Welcome To The: BUNK

53

      Once again i slid the try across the metal bars acting as a type of table to hold the tray as i gathered white bunk food onto my silver tray. Reaching the end of the line of sectioned off food, i picked up the tray with both hands and turned to face the tables. The cafetira was quite as tried inmates trickles in to gather a breakfeast meal before their scheduled training lessons with yelly, scary instructors.  I scanned the room looking for a place to sit, that wouldn't have a effect if starting a fight this early in the morning.  My gaze fell on a stop where my feet where already taking me, the shaved head of Maggie came into view, besides the wild mess of aldurn curls of Lacy. I froze reminding my self that i was no longer with them, a pang of guilt punching my stumic as i remembered the conversation declaring the send off. It was so strang, i went from being a leader of a hundred kids to a outcast battling with my self not to go running back, it was honesty pathetic at times.

"You alright Tip?" a voice whispered in my ear. A hand placed on my shoulder. I already knew who it was by the voice, it was Bruce. I watched as Lacys head twitched to the side, she shot me a apologetic glance before she turned back around. I ripped my gaze away and turned to Bruce, only a few inches away, I could feel his chest breathing, rising from behind me. Turning away i nodded my head not trusting my voice to give my answer.

"Come on, i saved you a seat" he said softly, his hand still resting on my damp shoulder yellow, striped white sleeve from my drying long hair. He turned leading the way to a all to familiar table in the middle of the white bunk cafeteria. He sat down in the same spot i always saw him take, another inmate on his left. I took the seat to his right setting my tray down, ignoring the usual looks i got from the other sitting inmates. Changing groups wasnt just anything, especially if your previous group is a silent rival with your new group.

"Are you going to eat?" Bruce asked besides me, pulling me out of my head.

"What?"

"You went away again Tip" he teased pointing a finger at his own head to demonstrate his reference.

"Oh." i commented. Running a hand over my head pulling wet strands back away from my face as i lifted a forkfull of mushy tan food to my mouth, but tipped the fork to let the mush plop back onto the tray. Eating didn't come to mind well, when my mind was every where else. I twirled the point of the fork in the mush, creating a swirled down ward tunnle in the grey shinny blob. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bruce lean forward from his seat towards me.

"Your not eating?"

"Not hungry. When are those bottle going to be passed around?" I glanced up to catch his dsrk grim gaze again.

"I dont think you need that intoxicating beverage," he spoke low and to the point with a small shake of his head.

"Do you now?" I snickered. I moved the fork to stab at the mush ruining the tunnle shape. As if the mush made moral creation represented my mood on my current sisuwation.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food Clare?" Bruce whispered. Warm breath fanning my now cold hair to tickle my neck. I turned to face him, the cold tickle sending goosebumps to spike over my skin, with a unpleasant almost painful chill.

"My mother told me, to hide under a car seat when I saw black armored people with skinny guns. She never said to not play with my food" my voice came out flat and distant. Emotions of suprise, and something else I couldn't  place flickered in his dark brown eyes almost watching the black iris. His eye brows raised in question, he opened his mouth to speak but was cut off.

"Hey Bruce, are you going to join in on the games tonight?" a inmate asked from across the table. Chuckles sounded from a few other inmates seated at the table eating. Bruce didn't speak for a moment, before clearing his throat with a few dry coughs. His emotionless mask returning as he turned towards the new speaker.