The Most Interesting Lunch of the Year

[Elizabeth Coons]

Sept. 1, Week one

Elizabeth walked into the lunch room, alone. Unfortunately Elizabeth’s last class before lunch didn’t include Nix, so she had to walk herself to the lunch room. Following the crowd to the lunchroom wasn’t hard, so the trip there wasn’t eventful. Except for the whispering, and over-exuberant greetings from people who didn’t get a chance to say hi before class started. Fortunately, greetings were the only things people said to her on the way there. She didn’t want to get into a conversation with someone just to have to break it as soon as she got her food and spotted Nix… or Vara. Elizabeth’s brow wrinkled anxiously as she wondered what would happen when a werewolf and a vampire were in the same room, wanting to sit with the same person. A pack of lions ripping prey in half flashed through her mind. Hopefully they wouldn’t fight over her. Elizabeth shuddered.

Quick, brown eyes scanned the cafeteria for her two mismatched friends. Elizabeth sighed audibly in relief, causing a few of the people standing close to her glance over at her. She ignored them though. The line to the food went slowly, too slowly for Elizabeth. She wanted to quickly grab a seat before her friends showed up so she wouldn’t have to choose who to sit with. Finally she reached the food, grabbing a small portion of everything. Elizabeth stopped, scanning the room for the most private table. Spotting an empty one in a corner, Elizabeth bolted over to sit. This brought some more stares her direction, and she ignored them again. Sighing again when she made it to her seat, Elizabeth started on her food.

[Vara Saraphine Grimmark]

Studying Elizabeth from a far was like watching a spastic caterpillar weave her cocoon. Why do humans have to be so slow? the question drifted off in her mind. Vara was slouched against the west wall of the cafeteria by the door waiting. Impatiently her foot started tapping. Still human, at least during the day. A minute more and then a slow agile push off the wall sent her into a confident relaxing stroll through the cafeteria. Elizabeth had searched for a table, searched for her friend, and gotten her food just as Vara sat down at the table farthest from humanity. Awesome choice Elizabeth! Sarcastically she applauded her friend in her head. Great way to invite attention. Hope she's expecting it.

It wasn't as if she wanted to sit by all the other humans but she definitely didn't want to stick out like a sore thumb. Then again..it was kind of already too late for that.
Ah testosterone...what an inviting smell. Vara rolled her eyes. A tall lanky boy walking across the room and made a foolish mistake. He waved. She just couldn't help it. Grining widely Vara gave him the most charming smile she had. It was a bit fierce...sure it needed a bit of work..but she received the reaction she was hoping for.
He jumped a little. Just barely but enough for her to notice. That made her day even though his discomfort or even fear was well hidden. He knew that she knew that was all that mattered.


A quarter after twelve and the lunch room was already buzzing with activity. No immortals in sight...so far. Sluggishly, or so it seemed to her, Vara leaned to her left to rest a icy chin on Elizabeth's nearly bare shoulder. "Is it good?"

[Elizabeth Coons]

Most people would have gasped. Or jumped. Or freaked out in some other way. However, Elizabeth was so used to the sudden and unexpected presence that you didn't seem to notice before until it was beside you, the icy touch, and it was no surprise to her. She didn't shrink away, like most people would have. And Vara had heard enough "Oh I didn't see you there..."s. Instead a small grin broke out on her face. Gotta love being original. Elizabeth though, a sarcastic note to her thoughts. The same sarcastic note was in her smile. Elizabeth rolled her eyes at her vampire bff.

"Ya know, Vara, you really shouldn't torture them like that. It's not their fault your insanely, and dazzlingly beautiful." Elizabeth sighed, unsmiling, her tone like a patient parent. She sat unmoving as she spoke, not turning her head towards Vara. They would collide heads if she did anyways. It didn't take long though for Elizabeth to get bored with the seriousness. The small grin popped back in place after she had her 'moment'.

"And it's not bad, considering... be glad you don't have to eat the stuff to keep from passing out from starvation." Elizabeth chuckled, looking upwards, squinting her eyes like she was confused and thinking deeply.

