third time's a charm

"fucking burns"

chapter ten: fucking burns

Wednesday, December 13. 12:32 pm

"You can't avoid him, Ro," As we waited in the lunch line, Rowan had her eyes out for Vales; she was entirely prepared to run the other direction if she saw him. "You're acting like a seven year old."

"I just need a couple of days to let this die down," Rowan said, looking all around, even after getting to the front of the line to the food.

"Nothing is going to be dying down," I muttered under my breath, but decided to leave the conversation alone. We went through, getting the food we wanted, and walked to our usual table in the middle of the cafeteria.

"We can't sit here," Rowan said, as if it was absurd of me to think we would sit where we've sat since every single day since freshman year.

"Rowan, I love you, but I am not moving just so you can avoid one of the only people I care about talking to at lunch. Plus, Vales always gives me his cookie on Wednesday's, and I'm not about to break that tradition for you." Rowan's mouth fell open and my eyes rolled as I sat down in my spot.

"You're going to make me sit alone?"

"Just sit down!" I tugged on Rowan's arm and she whimpered as she sat down beside me, clearly opposed. It took less than five minutes for Will and Vales to join us; they sat their bags down by their usual seats before leaving to go wait in line.

"He didn't even say anything to me," Rowan observed. I couldn't tell if she was relieved, or hurt. But either way I was confused. "What happened after I left last night?"

"We told him that you were being weird because you didn't sleep well," I told her in order to assure her that we hadn't said anything to make him suspicious. "Neither of them said anything just now; they never say anything to us before getting food. All they care about the second they step in here is food."

"Well..." Rowan said, thinking back through time, "I guess you have a point. They don't really waste any time."

"Exactly," I said, nodding my head.

"But that means when he gets back, he will talk to me," Rowan said, seeming nervous again.

"Rowan, just breathe, okay? Everything is going to be fine, so stop getting so worked up. He's been your best friend since kindergarten, you know how to talk to him. Just because you guys have been in this weird limbo stage since Andy joined the picture doesn't mean anything has really changed. Just be you." I sighed as I became slightly annoyed with Rowan due to wishing she would just find a way to settle her nerves.

"Sorry," Rowan apologized, sighing quietly as she focused on her food and started to eat. I bit my lip gently as I realized I had made her feel bad for acting the way she was, which hadn't been my intention. People began sitting down around us, like they always did, but we continued to eat in silence until the boys came back.

"You ladies look ravishing, as always," Vales spoke to the both of us as soon as he sat down, and effectively gained our attention. "How's little Ellie doing today?"

"She's just fine," I told him, sending him a small smile before looking down at my tray.

"And the lovely Miss Rowan?" Vales asked.

"Good," Rowan spoke shortly and looked down at her food just as I had.

"Can we get real answers now?" Will asked, causing us both to sigh as we looked up at him. "You guys are never this quiet. What's up?"