Kari: Synonyms are so weird! Like, if I invite you to my cottage in the forest, we’re going to have a great time. But if I invite you to my cabin in the woods, you’re going to die.
Jay: My favorite is “butt dial” versus “booty call.”
Terym: It’s called connotation.
Riley: Also “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,” versus, “Sorry, daddy, I’ve been naughty.”
“Hey, Robin, Noah.” Jay grinned wickedly from the end of the table and Esperánza smiled from beside him.
Noah muttered something vaguely rude under his breath, which earned him a gentle slap from Sophya.
“Sit down,” she ordered. “Breakfast.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Noah griped sarcastically.
Robin, still half asleep, pulled out a chair and slowly lowered himself into it. He likely would’ve have face-planted into the morning’s porridge if Kari hadn’t chosen that moment to make her screaming entrance.
“IT'S SATURDAY, BUTTER PECANS!” she screeched with all her might, throwing her short arms into the air victoriously. It jolted Robin awake, but unlike the messy-haired Keenan boy, Vega had experience dealing with the loose cannon of dyed hair and pastel that was Kari Avrett. She yawned as she walked past Kari to sit down next to Riley.
“Morning.”
“Ah yes, morning,” Riley replied after a moment. He had been too busy shovelling food into his mouth to reply. “‘Tis amazing.”
Kari plopped herself in the chair next to Robin.
“Good morning Robi!” she chirped happily, picking up a spoon to eat her porridge. Robin tried his best at a weak smile. She rubbed his hair playfully, making him yelp.
“Wakey-wakey!”
Noah looked at Kari curiously.
“Don’t you hate porridge?”
“I do!” she answered cheerfully, continuing to scoop porridge into her mouth.
“You know my sister,” said a voice from behind, where no one had been looking.
“Hey! Carson!” Sophya exclaimed. “What are you doing here? Last I checked, you were still three grades ahead. In case you’re blind, this is not the 12th-grade building.”
“Looking for Terym, ” Jay said, a smirk on his face. Esperánza gave him a disapproving look. Carson glared back at him.
“Anyone doing anything today?” Noah eventually interjected, not liking the tension between everyone.
Answers of “Nothing,” “Eh.” “Something, I suppose.” “Not much.” “Nothing important,” “MHPHMHPH!” and “The usual.” went around the elongated table.
“Hi guys,” Terym said, waltzing up to the table. Unlike everyone else, he actually looked like he hadn’t just thrown on clothes and walked out to breakfast. Carson grinned at him, but before they could do anything, Sophya cleared her throat.
“I don’t know if you noticed, being lost in each other’s eyes and all, but some of us, as in all, are trying to eat breakfast here.” She pointed to everyone at the table and their porridge.
“They’re right,” Terym told his boyfriend. “I gotta eat.” He gestured to the last remaining seat, next to Jay. He glared nastily at Jay as he sat down like he knew what he had said earlier.
“I guess that concludes my stay here,” Carson declared, rapping his knuckles on the end of the table to show he was leaving.
“AVRETT!” shouted a voice from the side and Carson’s eyes went wide as he slowly turned to face it.
Red faced him, blinking long fake lashes at Carson sassily. “You were supposed to help Lee 20 minutes ago. You know how I know?” he uncrossed his arms, letting the long sleeves of his crop-top of a sweater fall beyond his fingertips. “She marched up to me and screamed in my face about it!” Carson grinned sheepishly. Red reached out and grabbed him, shoving him in the direction of the door.
“Forgive me,” he told the table. “But if I have to listen to that girl whine about Carson being late because of Terym one more time-”
“Hi to you too, Red,” Terym said, deadbeat. Red gave a small smirk back.
“Ain’t your fault,” Red told him, waving him off. “It just makes him all weird and happy all the time.”
“Got used to a depressed Carson?”
“Damn straight we did. But don’t get me wrong- I’m happy he’s happy. Just ain’t used to a happy Carson.”
There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment as everyone ate.
“I’m going to go.” Red pointed outside and hurried off.
“Sorry guys, but I’m going to have to leave as well.” Esperánza got up, and smiling one last time at the group, hurried off with little clicks of her pink heels.
“Me too,” Riley said not a moment later. “I have places to be.” Everyone nodded their goodbyes, and Vega waved. He quickly wiped his mouth on a napkin, shoes screeching on the floor as he ran to the staircase, presumably to grab his things.
“That reminds me,” Vega spoke up only Riley had disappeared from sight. “I have to get somewhere.” Everyone watched as Vega set down her bowl and followed after Riley.
“Me too guys,” Robin was saying next, having managed to slowly wake up somewhere in between Carson’s arrival and Red’s departure.
“Yeah, I have to go.” Jay chimed in next, grabbing a bag he’d already brought with him and hoisting it onto his shoulders. He grinned at everyone evilly as he exited like he knew something they didn’t.
“Good enough,” Kari declared a few moments later. She didn’t say anything else, just got up and walked to the stairs.
“Looks like everyone’s got places to be, huh, Sophya?” Noah tried at a joke. Sophya nodded.
“Yep. See you later, Noah.” She got up, throwing a spiked black purse over her shoulder. Her platform boots thudded heavily with the ground as she made her exit.
“Guess I’m done too,” Noah mumbled to himself. He wiped off his hands and mouth and walked to the stairs.
Riley: Why are you, of all people, wearing sweatpants to class?
Terym: Cuz it’s pajama day.
Riley: ...really? *looks around* Hm. There are significantly more people in fuzzy onsies.
Terym: Yeah. If there’s an opportunity to just roll out of bed and not worry about getting dressed, I’m taking it.
Riley: You do realize that nothing’s stopping you from doing that every day, right?
Terym: What makes you think I’d wear pajamas to class every day? I am a fashion icon! I have to set myself out from the crowd! I have to dress flashy and beautifully every day! Are you out of your mind?