"Like that's totally possible... me passing out from hunger... yeah..." Elizabeth trailed off, eyes shifting downward to her half empty plate. Suddenly she burst out laughing. A beaming grin spread across her face as her laughs subsided. Elizabeth sighed deeply, and turned her attention back to the food. Eating a bite of everything, then starting the cycle over again.

[Phoenix]

Nix was sitting with the people he last with last year and the years before that. All the other misfits and people that other groups would let them join. In a way they were their own group. They would occasionally share a laugh or two but mainly kept to themselves. But this year would be different; this year he would sit with Elizabeth where-ever she decided to sit. He could tell that Vara had entered the room not only by the smell of vampire but by the reaction from the other males from their gasps and dumbfounded looks of astonishment at her beautiful seeming self. He watched her as well but not because he found her as pretty or anything but because she was a threat and wanted to make sure he knew where his enemies were. Now he saw Elizabeth walk into the cafeteria, rummage upon which foods to gorge into only to be second guessing herself when she started eating. Then almost predictable, she darted off to the most empty most abandoned table in the lunch room way off in the corner where there was little civilization but dust bunnies. Then he watched Vara stand up from her post and almost seemed to float in her walk over toward Elizabeth's seat chuckling in his head when a boy waved at her and his reaction. He'll learn, maybe. He shoveled the rest of his food in his mouth and dumped his tray and nonchalantly walked over to E's and Vara's table and took a seat opposite of Vara. He wasn't worried of people giving odd glances at him because they usually didn't notice him. "Hello again E. Hello Vara." He couldn't help saying hi to E cheerfully and hello to Vara with some slight hostility, it was just in his nature. "How are your days goin?" It was hard to start a conversation with a mortal friend while your immortal enemy was sitting at the same table was also friends with your mortal friend. Small talk wasn't a way to make the day go faster either unfortunately. As Nix was sitting there waiting for their replies he was managing to keep a cool head and act as if all three of them were normal teenagers whom weren't capable of mass murder of everybody in the room in under five minutes.

[Elizabeth Coons]

Elizabeth was slightly startled when Nix sat down at their table, across from Vara. Naturally.

"Hey, Nix. Elizabeth breathed, speaking to soon after losing her breath from surprise. She cleared her throat. A slightly hesitant smile turning up the left corner of her mouth.

"Been pretty good so far. You know... considering the circumstances of why I'm here..." She started out cheerful, but slowly pensive wrinkles popped up above and between her eye brows. It was amazing how circumstances could affect... well anything. Elizabeth silently, and almost unconciously decided, almost swore, that every visit up to her old North Carolina home would be a happy one, no matter what.
No matter what.
Yes, circumstances had so much power. But not quite enough to make Elizabeth break her promise to herself. It took her a few moments to realize she had slipped into a brooding state. She recovered quickly, the hesitant smile again on her face, but it wasn't forced like it should be. It wasn't fair to her friends if she ruined the trip by sulking. She had good motivation to have a real smile today.

Suddenly, something struck Elizabeth. She had a vampire, and a werewolf, mortal enemies, sitting at a table with her. Elizabeth blinked in surprise as the realization hit her. Only now did she notice the tense air between the different sides of the table. Elizabeth cast wary, almost suspicious glances back and forth between her two friends.

"Um.... You guys aren't going... to attack eachother or anything are you?" Elizabeth said, pausing.

"Cause that wouldn't be cool. But at least tell me to duck or something if you do decide to rip eachothers throats out..." Elizabeth said, her voice unusually casual for the topic. Elizabeth had spent so much time with the the world of the supernatural that she was rarely truly surprised by anything. Just one more addition to her freaky and disfunctional family. [/font]

[Vara Saraphine Grimmark]

It was getting easier to ignore the scent of wet dog in the air. It was getting much harder to ignore his arrogance. Chill, Vara, chill. kind of a joke with herself. There's no need to make a scene. Besides, he's Elizabeth's friend too. That simple reminder put her at ease.

A sober nod was the only physical acknowledgment she gave to the wolf. Well at least he's gotten past calling me a blood sucker. Her attention jumped to Elizabeth. Elizabeth's feelings nearly spilled out on the table. A tight comforting squeeze on the shoulder was all Vara could offer her friend at that moment. She hated to see her best friend like this. Vara knew of the pain Elizabeth was going through. It tore her up inside to remember her own parents.

