You Lasted More Than The Rest.
L.J sat in the dinner hall of his new home. Everything was clean, almost perfect, but it wasn't. To him this was his punishment for being Lincoln Burrow's kid. He knew it wasn't, but deep down it felt like it was. Maybe he was just angry of his past and felt the need to blame the man he loved most in the world, or maybe he was just going through that hate-towards-parents stage. Whichever one it was, it battled with his good boy thoughts and usually won.
In front of him was his dinner. "Mashed potatoes and mushy peas. Oh joy." He thought to himself as he lazily picked up a spoon and delved it into the white mush that was supposedly potatoes. He pulled the spoon out and looked bluntly at the mess on his spoon. "This is meant to be healthy?" He slipped the spoon in his mouth then tried to look like he was enjoying it. It would take a long time for him to get used to this.
As he swallowed, the two boys from earlier walked over and sat down on the two spare chairs. They looked at him without saying a word. L.J smiled then put his spoon down on the table. For a moment everything paused. None of them moved. L.J felt awkward, and before he knew it words escaped his mouth. "What? Why are you staring at me?"
"Well, Fish, we have to clue you up now 'cause you're new." Tex looked at him. His eyes trailed from the spoon in L.J's hand to the expression that graced his face. The other boy ate his food almost the instant it hit the table. He stuffed his face with everything before taking a long swallow.
L.J gave a look back then glanced back down at his dinner. His eyes scanned the room then fell back upon the plate in front of him. His eyes could rest from the awkwardness whenever he looked at his plate. He sat the spoon down, "What is there to tell me?"
"That guy over there," Tex whispered as he pointed over to a large boy standing beside a vending machine. He looked scary, with giant fists and an angry face, "that guy over there is your worst nightmare. Avoid him. At all costs. Seriously, he could break your jaw with his pinkie."
"And? It's not like I would've went near him anyway. He looks extremely violent, like he just beat up Vin Diesel." L.J stared at Tex. He wanted to be alone, without anyone there to make him feel scared – all for a crime he didn't even commit.
"Hand around for us, 'kay. It's safer than you hanging around with him. He'll crush you if you do the littlest thing wrong." Tex started eating his dinner. It was the same as L.J's; it looked like an inedible mush that had to be eaten or starvation would take course. He seemed to enjoy it though. Probably because of the numerous occasions he had to deal with it.
"Okay. I stay in the same room as you so that shouldn't be hard." L.J smiled then picked up his spoon. Delving it into the potatoes again, it made a squelching noise that made him feel even more awkward than he already did. He slipped the food into his mouth then tried to swallow. The lumps made him feel like he wanted o spit it back out, but he held himself back.
"Good. Just remember that all things ain't easy Fish, why do you think we're here?" He pushed himself off the chair and picked up his dinner. He turned to walk away before being stopped by L.J.
"You're going? Aren't you gonna stay and eat with me?" L.J looked up at him, with the spoon in his hand. Mashed potato dripped from it.
"What, are we on a date or something? Coming Dirt?" He laughed a little then grabbed Dirt by the collar to yank him up. Once he stood, they walked away with their dinner at hand, Dirt's was almost finished of course. Tex turned, his eyes pierced L.J. "And one more thing. This ain't a fuckin' theme park, so don't go expecting no fun rides."
L.J smiled and nodded slightly, trying to make out what Tex meant. Shrugging it off, he dug his spoon back into the food and thought about his entire life after being there. He would probably spend the rest of it in jail, being kiddy-fiddled by strong, but ugly men. He gulped then ate his food. He didn't want his life anymore. Everything was gone. Nothing was left, not even the tiniest sliver of happiness or hope.
The boy Tex had been talking about looked over at him and winked. He then waved. It made L.J feel suddenly sick. He quickly grabbed his tray then got up, placing the food in the bin. He walked out of the hall and wiped his eye. He was crying. Why was he crying? He didn't know.
As he reached his room, he pushed the door open to see Tex standing close to it. He smiled, his eyes telling L.J that he knew something. "Did he wink?"
"Just let me lie down." He pushed by him then flopped onto his little bed on the corner. He leaned against the wall and tried to contain the tears ready to fall. He just sat there, trying to look tougher than he really was. Without saying anything, Tex pulled himself onto the top bunk of his bed then looked over at him.
"You lasted more than the rest, Fish."