyeing her bread roll.

She shook her head slightly. "Do you want it?"

"Really?" He asked, although by the time he did, he had already taken her bread roll in hand. Biting into the fluffy bread, his face drooped in delight. "This," He gently bounced the bread in his hand. "This is good stuff,"

His joyful reaction to something so simple made Malora's half-smile grow into a full one. There was something comforting about Nor. He didn't judge, didn't make her feel small. He was sincere, cheerful, confident. Sure, he didn't always say the perfect thing, but he said something, and she was glad for it. Part of her even wished she could be more like him—so carefree, positive, unburdened by the thoughts and opinions of others.

"I like sitting up here," Nor said softly, staring over the balcony to the students below. The warm sunlight peering through there large windows, bathing the dining hall in a golden radiance. "It makes me feel tall, like I can step on everyone down there,"

Malora's thoughtful expression shifted into one of concern. "You want to step on everyone?"

"Not saying I want to, just that up here I feel big. Like I could step on them, ya know?

"Well, let's be happy your not a giant then. I don't think you'd withstand the temptation." She chuckled softly.

"I could totally withstand the temptation!... Wait," He lowered his fork and peered at her, his eyes focused in a squint. "Was that a joke?" He asked curiously.

Malora shrugged her shoulders. "It was supposed to be,"

Nor looked at her frozen, as if trying to gauge if the joke was funny or not. Then his body started flickering between chuckling and silence before collapsing into a full laughter.

"What's so funny?" Malora felt her mouth expand into a grin, as if Nor's laughter was contagious.

"I don't know," Nor placed a piece of meat and bread into his mouth before biting it off. "I just didn't expect to hear you make a joke," He said, his mouth full.

"Was it bad?"

Swallowing his food, Nor took a sip of his water before looking straight at her. "It wasn't bad, I wouldn't say it was particularly good either." He grinned. "But I liked it anyway."

His words sparked a small feeling of Pride within Malora. She looked down at her plate. Her soup suddenly seemed more appealing, though she hadn't realized it was her easing nerves that made it look tastier. She took a spoonful, and though it was lukewarm, she couldn't help but enjoy it.