The Crazies↠L. Dunbar

[11]

I eat lunch alone. This isn’t a pity party moment, by the way. I just feel really weird eating in front of people. Nolan is the only exception, of course, but he doesn’t have my lunch period this year.

Mrs. Gallagher, the advanced chemistry teacher, keeps her classroom unlocked for me so I can go in there while she’s out. She used to be my neighbor, back when I actually had a house, and I babysat her little boy numerous times so she knows I’m trustworthy. Actually, I’m the only one she trusts won’t mess around with the chemicals locked inside.

Which is why I’m so confused when I come in today to find Garrett and his girlfriend, Violet, messing around with a concoction that I’m sure they weren’t permitted to make.

“What are you two doing in here?” I sound hostile. Whoops.

Both jump.

“Uh, nothing,” Violet replies in a way that only proves that it is something.

Garrett shoves his lacrosse stick behind his back and Violet is immediately flushing the chemicals down the sink. The both dash out of the room, smiling to each other.

I’m pretty sure they’re up to something. But then, I’m normally convinced everyone is up to something.

I really shouldn’t overwork myself worrying about it, especially after the sleepless weekend I had, so I push it aside and pull out my lunch bag and a book. Don’t ask what the book is about, cause I literally have no clue. I’m seriously just staring at the word ‘anomaly’ and questioning reality. I’m already half asleep and really considering just curling up under Mrs. Gallagher’s desk and taking a nap for the rest of the school day.

Before I can make a decision, though, I’m startled out of my thoughts by the door swinging open.

“You okay with some company?” The visitor asks, a grin plastered on his face.

“Bro, why aren’t you in English?” I ask.

“What? No ‘hi, Nolan’? No ‘how was your weekend, Nolan’? No 'I have missed you so, so much, Nolan'?”

I growl. “Hi Nolan. Why aren’t you in English?”

Nolan sighs dramatically and sits cross legged on top of the lab table, nearly smushing my apple in the process. “We have that presentation and my dumb teammates didn’t finish the PowerPoint and then ditched today. I’m not finishing the whole thing or presenting an unfinished project so they best finish it or I’m tattling. For now, I’m avoiding class.”

“Yes, you tell ‘em. Good for you, my guy.” He laughs and pulls the apple from my hand, taking a bite out of it. “Excuse you, that is mine!”

“Since when have you ever eaten anything healthy?”

“Since I decided to go on a diet a week ago.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“Ha, nope, that’s never happening. Have it.”