How Did You Survive?
I do not own Across the Universe. If I did, there would be an extended hospital scene.
Jude watched in fascination as Max steadily picked apart his chicken. Lucy went on eating, not taking any notice, and Jude himself was stuffing his mouth ravenously. Finishing off the small piece, Max moved on to the potatoes, then to the corn. He was so preoccupied he didn't notice his friend staring at him, jaw hanging open.
"Hey, Luce, do we have any more breast meat?"
Seizing the opportunity triumphantly, Jude cut in. "Max! Please! There are ladies at the table!" Max scowled at him, but blushed slightly.
"You know what I meant, Judey!" he protested. Lucy giggled, but managed to control herself.
"Sorry, Max. I didn't get enough. Have some more potatoes." she said, returning to her own food.
"That's OK. I'm good." He then proceeded to pick up his plate and was about to move away from the table when Jude spoke up.
"Hang on, I've got some! You're not angry, mate, are you?" Jude looked a bit guilty.
"What?" Max scoffed. "No, man, of course not! Thanks, by the way." He muttered, reaching over into Jude's plate and stealing his food. Jude let him, eyeing the American sympathetically. He was so damn thin!
"What, do you only certain parts or something?"
"I don't like drumsticks, wings or any kind of dark meat." Max admitted.
"I like all of those!"
"Shut up."
"Honestly, Max, how did you survive the bloody army rations?"
Max actually smiled. This was the first time they'd seen him smile while he was remembering Vietnam. "It was torture, Jude. It really was. They kind of had to force me to eat."
Jude smiled a bit too. No wonder Max was so thin. The man was picky. "Uh-huh. I see." Jude nodded.
Max turned back to look at him, an offended look on his features. "Um…I was kidding."