How Jack Wrote The Universe (Revised)

1.50

DAY ONE (p. two)

THE cafeteria isn't as silence as Jack has expect it to be. What did he expect it to be? Well, majority of his class daydreaming consists of Hayden's student grieving or at least just sad. But this is reality. What did he expect?

He expects them to be human and grieve, that's what. But they don't. The vast cafeteria is full of students doing the same thing; eating while happily chatting with their friends like what they always do. Like no one committed suicide. Like no one died.

And he just can't accept it. Are they apathetic?

Ladi Higmore was a well-known student of Hayden. Everyone know who she is and what she has done for the past years she's been in Hayden. And Jack knows for the sake of what she's done, she deserves to be remembered, grieved for. Not like this.

"Jack, are you okay?"

Jack blinks at least three times before looking up from his tray to Ari, his half Indian, half American friend. He's met him back in the middle school.

"Yeah," He answers a little off.

After finishing the cardboard pizza Mark is eating, he looks at Jack suspiciously all the while as he squints his eyes at him. Jack, feeling the burning gaze from his blonde, muscular friend, looks from Ari to Mark.

"What?"

"This is about that dead girl, ain't it?"

Jack gulps lightly before licking his lower lip.

"I knew it." Mark shakes his head which only made Bonny sigh.

"Just let him, Mark. It is depressing to find out someone like her committing suicide." Bonny speaks for Jack, his voice slow with a depressing tune while his Chinese accent is nowhere to be found. Jack guessed a long time ago that maybe that's what happens when you're born and raised in a foreign country.

Jack sighs, lightly throwing his disposable fork atop of his tray. "Thanks Bonster." He looks to everyone now after placing his chin on top of his right palm.

"I have to write a tribute column for her." He finally announces.

He wants to announce the assignment when all of his friends are here because usually, they're the ones who help him figure each tasks but as of now, there are only four of them in their table including him; Bonny, Mark, Ari and Jack. The rest of their gang who're Sam, Nathan, Park and Justin is still somewhere outside Jacksons, probably on their gig.

"When's the due?" Ari asks, his mouth full of the thing they call food; an oozing, puke-colored lasagna. Cook Trenchbull's supposedly vegan version of it.

Mark eyes the lasagna. "Dude that's disgusting." The black haired boy says first before Jack can answer Ari but the Indian boy just shrugs the insult away before shoving another batch of the food in his mouth.

"I'm going vegan." He grins maniacally at Mark before turning to Jack, "Jack?"

"Two weeks." He simply mutters.

Mark stance straightens now. His back leaving the back rest behind him. "That's... too short, ain't it?" Mark asks looking worried at Jack.

"'Is alright. I think I can handle it." Jack reasons before sipping at his coke. "You guys will help me interview his friends, right?"

"Of course, man. Since when did we not?" Mark smirks at him. Jack looks at all of them with gratitude visible on his face. Somehow, moral support can really boost his emotion.