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to eat when he says, “That.”
    I raise my eyes from underneath my hand only to see that same craptastic smile crossing his face once again. “What? My plate?” I ask, lowering the fork.
    “No. Not the plate. It’s just…” He breaks to chuckle under his breath, but finally manages to compose himself before continuing. “It’s the fact that you’re so worried about triggering the untimely death of everyone you meet. So much so that you don’t speak to others, rarely make eye contact, and try to make yourself look like a freak. Yet, you eat… meat . And it doesn’t seem to bother you. At all.”
    He unsuccessfully tries to hide his amusement. “I can’t help but laugh. The irony of it all kills me.” His eyes break from the meat, latching onto mine as he adds, “Pun intended.”
    Our stares remain locked and I watch his full lips twitch as he clenches his jaw in an effort to keep a straight face. Narrowing my eyes, I push the plate as far away from me as I can and not so subtly reach over to grab the lone apple from where traitor Quinn is supposed to be sitting. I say absolutely nothing as I take a bite and begin to chew, suddenly missing the mystery meat. There’s no denying I will be starving later, but it’s the price I’ll have to pay, because it’s then and there that I take my oath and pledge my allegiance to vegetarianism, trying to push the newfound guilt of every single hamburger I’ve ever eaten out of my mind.
    A breeze blows by and I catch the scent of sunshine and rainbows as Quinn finally decides to grace us with her presence and join us for dinner. She lands forcefully in her seat, the excitement rolling off of her in waves. Her eyes fall to the table and then to the apple in my hand. Smiling, she shrugs her shoulders, “I ate something over there with Candace and Sabrina. You can have it.”
    Glancing over to the where the emaciated bobble-head twins stand, I find myself met with two very disapproving and unattractive grimaces. I sneer back, partly because I already dislike them immensely, but mostly out of some instinctive need to protect Quinn. They remind me of two grotesque demons, hungry and ready to feed on her love of life and genuine kindness.
    I really need to stop watching so many exorcism documentaries.
    Or maybe I’m just experiencing meat withdrawals already because all I can seem to think about as I watch them is hunger and eating.
    Regardless, I don’t like them.
    Forcing my stare away back to Quinn, I gesture at the empty space on the table in front of her. “You couldn’t have eaten much, considering they also only have like one piece of celery on their plates, and you only had an apple, which I took. Sorry about that.”
    Guilt flashes in her eyes as she timidly shakes her head. “I ate before we came anyway. I’m not really hungry.” A fabricated smile magically appears before she adds, “I just wanted to hang with you and my Boarding Buddy.”
    Just as I’m about to challenge her, because I know for a fact I didn’t see her eat anything before we left together, Kaeleb interjects, “Speaking of Boarding Buddies…where’s yours, Raven?”
    I roll my eyes so hard it hurts. I have no idea why he’s focusing on me so much. This freak getup is supposed to frighten people, not invite inquiry. Unfortunately with him, it seems to be having the opposite effect.
    “I don’t have one,” I remark. “I skipped orientation.”
    “So you need one then?” For once, his face is devoid of any sarcasm or laughter. Sincerity laces his expression as he rests his elbows on the table and leans forward, clasping his hands together in front of him.
    I, however, have sarcasm coursing through my veins instead of blood. “Um, not really. I own a map and possess a brain. I can figure it out on my own.”
    Not even remotely fazed, Kaeleb reaches his hand across the table. “Let me see your schedule.”
    “What? No.” My face scrunches and I shake my head.
    “YES! Do it