Chrissy POV

I pull my beanie down to shade my eyes from the glaring sun as I wait in line to get into the cafeteria. 

And I'm now regretting that fact that I chose not to join the mad dash to get here.

I shuffle forward with the slowly creeping line, half trying to get under the shade of the door awning and half trying to put distance between me and the person invading my personal space.

As I take another step forward, he gives my shoe another flat tire.

"Can you please back up? Running over me isn't gonna make you get inside any faster."

He takes a step back, "Sorry."

"Grazie (Thank you)." I say, narrowing my eyes before turning back around.

Glad to be out of the burning heat, I swiftly grab a white and blue plate before taking a glance at the list of who I'll be sitting with.

Table 16

Avamia, Christena, Grace, Jazara

As I take another step forward, I peer around the cafeteria in an effort to locate table 16.  I don't want to wander around with a plate full of food.

The smell of pasta instantly distracts me from my search, pulling my attention toward the front of the line.  The buffet is only twenty feet away and my stomach growls, reminding me how hungry I really am.

Soon enough, I'm at the end of the buffet and the feeling is anticlimactic. I spent over thirty minutes waiting to get food that took only ten minutes to slop on my plate.  I will never be near the end of the line again.

I trudge over to table 16. The large wooden-topped table is next to a large window without a shade, but with that tinted film that is supposed to dim the light.  Alone, I sit down in the acrylic covered metal chair with my back to the sun.  The blue chair squeaks as I lean back, looking out across the hoards of teenagers stuffing their faces with food.

"Hola, I'm Avamia." a girl with long brown braided hair says as she sits down.

I feel like I recognize her, and take a moment to observe the girl across from me.  I soon realize that she was the girl that I saw when I first got on the bus.

She smiles awkwardly, making me realize that I've been staring at her without having said anything.

"Oh sorry, I'm Christena, but you can call me Chrissy." I start, sitting up in my chair.

"That's a nice name." another girl says as she drags out a chair, "I'm Grace, and you cannot call me Gracey, Amazing Grace, Graces, Graceling, or Gracelyn."

Avamia looks up from her plate, "Why not?"

"Those are all nicknames that I absolutely despise." she responds before taking a spoonful of pasta.

Our table quickly falls into silence as we start eating our pasta.  I can't help but notice the details in the design of the plates, the forks, and the glasses full of water.  I look up and notice how Grace seems to shrink as she eats while Avamia chews like she is trying to squeeze out every flavor possible. Avamia looks up and I glance away quickly, hoping that she didn't catch me staring again.

I hate eating when you meet new people, it makes you hypersensitive.

The silence is broken once again when the last chair screeches across the floor.

"My gosh that line was long!" the girl exclaims, plopping down into her seat.

She looks around at each of us, flashing a bright, easy-going smile, "Bonjour, I'm Jazara."

I'm the first to break from the shock of her sudden appearance.

"I'm Chrissy."

"Grace."

"Avamia."

"Nice to meet y'all." Jazara says before taking a bite of her pasta, "Isn't this pasta so good?! I mean, I'm sure just about anything would taste great after surviving that endless bus ride, but I didn't expect the food to be this delicious."

I silently nod, unable to ascertain where her seemingly limitless energy came from.

We continue to sit in an awkward silence, eating our food with occasional glances to the others around us.  I push the last pieces of pasta around on my plate when I am hit with the sudden realization that I will be living with these three other girls for the next few months.

I sense a question coming on as I watch Avamia nervously set down her fork, "So, um, what's you favorite subject in school?"

I lean back, rolling my eyes, "I'd really prefer not to talk about school now - I mean, it is summer at the moment - but if you must know, it is either anything art related or English."

Grace taps her fingers on the table top, taking a moment to think.

"Definitely music" she says, stilling her hands, "Followed by PE and History."

"I really like drama, Math, and Science - along with all the others you guys mentioned." Jazara replies, cracking another of her show-stealing smiles.

Avamia remains silent with a quiet, calculating look on her face.

"What about you?" I ask, directing the attention back to the brown-haired girl.

"Um, I guess I'll just keep it simple and say art - since you guys kinda took all the subjects already." she answers, smiling to herself.

"Anyone have any siblings?" asks Grace, "I have an older brother."

I suck in a breath before quickly trying to hide my discomfort - I don't need to think of him right now.

"I have a younger brother" Avamia replies.

Jazara looks up, "I have younger siblings too."

Silence falls over the table once again before Grace turns to face me.

"What about you Chrissy?"

I try to swallow the lump building in my throat that is pushing tears into my eyes.  I don't want to cry right now, not just because I'd be embarrassed, but also because I don't feel like messing up my makeup right now.

"Um... he - he" I started.

Jazara's eyes soften, "It's okay."

"Um, no... it's just - I had an older brother. He died." I rushed, forcing the words out of my mouth.

Everyone's faces cloud over, looking down at the decorative empty plates.  I sigh, leaning back in my chair to look up at the ceiling. I didn't want to make everyone sad - it's not their fault that I can't even think about my brother without crying.  It's not like he died last week.

After I'm sure I can speak without my voice cracking, I make an effort to smile at the other girls.

"But, that's not what we're here for. Any happier topics?"

"Um, how about favorite ice cream?" Jazara suggests, "I love most things chocolate."

"I have to go with Chocolate Chip Mint." Grace says, twirling her fork between her fingers.

Jazara scrunches her face before pulling a smile, "I can't do the mint part though." 

"Me neither" Avamia smiles, "I like Butter Pecan."

"I'll always go with Coffee, nothing too fancy." I say.

The clouds that were the thoughts of my brother begin to part as we continue to chat with basic ice breaker questions.  When we get up from our table to clear our plates before heading to our dorm, I am hit with a pinch of excitement as I step out into the bright, setting sun.

This summer is gonna turn out okay after all.

💠

Hey guys!  My writing is a little rough, but I hope you liked this chapter.

I'm so sorry for the lack of updates for this story - so kudos to you if you are still reading this. If there is anything you want to see happen, let me know.

The next chapter will be form one of the boy's POV - woooo!

Happy 2k17!!!!

And Happy Black History Month! <3