The Possessed

The Diner

Clarice tapped her fingers impatiently against her desk. Mr Urgip grumbled through the slide on holiday safety projected behind him. Just five minutes left before the end of class -- and the end of the school year. Sunlight spilled through the windows, teasing the student of summer's close proximity. Clarice glanced over at Jacquie, miming a yawn. Jacquie gestured towards her watch and held up her fingers. Two minutes left.

Mr Urgip switched off the projector and began to wish the class a merry Christmas, happy new year, fabulous holiday etc. The students stuffed pens and papers into their bags, casting fleeting and desperate glances at the clock. After what seemed like an eternity, a shrill ringing filled the air and everyone began whooping. They all bottle necked out the door, punching the sky and cheering. Clarice joined them, skipping along the corridor with her hands in the air until she reached her almost empty locker.

"Heeeeeey," Jacquie appeared beside her.

"Woohoo! School is out!" Clarice cried as she shoved several folders into her back pack. She slammed her locker door shut and stuffed the padlock in her pocket. "Shall we go?"

The two girls joined the mosh pit at the front exit, throwing paper into the air and shoving through the doors. Students streamed every where, making it a large effort to even leave the grounds. Once they were out, Jacquie pulled out her phone and began snapping pictures of them both.

"Hashtag 'school is out'," she said. "And... post!" They wandered along the path until they reached a retro diner. Only a few people were there at that point  but Clarice knew more would come and crowd the tiny space until it was unbearable. Yet still, they planned on staying for hours.

They settled into a round booth in the corner with enough room to accommodate everyone else who would join them soon. 

Jacquie scanned the menu and asked her, "The usual?"

"Yeah," she replied. "Should we wait for everyone else?"

"Nah. Let them watch us eat for a while as they sit and starve, waiting for their food during peak hour." She giggled mischievously and wandered up to the counter.

Clarice tapped her fingers impatiently and let her eyes wander around the room. She scanned the familiar Elvis posters and sundae ads plastered all over the walls. Suddenly she stopped. A dorky looking boy by the name of Derek was staring at her, a look of utter terror on his face.

"What?" she demanded.

"Er, it's nothing. Just ignore me," he replied nervously and turned back to his laptop.

"Umm, no," she scoffed. "People don't just stare at others like that for no reason. Spill."

Derek shifted in his seat. "So, umm, I've studied Morse Code."

Of course he had. What a nerd.

"So?" she asked. "Why is that important?"

"You were tapping your fingers just then." He pointed at her hand.

"Oh and I suppose I was tapping a message," she said sarcastically.

"Yes, actually."

Clarice stopped. What?  She eyed him suspiciously before blurting, "Stop staring and leave me alone." 

At that moment, Jacquie sat back down. 

"Food will be about ten minutes. Why were you talking to that dweeb?"

"Just telling him to stop staring," Clarice replied distantly.

Jacquie shrugged it off and began ranting about some girl who had been in their English class.