Chapter 2: Lunch with the Best of Them
Liam watched as Tristo stared meekly at his plate, whilst Scott ravenously tore away at the meat on his. Liam let out a sigh before pushing a fork over to Tristo to get his attention.
"The food is not going to leap up and bite you." Liam said apathetically. Tristo looks up and stammers a bit before taking the cutlery.
"Sorry, I just… what is it?"
"The school's very own mystery meatloaf. Humans need nourishment, correct? So get to it."
"You say it like you weren't a human at one point."
"Human-adjacent sure. Is that why you find it easier to talk to Scott and I?"
"I don't really know."
"Well, all of us here who are human-adjacent are monsters in some way. Even the Slayer girl that runs around is part-monster. So pardon me if I'm not entirely convinced of you being fully human Tristo… if that is your real name."
Tristo was quiet for a moment after this, trying to think of what to say next. He began to pick at his meatloaf, which surprisingly wasn't terrible. He assumed it was a mishmash of many meats like chicken and beef. Maybe Liam was right, maybe something in him changed when he was brought here. He certainly felt something stir in his chest every time he looked at Zoe. He hopes he'll get a chance to apologize for staring at her in class when they're in detention together. Tristo looks up to scan the room for her, and sees her just across the room.
A few tables away Zoe sits with Valerie and Vera, who are talking up a storm about the current inventory of Valerie's shop.
"Yeah sis, you would be surprised just how many penguin masks I sell." Valerie said, as Vera nods full of pride. Zoe looks down to her sketchbook, nervously scribbling over a drawing she disassociated while working on it. Suddenly a thought occurs to her, and she looks up.
"Hey Vera! I just remembered that Tristo doesn't really have anywhere to stay. Do you think you two and your dad would mind letting him stay?" Zoe said, with a sweet tone and hint of pleading.
Vera turns and narrows her eyes at Tristo, sitting at the table with Scott and Liam. She shakes her head and turns back to Zoe.
"Why with us? He'll probably be just fine with one of the boys. Plus, he came here with nothing but the clothes on his back, I doubt he could afford it." Vera replied, with a matter of fact tone.
"It's just, well Scott lives with a lot of other werewolves in his pack at a really small place. Liam is good, but he's also in circles with a bunch of other vampires that probably won't be so cool around Tristo. I just don't want him to get turned or… or eaten… or anything."
Valerie listens to the two, also taking a gander at Tristo across the way. She chimes in with a small purr.
"I mean I'm sure Dad won't mind taking him in Vera. We've got the room. Have a heart sis…"
"I have several Valerie."
"You know that's not what I mean."
"Urghhh… fine. But tell me Zoe, why not just let him join you in your void if you care so much. You've got plenty of room there."
Zoe thinks for a moment, placing her tentacle under her chin once more.
Why don't I just bring him to my void? It's cozy, and I can even make rooms there now. Does he just make me nervous, or am I afraid he'll freak out? I don't want him to be scared of me.
I don't want him to be scared of me.
Zoe shakes her head.
"I just think my void might freak him out y'know?"
"Sure. Fine, we'll take the poor human in." Vera said, mocking concern.
"OMG thank you so much Vera, I owe you one. And coming from an eldritch entity, that'll probably mean a lot someday." Zoe said, clasping her hand around her tentacle in glee.
"But I cannot promise I won't steal any of his hair follicles to see if he can be cloned."
"I gotcha- wait what?"
But before Zoe could respond, Vera was already bounding over to the boy's table. Valerie shrugged her shoulders before returning back to her shop table here in the cafeteria. Zoe watched anxiously, unsure if she made things better for Tristo or worse. Only time would tell.
Meanwhile at the boys table…
"Bro, if you think about it… you being the only human at Spooky Academy kind of makes you your own monster to us!" Scott says through a full mouth of mystery meatloaf.
"Scott… that comforts me less than you think." Tristo says putting on a brave face as he nibbles on his meal. Tristo turns his focus back to Liam, who is not eating, but taking pictures of his food.
"To answer your question Liam, Tristo is my real name. I'm a full human from Texas, do you have a Texas in this world?"
"No… but you do sound like you're from… well whatever Noodles calls his country." Liam says with little fading 's hairs stand on end as Liam mentions the name. He of course knows Noodles and knows he doesn't want to get wrapped up in any of the shenanigans that little jellyfish finds himself a part of.
"In any case, I don't really have anything to make you believe me. Though I have felt very strange since I arrived here."
"Tristo, you're a Spooky Academy student, and that makes you a monster. You should try out for some of the team sports so we can hang out more." Scott said, slamming his hands onto the table in excitement.
"Maybe I will Scott, I've never been a real sporty guy though."
Scott goes to say something else but stops as he excitedly sees Vera approaching. His tail wags and he hops up from the table to wave to her. Vera rolls her eyes but uses her hand to cover a slight smile at Scott.
"Hey Vera! I've gotta to tell you about the walk I had yesterday!"
"Maybe in a little while Scott. I have important business to attend to first. With our brand new "human" exchange student." Vera said, doing the air quotes with her fingers. The snakes on her head coiled around in interest, and Tristo sat staring just past her head. The fear of petrification is a strong one after all.
"What is it V-Vera?"
So my name has gotten around to you then."
Fuck! I need to remember not to tip off that I actually know everyone in this game. In this school I guess I should say now.
"Yeah, I think Scott was telling me about you earlier."
C'mon Scott please have my back here.
"Oh yeah I talk about how nice you are all the time Vera." Scott said with a large beaming smile. Vera rests her head in her palm.
Thank God.
"Scott what did I say about telling others about me?" Vera growled, her snakey hair whipping around to glare at him.
"To always make sure you look good and profitable. And I think nice is good!"
"Ok well we will have a much more in-depth discussion about this later."
"But back to the topic at hand. Tristo, you are in need of living arrangements, yes?"
"Well, I suppose so, but I don't have anything to pay you with Vera, if you're trying to lease something out to me."
"Oh but Tristo this is simply out of the kindness of my heart."
Ok she's definitely got an angle here. But honestly… staying with her might be better than most of the other monsters here. Whatever the consequences, I should accept.
"Alright Vera." Tristo said, with a gulp as he worried what she may have planned. Vera reaches into her bag, and pulls out some papers and a pen.
"You will have to sign this contract of course."
"How did you have that ready… you know what okay I'll sign."
"Fantastic, and just know the Oberlin's are not responsible for any loss of blood, limbs, hair, or life." Vera said, almost robotically as she spun on her heels and exited the cafeteria.
Oh god I should have read the… oh well.
Scott takes off after Vera and starts to inform her of his walk the day before. As Tristo turns to say something else to Liam, Tristo realizes he's already departed as well. As the last bell chimes, Tristo knows he needs to go back to Ms. Feratu's classroom for after school detention. As he arrives, he catches a glimpse of Zoe's tentacle trailing behind her as she enters the classroom. He runs his hand through his hair nervously, and takes a breath before making his way to the door.