"Would you like any more ma'am?"
I shook my head, pulling the plate closer to me with noticeable hesitation. While much of the food in the cafeteria looked appealing, this particular dish—a lumpy pudding recommended by my roommate—looked less than edible. Still, I had only so many points on my food card, and the price was acceptable.
The student cashier gave me a surprised look as she leaned over to punch in the correct keys on the register.
"You're a brave soul," she said, reaching out a hand to take my card. "I have no idea why they even make that stuff every morning—nobody will eat it."
I took my card back and gave a wary look at my plate before shrugging.The girl raised another eyebrow and made eye contact with the next person in line. Sighing, I steered myself through the maze of tables and chairs and laughing students. There was a small square table in the back corner, only one chair pulled next to it, the rest undoubtedly pulled away by other students to accommodate their larger groups.
I settled my backpack at my feet and sat down, throwing another unsure gaze at the happily eating students.
Picking up the fork, I took a pitiful bite of the pudding and nearly gagged at the thick, grimy texture of it. Cursing myself for not possessing foresight to get a napkin, I leaned helplessly over my plate, gripping the ceramic edges.
"Here."
A hand reached out, placing several napkins next to me. I grabbed them thankfully, relieved to rid my mouth of the pudding.
"Merci—" I looked up to thank my savior, only to see him already walking for the cafeteria doors.
My gaze followed the tall form as he disappeared out the door, deftly gliding around a small group of sorority girls entering the cafeteria. They threw quick glances at each other, some girls bold enough to look back again.
"I can't believe that just happened."
I spun around, face to face with the student cashier I had seen only a few minutes before.
"He sits there every morning," the girl continued, inclining her head to my seat. "But you look new, so I guess you wouldn't know that." I caught the last part of the girl's statement, nodding in agreement.
"I arrived from France a week ago," I said. The girl nodded, smiling. "Welcome, then," she said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "You know, my shift ends in a few minutes. If you want, we can talk more after."
Smiled thankfully, I watched the girl walk away, a small glimmer of hope rising in me. I had missed being able to talk with friends—or anyone, for that matter.
Standing, I grabbed my plate and dumped the pudding into the trash bin. That was one thing I would never miss.
Author's note:
Sorry for the long delay in this, but more chapters should be up soon! Thanks to everyone for reading!