Ashley walked in front of the three towards the cafeteria, the two boys and her roommate still discussing something that she couldn't quite comprehend (or bring herself to care about). She rolled her eyes in annoyance when Jane and Reid started a shouting match over whatever they were discussing.
"I'm telling you, C.O.D. (1) is way better than the Halo-verse," Reid insisted.
"No, it isn't!" Jane shot back. "The weapons are so much cooler in Halo! You can not tell me you don't enjoy the feel of a plasma rifle in your hands!"
Tyler shook his head, lips turned up in amusement.
"You need so much more skill for C.O.D. than for Halo," Reid argued. He turned towards his best friend. "Tyler, back me up!"
"Well," Tyler began. From behind Reid, Jane waved her arms and shook her head. He hesitated.
"We're here," Ashley declared shortly, arms crossed. The three all looked at her unsure at her slightly irritated voice. From behind the two, Ashley could see Jane finally get it and the girl shrugged and mouthed, 'Infiltrating.' Ashley gave a sigh of defeat before turning away from the three. "So, who wants pancakes?" she asked in a fake cheery voice.
In case you've never been in a private school before, you should know that each private school does something a little extra to ensure the happiness of its students. Spenser, being a school filled with the youth of some of the most powerful families in the world, was no different. It was a lot easier to get funding if a student told their parents how accommodating the school was, rather than how strict the school's officials were, which is why students were more often warned away from bad behavior rather than actually punished. And if you didn't get caught doing a bad deed, then it didn't happen. Private schools, more so than the military, operated on the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy.For example, curfew on weekdays was eleven, but weekends, Spenser's cafeteria just randomly happened to serve breakfast all day for those students who just randomly happened to sleep in late.
In short, all day breakfast very common amongst most of the Spenser population, which is why it was strange when Ashley actually got a lunch-esque meal.
"What?" she asked, fork pausing halfway to her mouth once they had gotten situated at one of the round lunch tables.
"Is that mashed potatoes?" Reid asked in disbelief (and some disdain), his mouth full of French toast tastiness.
"Yeah," Ashley answered shortly, confused at where this was going.
"Why?" Surprisingly this came from Tyler, who was happily licking his syrup-covered fork.
Ashley glanced at him and froze for a millisecond when she caught sight of his pink tongue (To the side, Reid smirked knowingly). She visibly shook herself before answering. "I already had breakfast. I've been awake since ten. You know this."
"I've been awake since eight. But, breakfast is awesome," Tyler argued. "It's the most important meal of the day, so we should have it often."
"I know, right?" Jane cried, taking a hearty bite of her scrambled eggs. "I've tried to tell her like a million times – she just doesn't get it." She cut her sausage into smaller pieces, crying out in faux-anger when Reid's hand darted out and popped it into her mouth. "At least use the fork," she admonished the blonde boy.
He shrugged carelessly.
"I don't get the big deal, breakfast is good, but we should only eat it during breakfast or during the occasional midnight binge," Ashley declared.
Tyler dipped his tater tots into his syrup as well. "I guess," he agreed unconvincingly. He and Ashley simultaneously rolled their eyes.
From next to them, Reid and Jane exchanged looks before the two both shrugged. Reid opened his mouth pointedly and Jane stuck some sausage into his mouth, catching on quickly.
"So, anyway," Ashley started, "Jane, didn't you say you needed to pick up some things from the store?" She turned her telling eyes to her roommate.
"Um, yeah," Jane answered after a short pause. She looked at the other girl before hesitantly continuing on. "But you and Tyler should do your project so I don't have a ride to town…?" It was supposed to be a statement but came out as an unsure question. Ashley nodded, so Jane continued confidently on. "So, I guess I'll just wait until a later date." She was sure to sound extra pitiful towards the end, playing with one of the sausages on her plate in an overtly despondent manner.
"Reid will take you," Tyler offered, holding out his keys.
Reid gaped. Tyler was never so forthcoming with his vehicle – it was precious to him (which is probably why Reid loved exerting power over Tyler by 'borrowing' it). Reid's hands tentatively began reaching for them before snatching them quickly out of his friend's hands and pocketing them, almost scared that Tyler was joking. For Reid, it was a surreal moment.
