Toy Soldiers

Chapter Three

"Personally, I suggest the pasta. It's the only thing here that isn't completely repulsive."

I turned around to see Joey behind me. He squeezed his way into the line and leaned against the counter,

"Two pastas please."

The lunch lady handed them over the counter and he put them on my tray.

"Good afternoon to you too," I said sarcastically as we carries down the line.

Joey smiled, "You eating with us?"

I scanned the cafeteria, seeing no sign of Jennifer, "I guess, yeah."

"Awesome," said Joey, taking my tray, "I might as well be a gentleman if anything else."

He guided me over to his table, where the rest of the group was already seated. I sat in between Snuffy and the last boy, who's name I still didn't know, and across from Billy. He looked up and smiled as Joey sat next to him, took his lunch, and slid me the tray.

"So how you liking Regis?" asked Hank, who was sitting on the other side of Billy.

"Its alright," I said, "A hell of a lot better than my old school. You guys can actually do things here."

"Yeah, when the Dean's not hovering over us," groaned Billy.

Just as he did the Dean came through the main entrance to the cafeteria. He slowly made his way up and down the rows of tables, examining the students.

"Nice to see you boys," he said as he reached our table, he gave me a small smile, "I'm sure you're treating Miss Wilson here very kindly."

"Of course sir. We're doing our best to make sure she feels right at home," smiled Billy, perkily.

"Ah, well," said the Dean, "make sure to keep that up," he nodded, and started to walk away, then turned back, "But remember, not too nicely boys,"

He turned back around and continued to the next table, as Billy sighed and slumped down in his seat.

"Man that guy's an asshole," Billy muttered under his breath.

"The hell with the Dean," said Joey, "Don't let him get under your skin."

Billy sighed then grabbed his stuff, "Don't wait up for me," he said, leaving.

Once he was gone I turned to Joey, "He's not gonna do anything, is he?"

Joey laughed, "Nah, not without us he won't. He'll just walk around a little, blow off some steam. Then he'll be fine."

I continued eating my lunch, and stayed in the cafeteria for another ten minutes before leaving to go back to my dorm. I turned into my hallway when I heard a familiar voice.

"I'm sorry about all that," I turned to see Billy walking up, "The Dean just likes pissing me off."

"It's cool," I said, waiting for him to catch up.

"So which ones yours?" Billy asked once he reached me.

I pointed to number 85, "Right here."

I turned the knob and pushed open the door to an empty room. I walked over to my desk as Billy shut the door behind him and went over to Jennifer's bed.

"Not that one," I said before he could sit down, "Mine's over there."

"What, you gotta germaphobe as a roommate?" he asked, going and sitting on my bed.

"As far as I'm aware no. But I'm not sure she'd want a stranger sitting in her bed."

"Alrighty," said Billy as he leaned back and put his hands behind his head.

I sorted through some books I hadn't put away yet, and found spots for them in my desk. I heard the bed creak, and Billy walked over, picking up a picture frame,

"Who's this?" he asked, pointing to the boy standing beside me in the photo.

"My friend James," I said, "He left to go back to Germany a couple years ago, so on his last day here we took him to Niagara Falls. It was his favourite place."

Billy nodded and put the picture back down, "How close were you guys?

"Close enough. Why?"

"Just asking," Billy said while he looked around.

"We were just friends," I said, "incase you were wondering."

Billy smiled, "You ever been more than just friends with someone?"

I stopped and looked at him, "No I - I haven't. Guess I just haven't found the right guy yet."

"Yeah me either," said Billy, "Haven't found the right girl yet. I'm sure when I - and you - do though, we'll know. You gotta know."

We stood in silence looking at each other for a moment. Billy's eyes were soft, full of emotion. He didn't seem as tough as he usually was. Almost as if he was completely calmed, relaxed. I could feel a connection as we stood here, a deep connection. Not the kind you have with a stranger you see at the supermarket, but the kind you have with a best friend. The one who's part of you, who without, you feel lost. I don't know what it was, but, when I looked a Billy, I felt like I knew him. I felt like he had been with me my whole life, like he would always be with me. I felt like he was the part of me that was missing, the part that completed me. That's when, I knew.