It had felt like hours, but we finally reached the Dining Hall. Opening the door, Melanie pulled me along. She wasn't winded at all! Although I on the other hand was ... exhausted. My hand slipped from the girls grip as I fell onto my back, smacking to the tile white floor.
I couldn't seem to catch my breath. How many floors was that? I'd lost count after forty. This place seemed an endless maze of white except for the dorm floors which seemed to be decorated in tan walling and brown carpeting. I tried to ask Melanie about our trek, still wondering, "How ... how many floors ... was that? I feel like I ... just ran a marathon!" I spoke in-between gasps.
My breaths were starting to catch up with me now as someone walked over with a scoff. Staring down at me. Oh, great. It was Chasey. Just what I need right now, "Melly, just drop this worthless kid already. He won't be able to keep up with you. Not many of us can." The academy bully admitting to being inferior? Or maybe she meant everyone else. I spoke, slightly laughing through breaths, "The Rookie Crusher is being pretty humble ... today."
Chasey turned to me. Either something had happened or she had mellowed down since yesterday. She spoke, sounding less aggressive than I remember her being, "Dont think I've forgotten you, James ... I still owe you for stringing me up like that. Whatever that was yesterday." That's a pretty reasonable way to react for a bully. I guess I'll have to make a note that people might not be as crazy in the future after all.
Finally, my breaths began to calm. Subsiding to a soft exhalation as I got up. Turning to Melanie, "How many floors, Melanie?" She smiled perkily at me, still so full of energy, "Well, let's see. We came from the top, or the second on down. We've got about 170 floors in this building. I'd say you walked full flights for about eighty five floors? This Hall is in between everything for convenience, James."
Eighty five floors?! Jesus, no wonder I'm winded! I looked at the ceiling, speaking, "Melanie. Never again. I don't think my heart could take that every morning." Melanie nudged my shoulder playfully as Chasey listened to our exchange, looking rather glum and envious, "You won't be tired forever, Pierce! Besides, with what Renco will be putting you through, a few flights of stairs will seem like a cake walk! By the way, stop calling me by my full name. My friends just call me Melly~"
I responded, hearing her call me by my past last name, "Speaking of names, Melly. How do so many people know my last name? I thought it was supposed to be kept confidential?"
She grabbed me by the hand again. Considerate to let me breath before dragging me on another adventure, "Silly! That's only a rule for the people outside of our academy. Safety and all that. C'mon! The food here is GREAT!" Yeah, I bet. I was smelling some interesting aromas. As she began to lead the way, Chasey followed us nonchalantly. Almost like she was being forced to. Did they know each other?
As we reached lunch line, there was a multitude of foods at the ready. From mashed potatoes to steak to coleslaw. They had a variety of burritos and pizzas and salads. Sides and all. It was an awesome spread. And that's before I saw the drinks. Though, I was expecting soda cans and water bottles.
I guess In the future, they found something more biodegradable. They had an assorted collection of drinks, but the material looked a lot less solid. I had no clue what it was made out of, but I assumed it must've been reliable enough if they'd approved it for mass production like this, "Melly~"
She turned to me, curiously as I called her name. Pointing to the drinks, "Hm? Oh! Those are sodas! Mostly. There are labels for what's in the bottles. Water, Lemonade, Frufru juice, Soda, Energy Drink, Orange Juice. Stuff like that!" Frufru juice? What a weird name.
I looked up at the person before me as I grabbed a tray, then a plate. Mostly the same lunch-in supplies all around. Just different material. Although, off to the end of the line they had a machine similar to the drink stands you might see at a firehouse. Speaking of which, I really needed to ask about the options in this Era. Did they still have fast food? The serving lady asked a question abruptly, interrupting my train of thought, "Kid, are you going to get anything?"
I nodded apologetically, pointing and choosing, "I'll take uh. Some Mashed Potatoes, steak and Steamed broccoli, please. What's the difference between the drinks at the machine and the ones here?" She gave me a tired look like she had to answer a lot of questions, "The ones up here are all natural, except for the Sodas. Some people just like the bottles. Everything at the vending machine is whatcha usually get. Take your pick. If you want a drink from the machine, we allow free refills. Just ask for a vending token at the checkout." Checkout? I hope I didn't have to pay. I'm Broke!
