LUNCH WITH THE GIRLS

I'm learning new things about myself everyday.

Not that I could possibly be stressed or anything, but if there was anything that stressed me out (and there wasn't), it wouldn't be exams and tests. It would be lunching with human girls.

Even as I followed Jasmin towards the cafeteria, even as we wind through the crowded hallway, even as we entered the fast filling cafeteria, I found myself feeling a growing need to panic.

I don't like crowds, I don't like human crowds even more, I really don't like human crowds in enclosed spaces, I really, really don't like human crowds in enclosed spaces that would require forced social interaction.

I hate the idea of having an entire table of girls hate me by the end of lunch as much as I detest the idea of having to please an entire table of girls over lunch.

For the record, neither had happened before, but that didn't mean it wouldn't. I'm well aware that I don't have the most likeable personality.

So I did what any alpha would do, I sucked it up and acted like I couldn't care less.

We stepped through the sliding doors of the cafeteria. I smelled foods and other less pleasant odours but I chose to focus on the food.

"You can take a seat over there," Jasmine pointed to a long bench along the row of large windows, "I'm going to buy my food."

I already had my packed lunch bag in hand, but I shrugged, "I'll come with you. I want to see what they sell anyway."

Jasmine nodded and we both joined the line. The line went by pretty quick, and the food selection wasn't too bad. I could actually recognize what they were. Can you blame me for really not expecting much?

I was quite happy to see fruit cups at the end of the counter, and picked it up on a whim. Jasmine and I paid, then I let Jasmin lead us to the bench.

Abigail and her girls were already there. How did they get there before us?

"Hi!" Jasmine said.

"Hihi!" Abigail answered cheerily.

The other girls waved and said their Hi's too. Hihihi all around.

"Come on Sam, let's sit here." Jasmine was pretty natural with this.

One of the girls spied my lunch bag and asked, "What do you have for lunch?"

I pulled out some egg sandwiches wrapped in plastic. I'm kind of glad my mum made my lunch today. She packed it prettily, with tomato slices inside.

If it were left to me, lunch would have been peanut butter sandwiches and an apple.

"That looks good." One of the girls said.

Does anyone know how I should respond to this? Why were they all looking at my sandwich? Did they want a bite? Oh goddess, no! It's my sandwich!

I was about to growl at them. But the girls got distracted by newcomers and I managed to start stuffing the sandwich in my mouth. Mine! OMG. The sandwich is delicious. Happy.

Meanwhile, the new arrivals finished exchanging Hi's with everyone and were finally sitting down. Arlene and Elena sat across from me and Jasmine. And two other girls whom I recognized as "those two" joined us too. None of them have food. (But I'm not sharing.)

I ate another sandwich, quickly, before anyone noticed that I had more than one of these babies. (Actually, I had four of these perfect triangles in my paper bag. Mine. All mine.)

"Eh, it's rare to see you at lunch, Samantha right?" One of those two girls said.

Everyone looked at me. I swallowed my sandwich and nodded, "Yeah."

Should I eat the third sandwich? It's still safe in the bag. Mine. I waited for the attention to shift away so I could take it out.

Jasmine decided she should help me at this point, "Yeah," she repeated, "I asked her to join us."

"Oh," Abigail said, "That's cool."

"Yeah." The other girls agree, chiming in their welcome.

I nodded, beginning to understand that they might not be interested in my sandwiches anymore. So I take out the third one. Yum! It's good too.

"Are you still dating the second year guy?" This question was directed to Arleen.

Arleen nodded, "Yeah, for now I guess."

"How did you start dating him?" Another question... I didn't notice who was talking anymore. I'll just call all of them "Random Girl" because I was busy eating. Jasmine was eating too. Werewolves needed to eat at lunchtime.

"He asked me out, so I just said yes." Arleen answered.

"What if Liam asks you out?" Random girl asked.

Jasmin and I stopped eating at the same time. I stopped to open my cup of fruit. I'm not sure why Jasmine stopped. I looked at her wondering if she had sensed danger. Then I quickly scanned around us. Nothing.

Arleen shrugged gently, "I don't mind."

"Oh my God! How would you choose?" Random girl exclaimed.

"Of course she should choose Liam!" Random Girl insisted... She gave some good reason about how Liam was in the same class so they could see each other everyday, more popular overall, and... Well, it was very well thought out and persuasive, but I was busy eating the fruit.

Since Liam was mentioned, the topic moved on to his new hair colour and it was unanimous that it was a good change, although there were differing opinions on whether his new hair colour made him look sweeter or cooler.

I didn't say anything. It's not like I could tell them he had his first shift. I finished the fruit.

More conversations that I didn't follow about people I barely recognized around the school. Upperclassmen and such.

I didn't even know the names of everyone in my homeroom, so most of it flew over my head. I want to drink coke. But I can't go, because everyone is still eating so slowly, and I don't feel like needing to explain that I drink coke every lunch.

It's none of their business, but I didn't think these girls refrained from other people's businesses. Not with the way they kept asking Arleen questions.

Q: Why was she wearing gym clothes?

A: Someone vomitted on her in the bus on her way to school.

Q: How did she make her eyes look so shiny?

A: She keeps them moisturize with a bottle of eyedrops.

