Charcoal veins

Chapter 2- Jalapeños and a guy named Zeke

The smell of jalapeños and not so authentic Mexican spices invaded my nostrils as I joined the ever growing queue for dinner, watching as the new and old students made awkward conversation about the deep navy drapes and polished chandeliers that scattered the dinning hall's ceiling.

 As the line shuffled forward, I leant over the hot counter to grab a plate, the gleaming white china slightly burning my fingers and palms as I continued to drag myself closer to the steaming rice and enchiladas.

 "Sorry love." a deep voice sounded form behind me, followed by a series of grunts from, I’m guessing, other people in the line. "Sorry ladies, a guy’s got to eat."

I turned around to look at the ruckus and was greeted by the obnoxious drummer guy, whose name I had yet to still learn, standing almost directly behind me, reaching to grab a hot plate.

"Hey, I know you." the guy paused, pointing at me, pulling at his lip and winking at the girl in front of him, a tall, leggy, blonde, whose white shirt clearly accentuated her neon pink bra and 'ample' cleavage. The only person in between him and me. I bowed my head, letting my brunette, greeny-blue waves conceal my face from him, hoping that he was actually pointing to the ginger, freckled girl next to me.

I kept my face hidden, my feet keeping their continuous shuffle to the food. "What would you like Alex?" Barbara, the rounded bellied dinner lady asked, her hair net askew and slowly slipping off her gelled back red hair.

"The enchiladas and extra salsa please Barbz" I asked, pushing my plate forward and slowly lifting my head up to look at her.

"Got yourself a lad already, eh?" She said, decanting the hot rice and filled tortilla wraps on to my plate as she nodded at the boy next to me.

"Oh, god no! He--"

"Ah, Barbara." the boy shouted joyously, throwing his arm around my shoulder and squeezing me close to him. "Alex, what have I said about not introducing me to people, babe?"

I turned my head to him, looking at his smirking face. "Nothing" I glared at him. "Literally nothing" Grabbing my plate with one hand and removing the boys arm with my other, I began to walk off, muttering a simple 'goodbye' to Barbara, riding myself of the annoying scene that would have continued.

"Don’t be like this Alex, I can change. Give me a chance" he shouted, causing most of the staff and pupils that occupied the miscellaneous dining chairs and tables to turn their heads with wonder. I was just able to hear some of their muttered ‘tuts’ and giggles.

"Could you please kindly piss off? Good bye babe" I curtsied, watching him chuckle at me as he placed his hand on his heart, faying hurt.

"Your words hurt, you know?" I couldn’t help the small smile that was tugging at my lips as he continued to hold his chest. "I'll see you tonight."

I turned continuing to walk to the doors, raising my middle finger into the air, feeling his eyes burn into the back of my head and bum. I looked at the many faces and backs of heads that littered the hall, my eyes focusing on one of the only people that didn’t turn around, the seemingly familiar black ink of a ship tattoo poking out of mustarded yellow and black checked shirt.

"Oh and my names Zeke by the way, Baby." I pulled my eyes away from the back of the strangers neck, pulling on the brassy handle of the hall doors, leaving the dining hall and 'Zeke' with a final, and much needed "Fuck off"

Heyyy there you lovely people, how are you enjoying the story so far? We're sorry that this chapter is a little short but it's helping to build up to bigger things. Please let us know what you think in the comments, it would mean a lot, and don't forget to vote?!

Bekah and Harriet x