For the girls, it was a job well done. Boys were so predictable. The girls exchanged looks and mentally high-fived each other.
"Thanks!" Jane said, keeping the triumph out of her voice just barely.
"That was fun," Tyler shyly stated once they got back to Ashley's room.
Ashley smiled at him. "It was," she agreed. "We should do it again some time."
"I'm sure we will," Tyler replied.
Ashley's smile grew wider but he didn't see, seeing as she was gathering something from her dresser. "Really?"
"Well, yeah," Tyler continued on, worrying his lip and eyeing her back. He could tell her how he felt right now; it was the perfect time. "Reid and Jane are seemingly soulmates." Or he could be the coward he usually is.
Ashley's smile fell off her face. "Let's get back to work on that Chemistry," she declared, turning away from her cabinet and presenting Tyler with her now serene expression devoid of any emotion. It didn't help anyone – the disappointment from both parties was palpable in the air.
Tyler mentally sighed. He was such a pussy.
"This car is sweet!" Jane cried. "How much can this baby carry?"
"Shit if I know," Reid answered, starting the car. The radio turned on. "Seatbelts," Reid ordered before backing up.
Jane frowned in distaste at the heavy metal blaring out from the state of the art sound system and began fiddling the knobs, leaning back in her seat when it landed on a station full of loud bass and low, growling voices.
Reid pressed on the brakes hard, throwing her forward into her seatbelt. "What the fuck is this shit?"
Jane's eyes narrowed. "Music."
"Not from where I'm sitting," Reid retorted. "Music requires actual instruments."
"What? You have a thing against hip hop now?" Jane asked heatedly once he began driving again.
"Doesn't everybody?" Reid snarled. He switched to a rock station.
Jane sneered and switched it back. This continued on before she just shook her head and turned off the radio. "There – now we'll just have to entertain ourselves."
"Because you're so interesting," Reid said sarcastically.
Jane rolled her eyes and they were silent for a few seconds. She chanced a look at the driving boy, who had done the same to her that exact same moment. They both glared and then looked away.
It only took a few seconds after that for them to begin laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.
Tyler erased one of his equations heartily and sneezed when some of the dust particles got in his nose.
"Bless you," Ashley said, not even bothering to look up from her own work.
"Thanks," he said in turn, beginning to rewrite the problem.
"Dude, let's go into here," Reid said, outside of a worn comic book shop.
"Awesome!" Jane cried, scurrying forward. She shoved Reid playfully so that she could go through the door first.
"Do you want anything to drink, I'm going to warm up some tea," Ashley offered.
"No thanks," Tyler said, biting the eraser of his pencil.
"Let's get something to eat," Jane suggested, forty-five minutes after they had arrived. "I'm feeling a burger."
"That sounds pretty good, right about now," Reid said, rubbing his belly. He caught sight of another restaurant tucked in the corner. "Or, ooh, Chinese"
"Yum!" he and Jane cried enthusiastically at the same time, both not-quite-running towards the family-owned restaurant.
Ashley coughed.
Tyler looked up. "Did you say anything?"
"Nope," Ashley said.
Jane checked the time on her cell as they waited for their food. "It's been more than an hour," she declared. "You think the kids will still be okay for another, honey?" she asked jokingly.
Reid laughed, ignoring the way her teasing nickname affected him "They had to grow up some time."
"This is true," Jane said, her face lighting up when she caught sight of their orders heading their way.
Reid, his back to the kitchen, didn't see the food coming. But he smiled anyway when he saw her excited expression.
Ashley glanced the clock next to her bed. "They've been gone two hours," she informed her partner.
"Hopefully my car is still alright," Tyler joked.
Ashley didn't laugh and the room was silenced once more.
TBC.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Covenant, Halo, or Call of Duty.
(1) C.O.D. is what most gamers call Call of Duty, a game series set during the war (the fictional WWIII or the upcoming one which will be in WWII).
A/N: The flaws in Tyler and Ashley's would-be-relationship are starting to show quite heavily. And the juxtaposition between Ashley and Tyler versus Jane and Reid was supposed to comical – I hope I succeeded!