Q: Why wasn't she with her boyfriend?

A: He had something to do first.

Q: Had Liam made any moves on her yet?

A: (Laughs) What did they mean by that?

Now that I'm sitting just across the table from her, I noticed the dark purple rings under Arlene's otherwise sparkling eyes. But it's none of my business.

I think the only people uninterested in Arleen's business was myself and those two girls. Those two girls were hugging each other and tickling and laughing. I kept my eyes trained out of the window in front of me. I admit part of me was silently hoping Maria would come and call me away.

This surprised me, because I've always treated our daily walk past Dino's class to be an annoying waste of my time. Well, at least it was never boring.

I sighed a very low and slow one so the other girls didn't notice. It didn't escape Jasmine though, not that she looked happy either. Actually she looked like something she ate didn't agree with her.

I sensed a vampire, and sat straighter... Oh, it was just Aladdin. He stood at the entrance to the cafeteria, but didn't make a move to come in. The cafeteria was a very vampire free zone? Was it the smell of fried garlic in the air? Hahahaha

"My boyfriend is here, I got to go." Arlene excused herself.

"Nice chatting with you!" Abigail called to her.

Arlene left, with Elene quickly scrambling up to tail her.

"Why does that girl keep tagging along behind Arlene like that?" Random Girl remarked.

"Yeah, she's being such a third wheel." Random Girl agreed.

"I don't know why Arleen lets her." Random Girl shook her head in disapproval.

I frowned. It seemed the humans also found the way Elena followed Arlene around strange too. But did you know what was really strange?

How did Arlene know that Aladdin was here? He had only stood at the cafeteria door way over the other side, and her back was to him. Am I the only one who found that suspicious?

Those two girls untangled themselves from each other.

"We're heading back to class first." One of them said, she grabbed the other girl's hand and all but dragged her away, "Bye bye!"

Abigail and the girls laughed and waved them off. Jasmine made no move to leave and I am forced to sit there and listen to their chatter for the rest of the hour.

When we finally stood up to clear our trays, Abigail said to me, "It's nice you could join us, Sam. Feel free to sit with us anytime."

I don't want to.

Jasmine answered for me, "Sure Abigail!"

She gave Abigail a bright smile, while never leaving my side.

Jasmine was a such a naturally friendly person, I could see how it's not just us wolves, but the other human girls too, their expressions would soften, they would lean in closer... It's easy to let down your guard when you're with her.

We started towards the classroom together, but then all of them had to stop at the washroom downstairs (since the one on our floor was still under renovation.)

By now, I had completely run out of patience, so I left Jasmine with them and headed back to class on my own.

On my way back, I remembered seeing vending machines near the picnic bench by the woods the other day. It was nearby and there was still time, so I took a different turn and headed over to check it out.

There was a small clearing on the side where the guys were playing football. I realised this must be the "usual place" they tell each other to meet before school/at lunch/after school.

I saw Henry and Marcus finishing their lunch at the picnic bench, but I ignored them to peruse the vending machines.

There were four! Two for drinks, I put my money in and bought a can of coke. One for snacks, although they were mostly sold out. And one for hot sandwiches. Jackpot!

I carefully studied the menu while I sipped coke from my can.

"Hey, Sam!" Henry shouted.

"Over here!" Marcus called.

I walked over, still drinking my coke, "Hey guys."

I don't waste any time with small talk, "Is the food from the machines any good?"

Henry shrugged. What? Alphas don't eat from vending machines?

Marcus wrinkled his nose, "They are kind of small."

"Oh." That was disappointing.

Liam sauntered over, topless. The air was still cool, but Liam's face was flushed from running with the boys. He picked up his shirt from the pile of clothes on the bench.

I angled my body to give him privacy so that I can keep drinking my coke and talking to Henry and Marcus without Liam coming into view. If you grew up in a werewolf pack, you kind of learn how to give each other space like that.

The human boys were noticing Liam's disappearance, Troy and a couple of other boys jogged over, "Hey Liam - the bell's not out yet..."

And then they saw me, "HEY! NO GIRLS ALLOWED!"

"Yeah! This is boy's turf!"

Their irate drew the attention of more of the other boys. They made their way over from the field, presumably to chase me away.

Liam stepped in front of me, now fully dressed sans his tie, his blue blazer was still lightly pressed and his back view looked casually immaculate compared to the rumpled sweaty bunch that faced us.

"Is okay." Liam told them.

"But no girls allowed!" Troy whined loudly.

I don't think anything kind about him, so I kept my thoughts to myself.

"I wouldn't say Sam is much of a girl anyway." Henry reasoned with the human, he sounded way too amused.

"Go jump in the lake, Alpha." I told him.

Henry and Marcus burst out laughing like it was funny.

I was done. I walked back to the school, crumpling my empty can by force of habit and shooting it into a passing bin. Stupid boys.

But I had a smirk on my face. That was a little bit fun.

As if to ensure my departure, one of the larger boys from my class chased up to me, then shaking and waving widely from the side, started singing "Samantha the Salamander! Samantha the Salamander!"

I continued to walk away. I didn't even turn my head. It was just not worth my attention.

Boys may be stupid and highly irritating But at least they aren't boring.