Elizabeth had never been quite the same since her parents' deaths. It was much easier for her friend to bottle her emotions up instead of sharing them or letting them out. In Vara's opinion that was extremely unhealthy though she wasn't going to push the subject.

She lifted her head up to get a better look at Elizabeth's plate. Although she had nearly finished the meager meal Vara couldn't help but snatch a bite of it herself. They both did this to each other quite often. It almost became a game. The difference? Vara was faster a lot faster. It was an unfair advantage, sure, but she knew just how viscous Elizabeth could be about her food. Pizza was on the menu today. Not necessarily the most delectable or filling choice of food but it was satisfying to her stomach. The last meal she had had been a month ago.

The tiniest grin shaped the frame of her lips at Elizabeth's last question.
"Oh I think he's pretty safe right now." a pause. She almost made another comment but held her tongue. It was best to keep from adding tension to the air. Though Vara wasn't feeling hostile in the slightest.

[/color]

[Phoenix]

Nix never did do too good with the sentimental, mourning kind of feeling. So he allowed Vara to do whatever comforting he was sure she had done many times by now. For today's lunch, it was pizza, definitely one of the better lunches the school bothered to spend money on. The school's lunches were usually well below par and rarely ever was enough to satisfy the average teenager's stomach. Especially a werewolf teenager. He didn't think too much of Vara snatching a portion of E's food and decided not to say anything about the inconsideration.
It was clear that Elizabeth was aware of the tension and the rivalry between the two immortals at her table. "Don't worry about it. I wouldn't want you to have to loose the one person I'm sure has been with you every possible moment since your parents' death. There's no reason to fight anyway, at least, not yet. Perhaps never?" said Nix in a cool, calm, voice with a friendly sort of chuckle. He had no intention of hurting Vara and tried not to sound hostile, hoping that Vara would be able to sense that as well as the absence of the necessity for a fight between the two. There was no reason as to why they wouldn't all be able to get along. For being one who usually inhaled his food, he found himself taking a little bit more time with the meal. "What classes do you have later? Maybe we have one together." The question was more directed to E but wouldn't be entirely oblivious to the vamp if she answered.

[Elizabeth Coons]

Elizabeth smiled at the small squeeze from Vara. She really regretted letting her emotions get to the surface. Oh well, Vara wouldn't think less of her for it. Elizabeth didn't like to think about how easily her emotions can get out of her control. So she wouldn't, not now. Elizabeth was officially determined not to ruin the day for her friends.

Quick as a flash, Vara snatched a bite of pizza right underneath Elizabeth's nose. Elizabeth went stiff, and slowly turned her head toward Vara. Having a full out food stealing war passed through Elizabeth's mind. However, fighting with a vampire, in public, wasn't usually such a good idea. So, she passed on that, but shot Vara a half-hearted glare all the same. I'll be baaaaack.

A broad smile spread across Elizabeth's face. Good. It seemed, even though they are mortal enemies, her two friends would get along. For now. This was good. Elizabeth was expecting the confrontation to be much more explosive or at least tense. They were both trying hard to both be her friend. Vara's answer was more on the cryptic side, but Elizabeth saw no harm in her friend's words. Sure, they might get in a scuffle sometime... but only under extreme circumstances. Of course, Vara had a slightly different view of extreme from Elizabeth. Hopefully nothing extreme would happen any time soon.

Satisfied with both of her friends' answers, Elizabeth turned her attention to Nix. Elizabeth quickly racked her brain for her next classes, eyes unconsciously looking upward.

"Um... Some math class... English... aaanndd Physical Science... Totally looking forward to that one. You?" Elizabeth rattled off, with some difficulty.[/font]

[Vara Saraphine Grimmark]

Vara’s desire to stay on topic was escaping her. She grew rather tiresome of small talk. One day she did believe that her impatience would be the end of her but for now she ignored it.

