"-That was "Poison Sludge" by Roxie and the Toxins. All right, listeners, with break coming up we know that the cafeteria on campus will be closed for the long Holiday, so today we're trying a new segment called 'Diamond Dines'! And here to offer you some recipes so YOU don't waste away heeeeeere's Diamond."
"Hello you wonderful people. Now as you can see–"
"They can't."
"-I'm going to be making a special treat and a personal favorite, Old Gateau! Just look at–
"They can't"
"- That beautiful gelatinous sheen! First we'll start with these handsome extra large eggs. Observe how–"
"THEY CAN'T"
"Well then I don't know why I bother!"
"In theory this would be a better television show."
"Ladies and gentlemen please address all criticisms with this programming to Pearls concerns at oops dot com "
"I can't even.."
As Platinum drove her way up to the business building she couldn't help but laugh along with her radio.
"They really are VERY funny."
She thought as she parked near the entrance and reached back for her bag in the backseat. Once inside the building she made her way up the central staircase in the atrium to the hallways spanning at the top. The upper floor had individual classrooms all set up in a similar environment as a modern day conference room. No support walls as everything was visible through individual glass dividers. Paneled blinds shielded specific ongoing classes from outside priors as Platinum entered her marketing class. The space was set up with long tables creating a 'U' with a projection screen at the head of the classroom. A podium stood in the corner adjacent from the door and the lights had been dimmed signaling that today was a presentation day.
Platinum saw Blue and White at their usual spots on one side of the 'U', Green's seat was, unsurprisingly, left empty considering she hadn't come with Platinum from their dorm. She took her seat in between White and Blue, pulled out her notebook and fixated on the projection screen as their professor began the lecture.
She felt a light nudge on her elbow as she looked down and saw a scrap of paper slide her way from White's direction. In the corner of her eye she saw White intently watching the PowerPoint, maintaining the facade that she was paying attention. Looking down Platinum read the note.
'Where's Green?'
Platinum clicked her pen and nonchalantly slid the scrap paper onto her open notebook to mask her response.
'She and Red broke up yesterday.'
She continued 'note-taking' as her pinky slid the scrap back toward White. Her audible gasp caused most of the class to look their way.
"Sorry! Snapped my finger in my binder!" White covered as she strained a laugh. The professor scowled before continuing as White began etching on the scrap again.
'Is she okay!?'
Platinum shook her head and wrote her response.
'It was pretty messy. She cried all night.'
White frowned as she slowly, carefully tore a new scrap to write on.
'Did she say why?'
Platinum flipped the scrap over for more space.
'I said it earlier this week. She was too possessive about him talking to other girls. She said they fought and he ended it.'
White tapped her eraser to her chin in thought before responding.
'So what do we do?'
Platinum shrugged and tore a new scrap.
'It's not our problem. For now we just need to be supportive.'
Blue elbowed Platinum from her other side and slid a note her way under his palm
'You are making it really hard to concentrate.'
Platinum's brow furrowed as she passed the note along to White who flipped Blue off from behind the cover of her binder. He rolled his eyes and scribbled another note before passing along to platinum
'I'm not sharing my notes if you aren't going to pay attention.'
Platinum and White simultaneously wrote new notes and slid them along the table to Blue.
'Drop dead.'
'Yeah Right.'
All three ripped new scraps to rubute each other as the professor at the front cleared his throat loud and deliberately. His eyes caught each of them before returning to the lecture.
Ruby stuffed his sweaty change of clothes into his bag before shouldering his racket. Now that he was changed he could feel his stomach growling, a clear indication that it was time for dinner. He opened the door of the locker room. The change in temperature from the steamy showers to the AC in the hallways fogged his glasses. He pulled them from his nose and began using the hem of his shirt just as he walked headlong into something hard.
"Hey! Watch where yer goin'!"
He stumbled backward slightly as he looked up to a figure before him, stood in protest.
"Well whatcha got to say for yerself?"
He replaced his glasses and saw a girl looking defensive before him. Hair framing her face as a headband with a bow draped her scalp. She had boxing gloves dangling from her bag that was slung over her shoulder as she cocked one hip out to the side. When she spoke, a prominent snaggletooth rested on her lower lip.