Melly placed a hand on my shoulder, speaking to me, "Checkout just means they go over what we get to record it. It's all part of the budget, James. You won't be charged~" Oh, that's a relief ...
The line moved gradually towards the end. I had my food, and a choice bottle as we approached the checkout station. They did their job quickly and let us move on as Melly guided me to a relatively active table. Sitting down next to her as multiple people spoke. One of them addressed Melly, and she responded with that bright energetic smile. The girl was popular. Turning to me, she pointed at my food, "You don't eat breakfast?"
I shook my head as I took a bite of my mashed potatoes. The food going down felt amazing. I hadn't realized how hungry I was, "Mh Mh! I do." Swallowing quickly to respond. I didn't like making people wait on me, "I just wasn't seeing anything familiar and went ahead and picked. It's really good!"
One of the other students at the table spoke up, inquiring about me, "Who's that, Melly? Don't tell me you dragged him down those flights! He looks exhausted!" The guy laughed, and Melly responded friendly-like, teasing the student, "I did, Jacob! And he took it like a champ, unlike a certain someone at this table~"
The guy, Jacob, flushed slightly. Laughing to excuse his embarrassment, "Yeah, you're right. But that was almost sixty floors! Who in their right mind walks that many steps to reach the cafeteria?" I listened as Melly smiled, seemingly proud of the difference, "James did. In fact, he walked eighty four. Without so much as a single complaint." She nudged my shoulder again, that smile shining brightly, "Right?"
I looked at the guy. He seemed the sporadic type. I didn't want to say anything to make an enemy. Besides, walking some flights wasn't really an accomplishment, "I don't want to brag. We both went through hell ... uhm. Jacob, yeah?" The humble attitude seemed to bore the guy, but at least he wasn't offended. I've already gotten my ass whooped once while here. No need to start another fight.
The group went back to chatting, Melly joining in while I ate silently. Thinking on some of the things Leslie had taught me while we ... gosh. That girl. I began to feel my face flush again as I tried to spoon another bite. Apparently, Melanie noticed because she asked, "Awe haha. You don't have to be shy about being next to me, James ... " I felt Melly's hand slip under the table to touch my groin and I jumped, hitting my knees on the dining table, "Melanie!"
She laughed hysterically, turning red. My face flushed even redder as I feared she might start banging the table, but apparently she didn't do that. She caught her breath a minute later, massaging my thigh, "James, you need to relax! Having a bit of fun won't kill you~" she wiped a tear away as she faced me directly. Clenching more firmly into my leg, "I want you to meet me upstairs after classes. We need to work on those nerves of yours."
I thought about last night again and tried to steel myself. It seems I wasn't bound to get much rest while I was here ... I nodded, knowing she could easily back me into it anyway. Tricky girl.
She clapped her hands excitedly and almost went back to finishing her meal when a sandwich smacked her right in the face. Splattering its insides all over her. Slowly sliding down her face to drop into her lap. She looked down at the sandwich, and I thought I might finally see her bad side. But the guys all grinned and yelled, not to mention Melly herself, "FOOD FIGHT!!"
Oh. Well, some things change, and some stay tradition I guess. Within moments of the rocket sandwich, food was flying everywhere. Soaring every which way through the air. The custodians looked like they were trying to hide from the food war as they kept to the corners and walls with that look of annoyance. Apparently this happened a lot.
Many of the kitchen staff were laughing as faces were creamed and splattered, chaos ensuing as the superhuman food fight took a dramatic turn. Someone had apparently thought it smart to bring weapons into the kitchen, and while there was a no-killing policy, that said nothing about food. Stuffing his weapon with a sandwich that looked quite dry, the guy with the weapon began to fire chunks at random students.
I thought, okay. I think it's time to leave. But just as I was getting up however, I got a full barrage of beans all over my clothes. Everyone else seemed to be gung-ho for this lunacy, so I just stifled a scream and began to make my way to the elevator.
Parties were not my thing. Food fights? Even less so. Pressing the button, I stepped in once the door had opened and began to go up. Melly totally sidetracked laughing had no clue I'd even gone. Making my way up to the CEO's office to finally get those directions.