“Must we chat about classes and class times?” she propped her head up with her hands by resting her elbows firmly on the lunch table beneath them, a posture often taken when conversation became a little too normal for Vara to handle. Human interests were not her own any longer. As sad as it was it is something that she had to learn to accept. She was no longer mortal. Mortal rules and laws didn’t apply to her anymore and it went without saying that human curiosities didn’t either. Knowing that the immortal world became a bit over whelming for Elizabeth sometimes Vara decided against pressing either Phoenix or her best friend to change the direction of the conversation. It would be best to stay on a safe, comfortable topic for once than to consume today with the supernatural concerns of tomorrow.

So Vara waved her hand airily at the two and murmured “Oh never mind.”

The lunch room was buzzing and who was she to break up a conversation between two recently reunited ‘besties’? There is plenty of entertainment for me here, she made an attempt at convincing herself. Over the years of studying human behavior there wasn’t one human, other than Elizabeth, that ever really surprised her anymore. Elizabeth was simply an anomaly.

Her eyes drifted away from her present realm and focused more on the world around her. In a way she gave her best friend and Nix a little privacy although she could hear them their conversation wasn’t as prevalent in her mind now. Vara’s hearing perked up as she overheard a conversation being passed around a table some feet away. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes continuously at the ridiculous accusations made about an unfortunate girl’s ensemble. It was obvious that this particular teenager was the human to be verbally slaughtered and/or sacrificed at this particular table this afternoon. It was unnecessary for Vara to listen further, she had heard enough and she didn’t enjoy listening to people pick apart their own kind with their words.

Saving herself from further disgust, Vara decided to just simply watch the crowd. That was, decidedly, much safer than pursuing the action of eaves dropping on those unsuspecting teens. As she gradually turned her attention to scanning the room Vara noticed something in her peripheral vision, a figure making her way to the loneliest spot in the lunch room, their table.

[Phoenix]

Phoenix listened as Elizabeth ran off her list of afternoon classes, slightly disappointed that English was the only other class that he would cross paths with her again. He also noticed that Vara seemed to no longer be listening after asking if they must make small talk. Nix didn't blame her, he himself didn't really ever care for it mainly because it usually had or ended with too many awkward silences and didn't last long. But he being the anti-social type he usually was around everybody else wasn't sure what to say or how to steer the conversation to something more talkative. "Bummer, the only other class I have with you is English..." His voice sort of trailed off as he overheard ignorant classmates of his make some vulgar comments about some girl. That and the fact that someone unwelcomed appeared to making their way to the table they were currently occupying. He glanced at Vara to see if she also noticed and heard what he heard and saw, but then turned his attention back to Elizabeth hoping she would find something more interesting to talk about.

[Elizabeth Coons]

Elizabeth turned to face Vara when she spoke. Her friend looked bored out of her mind. The corners of Elizabeth’s lips turned down a fraction of an inch. Elizabeth scrambled her brain for a topic that would interest the vampire. She knew Vara wasn’t one for small talk, and Elizabeth didn’t like to put her friend through that. None came at the moment though. Elizabeth’s mind was buzzing with thoughts about her new classes, her new teachers, all the new students around her. She was feeling very distracted at the moment.

She was just about to open her mouth to ask Vara what she would like to talk about instead, but her friend seemed to have changed her mind, waving off the words she just spoke with a delicate-looking hand. Elizabeth’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion. But Nix spoke right after that, drawing her attention away from the bored vampire.

”Uhh. Oh. Dang. Ahh well, I think you’ll survive without me.” Elizabeth chuckled, a sarcastic grin on her face. Elizabeth didn’t doubt her ability to take care of herself, so she knew the reverse was true also. Still, it was always nice to have a familiar face in an unfamiliar school. High schools could be ridiculously brutal. Ahh well, Elizabeth though to herself with an internal shrug. Elizabeth’s gaze slid over to Vara again, and the vampire had a distant look on her face, then it suddenly snapped off. Elizabeth glanced to Nix, and he had the same expression. They were both listening to something. Elizabeth knew Vara well enough now to tell when Vara was listening to something beyond her own realm of hearing. Elizabeth learned a lot of new skills from Vara.

