Almond Boy

Almond Boy - 1

Elliot goes to his normal spot on the bench, watching the kids in gym run around the track.

He sets down his backpack, pulls out his binder full of homework due next hour, and his bag of almonds. 

He takes up the entire bench with his crap, his backpack tilted on its back, his schoolwork spewing out of it like paper vomit. So, when Emma staggers by and moves some of his things to sit down, some of the pages fall off the bench. 

"Why, hello," Elliot says, rolling his eyes. He gets up from his seat and starts grabbing some of his homework that is blowing around on the ground. Emma reaches out from her spot and tries to grab some of them as well. 

"Sorry, I needed a place to sit," Emma musters, trying to reach to the floor without standing up again.

"You could have just asked."

"You could have just not taken up the entire bench."

Elliot stares at her for a moment, his eyebrows up. 

"Sorry, not used to other people on my bench. I always sit here."

Emma smiles and gives him his pages. 

"Well, you have a new attendee." 

"Why? Are you trying to get out of the track unit or something?" 

Emma laughs, but it's cut short and she brings her hand to her chest and clears her throat. 

"No, as much as I hate running, I am not trying to get out of the unit."

"Why are you on the bench, then, Emma - it's Emma, right? - because you look fine." 

Elliot looks Emma over. She looks like a picture of health: a good weight, not skeletal and not obese; nothing looks twisted or swollen or broken; her skin is a peachy pink color from the Florida sun; and her hair is strong and wild and glowing bright in the outdoor light.

"yeah, it's Emma. And that's funny, 'cause I thought I looked fine too."

Elliot's eyebrows raise at that answer and he leans against the bench. He grabs a few almonds and pops them in his mouth, letting the crunching fill the silence. 

"Well, Emma, I guess welcome to the bench."