"If you don't say somethin' I'm goin' to… You aren't concussed right?"
Her head tilted as she went from frustrated to concerned, causing Ruby to find his voice.
"No! No, I'm not concussed. I'm positively fine."
"Well if yer so fine then why'd you push me?"
"I didn't push you! I just.. Wasn't paying attention."
She frowned as she readjusted her bag.
"Well then why don't you apologize fer runnin' into me and all."
She held an intense expression even as her face's red tint began to deepen. Ruby sighed and straightened his glasses.
"I'm sorry that you ran into me. It was an accident."
"That I ran into YOU!? What kinda apology is that!?"
"An accurate one."
"Why. I.. OooooOOOH!"
She clenched her fists as she reached for the gloves in her bag.
"I'll show you. I've been gettin' real good. Bet you go down in one punch."
Ruby took a step back, raising his arms in protest.
"Woah woah! Hey now! Alright I'm sorry okay. I'm sorry! How unlady-like."
"UNLADY-LIKE! I… GRRRRR. If I wasn't already late I–!"
She brushed past him, ramming his shoulder as she strode down the hall to the women's lockers.
"KEEP YER HEAD UP NEXT TIME!"
Red sat under a tree in the courtyard by the student center as he chewed his sandwich methodically. He was alternating taking bites and playing his Gameboy, when a shadow fell over his handheld. A long collection of blonde hair obscuring his screen.
"Hiya! You beat Viridian yet?"
Yellow smiled down at him as Red rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, mouth still full of sandwich.
"Not yet. I've been training in the water around Cinnabar."
He swallowed as Yellow sat on the roots next to him and pulled out her system too. As she started it up she could tell something was off.
"Are you okay?"
Red set down his sandwich as he hesitated taking another bite. He took a deep breath and looked to the lazy clouds above for a clarity of thought as he chose his words.
"Actually, I think I am. Or at least I will be. I had a tough conversation last night and it's one of those things where it's still sitting with me, you know?"
Yellow put her index finger to her cheek as her brow furrowed in understanding.
"I think I do. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Red laughed. He'd only met her once but she was already willing to be attending and show concern. He appreciated her kindness.
"No, that's alright.. Unless you want to trade me your Graveler?"
He smirked as Yellow shook her head emphatically.
"Absolutely not! Gravvy is my wall!"
"Not with that special defense it's not."
The two laughed as they played through the lunch break.
The diner was bustling with students as the midday crowd consisted of those coming and leaving from their lunch breaks. White opened the employee entrance through the kitchen and hung her hat on the rack bolted to the wall. Her brown apron already tied around her waist, she wrote her 'in' time on the white board on the door.
"Cilan hey! I'm here for the rush."
The kept man in question poked his head out from the pantry with an arm loaded with produce.
"White! Brilliant! Thank you so much for covering. I know Mallow was appreciative and we could really use your help."
He set his load onto the prep station and set to work as he gave her the run down on the shift so far. Nothing out of the ordinary aside from a group who didn't tip, but White was ready to orchestrate the afternoon serving under Cilan.
"- and when Cress comes in he'll take over so you can make it to rehearsal."
"That's perfect! Alright. Let's do this!"
Her motivating spirit gave everyone in the kitchen an extra boost as the lunch rush came and went. White had flown around tables taking orders, relaying said orders, and bussing the occasional table when she had the chance. Her apron grimy from the constant use of hand wiping, White ran a paper towel over her brow as the last group exited through the compartment door.
"Thanks for coming!"
White sat in a booth and let out a deep sigh as Cilan peeked out through the kitchen window.
"I'm making a batch of Malasadas if you want some! Now that things have settled down we could all use a refuel!"
"That would be great. Thank you!"
White closed her eyes as the *tink* of the door sounded off again, signaling new customers. Her eyes popped open as she stood up to greet the newcomers.
"Hello and welco–"
"HEY BOSS! WHAT'RE YOU DOING HERE?"
The sheer volume after the momentary silence White had just experienced left her stunned. She blinked as she took in the sight of Black and Ruby both grinning at her.
"Black! Oh Ruby! Hey! Here to eat?"
