Chocolate Strawberries
“Nah, Nah, Nah...really? You’re going to waste away if you keep eating so little each day,” Morgan scolded, tapping Nah’s nose. Nah had bought a lunch, which consisted of...Skittles.
“I keep forgetting to pack it and I don’t feel like getting in line. This was the tastiest thing in the vending machines.” Nah began to eat her feast, leaving Morgan frowning.
Of course, Morgan was never frowning for long. She perked up and said, “I’ll go get in the lunch line and get you a pizza and a milk! My treat.” Before Nah could protest, Morgan was on her feet and walking towards the lunch line, pulling out her wallet. The line was hardly a line, but rather, clusters of people standing together and chatting, slowly but surely trying to push past each other. There were three lines open. Morgan was in the middle one. In front of her were some kids she didn’t know, probably in different years. In the line to her left, Lucina was tapping her foot to the music coming through her earbuds. She looked like a fashion disaster, and Severa didn’t skip health class to come with her to lunch as she usually did, which only served to remind Morgan that Severa had taken a sick day. Lucina looked kind of lonely, and when she looked over, Morgan shot her a grin. Lucina nodded and smiled, then faced forward again. To Morgan’s right was a line with people that she didn’t know, but she looked past it and saw her sister and Kjelle eating at a table by themselves. With Noire’s quickness to anger and Kjelle’s slightly aggressive tendencies, people tended to avoid them when they were both together, which suited them both just fine. They ate silently, but Morgan smiled when she thought of the one time Noire had Kjelle over for dinner when their parents weren’t home. They were feeding each other and kissing to taste foods and were being absolutely sickeningly lovey-dovey. Morgan chuckled and advanced with the lunch line.
As promised, Morgan got Nah a cheese pizza and a stawberry milk, then got herself a chocolate milk and pepperoni pizza. The lunch lady gave her a funny look, and Morgan gave her a grin and said, “For a friend!”
The lunch lady seemed quite apathetic. She took Morgan’s money, gave her her change, and sent her on her way. Some people should really lighten up! Morgan had thoughts like that often, and her father had to remind her that not everyone was as chipper as her. That was true, but Morgan didn’t understand why. It was quite funny to think about, though; although rather playful, Nah was probably one of the most brooding students at that school, aside from Gerome, probably. Morgan snickered and went back to her and Nah’s lunch table.
“Alrighty, ma’am, here’s your gourmet meal,” Morgan said, setting down her tray. She sat thigh-to-thigh and arm-to-arm with Nah, who sighed good-naturedly and retrieved her cheese slice from under Morgan’s pepperoni. Then, as Nah’s hand paused mid-air, Morgan realized her mistake. Nah liked chocolate milk, not strawberry. Nah furrowed her brow, and Morgan chuckled nervously. “Sorry. I’m not used to getting two milks, and when I do get two, it’s usually one for me and one for…gosh, Nah, I’m really-”
“No, say it. Say it,” Nah said bluntly.
“Say what?”
Nah scoffed. “When you do get two, it’s for you and Cynthia. That’s what you were going to say.”
Morgan averted her eyes and began to open her plasticware, even though she didn’t need it. Morgan inhaled. She had to do damage control. Nah easily became jealous, and Morgan was willing to admit that Cynthia still mattered a lot to her. Morgan looked over at the lunch lines; one was still open. I’ll just go get her more milk!
“Hey, Nah-” Morgan started, turning back to Nah.
However, she stopped in her tracks when she saw Nah packing her bookbag. Before Morgan could speak, Nah said, “I’m going to the library for lunch. Enjoy your pizzas and your stupid strawberry milk.”
“Nah, I’ll get you more milk, really-”
“The problem isn’t the milk, Morgan, and you know it’s not.” Nah stormed off, braids swinging in tandem with her step. The problem really wasn’t just with the milk. Morgan and Cynthia’s breakup seemed to follow Morgan wherever she went, and no matter how mutual the breakup was, it seemed that Morgan was still in some mindset where she was with Cynthia, always talking about her and doing things they used to do together. Morgan loved Nah, she really did, but Cynthia was still fresh in her mind.
Morgan buried her face in her hands, looking at her tray. She suddenly wasn’t hungry. Standing and grabbing her tray and belongings, she walked over to Noire and Kjelle’s table, where Lucina sat with her lunch tray. Morgan set her tray down and tried her best to smile. “Hey, guys. Not hungry, um...would you like my food?”
“You just happen to not be hungry on the day that you get two pizza slices?” Lucina said.
“Does this have anything to do with Nah walking out?” Noire said.
Morgan groaned. That was some mess she had gotten herself into, but Nah was quick to forgive. It only took a little time and some coaxing. Morgan sat down, dropping her bag and sweater. “Yes, and maybe,” Morgan said shortly. Lucina had taken the offending strawberry milk, while Noire and Kjelle were trying to subtly share the chocolate milk without anyone watching. The two pizzas were still left. Morgan took the pepperonis off and popped them into her mouth, sighing and looking out of the window.
I just got the strawberry milk out of habit. Cynthia is the farthest thing from my mind!