Removed

22

 The following day, a chair scrapes against the disgusting cafeteria floor as I tug it out from underneath the table. It's a plain brown, complimenting the uncharacteristic table. Slowly, I lower myself into it, scooting closer to the table with an unsubtle screech of metal against tile. For a society obsessed with perfection, their cafeterias are filthy. Not only that, but the furnishings are generic and bland.

"Hey, Autumn!" Eva greets from my right. Her attitude has definitely changed from yesterday morning. A smile litters her face like food does the ground. She seems to have forgotten about her sister's pain and regained her usual mien.

"Hey!" I reply, offering her and the two boys across from us a small smile.

Cody sits across from me while Jared lounges across from Eva. Maybe the two can actually stand each other's presence now. Jared seems annoyed while his cousin is snickering. Eva's casually eavesdropping on their conversation, her eyes fixated on a point between them while a laugh escapes her lips.

Jared sends her a glare before a smirk appears on his lips. Then, he scoops up his carrots from his 'healthy, balanced diet', which we're all forced to eat, and flicks them at Eva. She gasps, throwing up her arms in a vain attempt to shield herself. One of the slices lands in her dark hair, another slaps her in the face, and the third is harmlessly deflected by her arm. I guess they can't get along.

Fuming, the brunette stabs her fork into her salisbury steak and hurls it towards a surprised Jared. He moves his head to the side but is still met with gravy and steak to the face. Light brown liquid tickles down his visage as the steak thumps onto the table. Cody and I share a look, both pursing our lips as chuckles threaten to escape.

Cody leans back in his chair, lunch barely touched, as Jared grabs his carton of milk and thrusts it in Eva's direction, drenching her hair and face with the creamy liquid. She rapidly blinks, swiping the back of her hand across her eyes. Milk gathers at her slightly pointed chin and drips onto the table, the colors perfectly matching. As she raises her entire inky plate and inches towards Jared's face, a pale hand grabs her arm. The plate clatters to the table, various food items smashing onto it.

"Come with me," the teacher spits, practically yanking Eva out of her chair and dragging her towards the double doors.

Another teacher reaches for Jared, but he jumps out of his chair in the nick of time. After shooting the male teacher a steely glare, he marches towards the exit. The stunned yet irritated teacher follows him, obviously peeved about Jared's display of attitude. The teacher who took Eva disappears from view, her short and inky hair swaying like her hips.

I glance over at Cody, nerves bubbling within me. The whole cafeteria, which I just realize had gone silent, erupts in chatter once again. My heart pounds in my chest

There's a zero tolerance policy. They could be in huge trouble for causing such a ruckus.

"They're just upset someone wasted their 'precious' food," Cody snickers, putting emphasis on 'precious'. I know he's attempting to lighten the mood, but anxiety hangs heavy in the air between us.

I shrug, placing down at my own plate of food. Suddenly, my stomach somersaults at the idea of consuming it. "Yeah." My voice is so soft and delicate that I'm not sure he heard me. Ash is alive. The Others are after my knowledge of Chip removing. Now, two of my best friends could be in serious trouble. It's not fair. It's like God's testing me. Or maybe the government. Is this all some sick joke? I'm not some superhero that used to be featured on television. Maybe they stopped airing those shows not to deter us from acting out, but because it's silly fiction; it's just not realistic.