"That we are 'Boss'" Ruby chuckled as White felt her face get hot.
"You don't normally work the afternoon shifts. What gives? Tired of working with me?" Black laughed as White brought them to the booth by the door.
"Just covering, I have a free period at this time anyway. And since I don't need to plan for the theater department production for another few weeks, it was no big deal!"
"You're going to work yourself to death." Ruby mused as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"No, she just can't relax." Black laughed. "Who's back of house today?"
"Cilan, if Chile hasn't shown up yet." White replied, turning her head toward the kitchen window.
"HEY CILAN! CAN WHITE GO ON BREAK!?"
Black hollered toward the kitchen. Ruby put a hand over his head while White dropped her notepad in her surprise.
"Black! You don't need to shout, you're the only customers here." White said in a hushed voice.
"Try living with it." Ruby winced as he dug a pinky in his ear canal.
Cilan emerged from the back, a steaming plate of Malasadas balanced on his fingers.
"Black, why am I not surprised." He wore a pained smile as he set the plate on the table. "But as a matter of fact, Cress just pulled in. Take a load off White, I'll sign you out on the board."
"Thanks so much, and thank you for the snack!"
Cilan waved her off as he headed back to the kitchen.
White sat next to Black as the three delved into the mountain of sweet satisfaction.
The moon hung prominently as the twinkling stars shown in a cloudless sky. The day had come and gone quickly with most of the students at Tohjo Falls University having settled into their dorms for the night. On the third floor of the residence hall, a lamplight could still be seen through the sheer curtains of Crystal's room as she worked at her desk under her bunk, planning her schedule for tomorrow. Her roommate Yellow, asleep with her back to the rest of the room, snored lightly while Crystal had her headphones in. As she closed her binder, her phone lit up and vibrated against the solid wood of her workspace, indicating a new message.
"You up?"
Gold. Of course it was Gold. Crystal sighed wearily as she debated leaving him on read. She picked up her phone and responded.
"No."
She smiled to herself as she watched the ellipses fade in and out while he replied.
"Good. What are you doing?"
She gave a half smile as she got up from her desk and went to the sink to brush her teeth. Phone in hand she began texting.
"What do you think?"
She applied a decent amount of spearmint to her bristles and began the repetitive swirls of cleaning as her phone lit back up.
"You really want to know. ;)"
She rolled her eyes and held her brush in her mouth as she worked her thumbs.
"No. Good night."
She spit once and went to rinse as another message came through.
"You're no fun."
She wiped her mouth and made her way to her bunk.
"Maybe not for you."
She climbed her ladder and lay on her comforter staring at the fading dots.
"Oh that's not true. I think you're really fun. ;)"
She raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Her curiosity piqued.
"You're the only reason I even go to the student center half the time."
She rolled her eyes.
"So you can mess with me right."
She leaned over the side of her bunk and reached for her charging cable dangling from the supports.
"Not always… Sometimes it's just nice to see you."
She lay back down and felt a light blush grace her cheeks.
"Wish I could say the same."
She took a breath and plugged her phone into it's connector. Taking a breath as she leveled her head.
"You can. I won't say anything. ;)"
She smiled in spite of herself. He was relentless.
"Why do you come to see me?"
She didn't realize she was holding her breath as she waited for the reply.
"..."
The ellipses faded and then stopped. Then started again before stopping once more. She furrowed her brow as her patience began to wain.
"What are you doing right now?"
She scowled as he avoided the question.
"I'm trying to go to sleep. Why?"
She considered turning her phone off as she watched the fading dots trickle across the bottom of her screen again.
"Want to go for a drive?"
She blushed again as she looked down at her boy shorts and tank top.
"I'm not dressed to go out."
All thoughts leaving the conversation left her mind as she concentrated on the incoming message.
"I'll be the in lobby in 10."
She scowled at his audacity for assuming she'd just go meet him.. before climbing back down her ladder and looking for her jacket.
This was a fun chapter to write! Trying to find different ways to carry the narrative without it just being lines of dialogue. I think using other mediums for conversation can help break up the monotony and I hope it doesn't come across as too difficult to read. Reviews and feedback are appreciated, and as always thank you so much for reading! -REN