Human Kid (II)

14.

"So, what sort of food would we have at the party?" Suzanne asked as she took a bite of her hamburger.

They were in the orchard but Ryan wasn't present.

"Ashley don't forget to alert us if Ryan's coming," Andrew reminded her from where he laid behind the tree.

"Sure!" Ashley nodded from the branch she sat and looked around.

"There should be ice cream!" Ethan suggested.

Suzanne nodded, "Of course. And we can even have a popcorn machine there too."

"And cotton candy should be present," Ashley suggested, getting excited by the idea of it all.

Andrew was noting everything down on his laptop.

"Apart from snacks we'll have proper food like rice, cheese burger, cheese doodle, moon cake, fish and chips, macaroni, pasta, ramen, sushi, dumplings, pies, toast, bacon and eggs, ribs, pot roast--" he said as he jotted them down.

"It sounds really yummy!" Ethan said dreamily as he licked his lips.

"Quiet, Ryan's coming!" Ashley announced and they all busied themselves with their various lunches.

Ryan soon arrived, and carrying two lunch boxes in his arms too.

"Hey Ryan," Suzanne beamed a smile at him.

He just ignored her and looked back. "Hey, it's okay, come on," he said in a soft tone.

Suzanne and Ethan both exchanged puzzled glances.

Marissa slowly walked up to where Squad 10 was eating their meal.

"Hi," she said shyly and gave a small wave.

Andrew sat up with a frown while Ethan glared at the both of them.

"What's she doing here?!" Ethan said a bit venomously.

"This is the eating spot of Squad 10 and the last time I checked she wasn't a member of our Squad," Ethan said angrily.

Does he think he can just bring strangers here?! Ethan thought angrily as he clenched his fists.

Suzanne held his shoulders before turning to Ryan and Marissa.

"Why's she here, Ryan? Ethan's kinda right, you know. We're the only ones that eat here," she said softly.

Marissa tensed.

"I'm sorry, I'll leave," she bowed shortly and turned to go but Ryan held her hand.

"Wait, Marissa," he stopped her and turned back to his Squad members.

"Actually guys, I know it's only our team that eats here but I thought it'll be cool if she joined us today. She said that her sisters alwars take her lunch money and bully her, so it's not too bad if she eats with us. In that way, we can prevent the bullying, can't we?" he told them and crossed his arms across his chest.

Ethan frowned. He remembered what the school counselor had told them back when the four girls were caught bullying her.

"It's very disgraceful that you four as D-ranks bully someone younger than you, your sister for that matter!" The man behind the desk said, highly displeased.

He was the school counselor, Mr James.

The four D-ranks had their heads bowed, ashamed.

Ethan crossed his arms and nodded. Very good, he had thought, they'll get what they deserve.

Squad 10 was also present. Marissa stood beside Ryan, her head was also bowed as her sisters got cautioned.