As you enter the CRESS' cafeteria, there is one particular thing that strikes you the most; the intense scent of sizzling bacon. Clawstone's main source of income comes from the pig farms – here bacon is consumed as normally and regularly as water. And on days like the first day of school, the bacon stand had a fresh new stock and pork chops were on the menu – both a Muslim's and a vegetarian's hell. I was amongst the first of my bunch to arrive for lunch. I placed my tray with the very minimal amount of food on our usual spot, the round table at the further far left corner at the back, right next to the large wall-window that stretched along the side of the whole cafeteria.
First to join me was Kyle, with only an apple and a cup of black coffee on his tray. Then it was Meg, shuffling her way to our table with only a plate of salad and a small bottle of water. There was one last person missing; Evelyn. But it was not too difficult to spot her in the room. As soon as I locked eyes with her, we waved at each other energetically. You could see from far away the extreme amount of food piled on this gentle giant's tray.
"Oh no Sophie, you too? Am I sitting at the anorexic table now?" she commented after she observed our meals for the day – if you combined all three of us, Kyle's, Meg's and mine, our food will still be half of what's on Eve's tray. Her mousy brown hair was still damp and she smelled of chlorine – I guess the swimming team had an early practice for the day. "I am starving, but I am also starving to catch up with you guys! I was with Kyle for most of the summer," she turned to him and irritably commented, "I can't believe you actually convinced me to go to that Drama Camp of yours."
"Seriously?" I almost choked on my milk.
"You won't believe what they made me do Sophie; all these improvs and creative exercises. I was assigned the role of a stage prop," she dramatically uttered in shame.
"Considering your acting skills Eve, or lack thereof-," Meg jokingly stated but was interrupted half way.
"You were a lovely door Eve, I was very proud of you!" Kyle tried to cheer her up but failed as both Meg and I burst into uproariously laughter. Evelyn, the 6 feet tall swimming star with the broad wide shoulders and the stiff, stern face. She was perfect for the role.
"Oh oh! Tell me Eve, what were your lines? DOOR: 'Creeeeeaks." And another series of shameless chuckle came from both us.
"No, no, no! Eve, were you a glass door or a wooden one, because you see...hahaha...it makes....ghaghag...such a difference – ghragakagka!" our laughter had turned inhumane; like a mixture of what used to be a laugh, along with some choking and coughing sounds. Eve was glaring at us and Kyle had an expression of disapproval painted all over his face. By the time we were done, both Meg and I were red-faced gasping for air as if we had suddenly forgotten how to breathe.
"You know, he who laughs last, laughs longest," Kyle hissed.
"Can you say that ten times fast?" I faintly challenged him as I was still swallowing hungrily heavy gulps of air.
"Listen girls, jokes aside, you will be joining the Drama Club this year. I am not taking no for an answer!" Kyle firmly asserted.
"I am sorry Kyle but Eve can win an Oscar when compared to me," I admitted.
"And the Oscar goes to Evelyn Jones for her heartfelt performance as a creaking door," Meg joked with an exaggerated deep theatrical voice while she was handing to Eve a bottle of water as the award .We both started giggling again and even Eve joined us on that one.
"Look, it's my last year and I finally made it as the president of the club. I really need you to be there with me on this big and exciting chapter of my life," Kyle begged while staring puppy-eyed at all three of us. "Puh-lease! It's on Wednesdays. I'll be waiting for all of you." Eve was staring down at her plate while she was devouring big chunks of mashed potatoes and pork chops, avoiding every possible eye-contact. Meg was contemplating and, I was just looking around all confused, waiting for someone else to make the first comment.
"Okay sure, I'm in. But under one condition, I want the role of the badass sarcastic chick." Meg stretched her arm towards Kyle. He shook her frail pale palm with both hands and his lips quirked upwards in a joyous smile as they both made a deal. Meg turned to face me, beaming from side to side. I had the face of a five-year-old been told he is about to get a flu shot – wide-opened shocked eyes, drenched in fear, looking for an escape route. I mouthed 'No' to her. "Come on Pho-Pho. It will be fun." I moved my pleading gaze to Kyle.
"Don't worry honey, you can be the window." And he snootily faced both Eve and me. There was no way out of that one.
-------------------------------------------------
P.S. Before people misunderstand, Kyle is based heavily on my best friend. I even steal some of his lines and write them here as Kyle's.
P.S.S. Evelyn, she's hispanic so the name is pronounced the spanish vs the english way. So, the accent in her name is on the first 'e'. Her mother calls her 'Evelina' to get the gist. So the short nickname 'Eve', both 'e' are like 'elephant'; E-ve.
P.S.S.S I know, i know, Eva would have been more fitting for a hispanic character BUT NO!! I had a fucking high-school bully named Eva so screw her!! Found the whole 'E-ve' name randomly and liked how it sounds (apparently it's Argentinian). So, E-ve it is :)
YOU ARE READING
Face Your Demons
ParanormalSophie's parents disappeared when she was fifteen and even after three years, they have yet to be found. Suddenly, after her eighteenth birthday, Sophie's body began to change into something that was no longer human. When she searched for answers in...