”Dangit. I hate how weak human ears are.” Elizabeth said huffily. At the edge of her vision Elizabeth noticed a figure that seemed to be making their way over. She ignored it though, if the figure was brave enough to come over here, to greet the new kids or something, then Elizabeth would give attention to them.

[Uyreu Clarke]

Uyreu Clarke stepped lightly into the school lunchroom, trailing behind her other classmates and they enthusiastically lined up at the "buffet". Trying not to make eye contact with anyone, should they invite her to sit with them, she quickly scooped her lunch out of the trays, and gazed around for a unoccupied table. Wait. There, three people were sitting at a table by themselves. Well, I suppose it's better than sitting by myself... As Uyreu began walking toward them, their individual scents floated toward her. Hmm. Human, and Werewolf? And what is THAT? It was a foul smell, one new to her. Could it be a vampire? She had never met one before, and wouldn't recognize their scent. She was at their table, tray held at her waist line. "Hey," She began, announcing herself, "Do you guys mind if I sit here?"

[Vara Saraphine Grimmark]

A grimace replaced the complacent expression the vampire had worn only a second earlier. A muted hiss escaped her lips as her vision captured a highly irritating site and fed the image to her brain. A werewolf was about to waltz straight up to their table unannounced. What is this all about?
Elizabeth was as safe as she could be, snugly fit between two highly dangerous immortal. For once she was happy to have the loyal pup, Phoenix around.. for the time being. The wolf girl would have a hard time getting to the tantalizing snack that Elizabeth would make had she been looking for a meal outside of the lunchroom's grime. Vara could only imagine the taunt that all of these students might be for the younger less experienced immortals in this town. School was definitely a perfect location for a human feast. What a slaughter house this would be without Twilight.

A single white fang peeked out from beneath the right side of her upper lip. Her posture was assured, even lazy but her expression showed an entirely different animal beneath her boredsome school girl facade. Eyes glaring and teeth barred she asked ever so politely, "Who might you be?". Her too sweet tone ringed lightly in her ears.

[Phoenix]

Nix finished his lunch, sat back and relaxed a bit now time to let his stomach and intestines do the rest of the work. It was short lived though as it appeared a young girl was making her way over to their semi-secluded corner table inhabited by the only three people that desired to sit there. As for being the first day it would have been nice for it to remain just them three but the girls path was persistent and ended with her by the table having asked if she could join. Phoenix was a bit surprised and impressed with her boldness. He took note of the werewolf scent on her walk to them and found it appealing, at least to him but likely not the vampire. Which added to the equation many more questions. How old was she really? What were her intentions? Could she tell what Vara was? And the most important: how dangerous is she and can she control her diet? As of right now nobody was really in danger, he and Vara were more than likely capable of incapacitating the female werewolf if she got out of hand. Nix noticed the way she was dressed and how it flowed the other way than most people in the school. Vara having asked a very appropriate question herself, he decided he would wait for the girls reply before granting her his permission to pop a squat.

[Elizabeth Coons]

Elizabeth just caught the faint hiss, and looked Vara’s way. She looked at the vampire with concern, eye brows knitting together slightly. Following Vara’s line of vision, Elizabeth spotted the girl. She was young, younger than them. She looked harmless enough. She was friendly. Elizabeth knew Vara wasn’t a very sociable vampire, but there must be a good reason for that reaction. The girl must be a werewolf. The new girl then asked if she could join them. While Vara had a dangerous expression on her face, Elizabeth had one of curiosity. When Vara spoke, Elizabeth shot her a look. When Elizabeth looked back at the girl, she gave a friendly smile.

”Yeah sure, make yourself at home. What’s your name?” Elizabeth asked, motioning to a chair at the table. Elizabeth was confident that the werewolf wouldn’t try anything, even if she was young. Suddenly remembering that she was supposed to be using this time to eat, Elizabeth bent her head down, scooping up a sporkful of a creamy mush she assumed were mashed potatoes. They didn’t taste too bad though. Had enough butter. Elizabeth swallowed it, took a sip of milk, and looked back at the girl.

”I’m Elizabeth by the way, this is Vara, and this is Phoenix but we call him Nix.” Elizabeth said, pointing to each in turn as she called their names.