Chereads / Lament Normality / Chapter 4 - Yogurt Boy

Chapter 4 - Yogurt Boy

Another weekend blew by, almost too quick for comfort. At least the air grew colder by the day...perhaps snow will come after all? Perhaps The Meeting will be delayed? Chris can only hope.

Another day of seemingly pointless classes, each one lasting an eternity in Chris' eyes. Math, science, even history, it's seems like a waste. She thought lunchtime would never come.

But it did, thank the heavens. As she swung open the cafeteria door, her usual lunchtime routine was halted.

It appeared that Chris' friends didn't show up today. "I guess the movie was too scary for them?" she questioned aloud, "School stuff always seems to put them on edge, especially when it's horror."

Chris walked up to the buffet-style layout the school provided. The usual foods like nachos and pizza greeted her. Without too much thought, Chris snatched the crunchiest-looking nachos and left the lunchroom.

"Have you heard the news? Another attack reported a couple blocks down."

"Why hasn't the school shut down yet, this is real scary."

As the door behind her slowly shut, a familiar aroma wafted throughout the air. Unlike last time, it didn't take long for Chris to intensify its origins.

"Seriously?" Chris practically stomped over to the boy she met Friday afternoon. He was unconscious beside the trashcan, though at least he wasn't covered in trash. "You still smell like yogurt!" She kicked his foot.

The boy sprung up in a state of shock. He looked up at Chris with tired eyes, "Jesus, you almost gave me a heart attack!" He panted, a small smile planted on his cheeks.

Chris looked around at the horde of people squeezing in and out of the cafeteria, "You gonna get something too?"

"Oh, nah. I never liked the lunches here." He shrugged, "I don't even bother going in there anymore."

Chris stopped and looked back down at the boy. "Oh yeah?" She stared at him thoughtfully.

"Mhm." It only took him a moment to notice. "What's with that look?" He asked puzzled.

"So that wasn't your food the other day?"

The boy froze for a second, "Oh, uh...about that..." He let out a small, muffled laugh.

Chris kneeled down in front of him with a cold yet sympathetic stare in her eyes. "You realize you can talk to the school staff if there's something wrong, right?"

The boy shot her a weak smile, "...Hell knows I've tried."

"Hey."

A voice echoed from behind Chris, she scrambled back to her feet and turned to see a couple of figures standing there impatiently. The both of them looked skinny, yet scary—not people you would wanna mess with.

"Hi..." The boy waved at them with a smile planted on his face. When did the air get so tense in here?

Chris looked back at the boy, "Do you know them?"

"Yeah, they're friends. Don't worry!" He had such a reassuring smile on his face yet the feeling of unease didn't subside.

"You two done yet?" One growled.

The boy glanced at them before turning back to Chris, "Yeah, you said you had to go somewhere right?"

"...Y-Yeah, I'm sorry. I'll talk to you again tomorrow?" She gave him a worried expression.

It took the boy a moment before he nodded and shot Chris one last awkward smile.

Chris quickly walked off and away from trouble. Staying there for any longer could've caused more trouble. She looked back and saw the smile slowly drain from his face.

"See you around, yogurt boy."