Wednesday

Sunny plucked up her tray of food and made her way to the tables of the cafeteria. Her eyes scanned across the seating arrangement of some of the usual groups: nerds, jocks, the social elite, and her own thespians.

Then her eyes fell upon a familiar figure, seated by herself near the corner of the room. Moondancer lacked a tray, and was instead unpacking a lunch box. An accompanying thermos sat beside it.

Remembering Indigo’s idea, she gave her fellow thespians a passing greeting wave before walking over to Moondancer’s table.

“Hey, Moondancer, right?” Sunny asked, flashing a friendly smile. “Mind if I sit with you?”

Moondancer looked her up and down with a most puzzled look, but nodded. Sunny sat down as Moondancer produced a sandwich from her lunch box and started eating.

“So, how’s your first few days been?” Sunny asked. She opened a dressing packet and drizzled it on her salad.

“Rough, as usual,” Moondancer huffed, taking what seemed like an angry bite.

“I see,” Sunny said, poking her salad with a fork. “Have you considered any extracurricular activities?”

“No,” Moondancer replied, taking a drink from the thermos.

“Any clubs, maybe?”

“No.”

Sunny grimaced, nibbling at her salad as Moondancer made quick work of her lunch.

“Ugh.” Moondancer grumbled as she brushed crumbs off her skirt. “I hate these stupid uniforms.”

“You haven’t worn one before?” Sunny asked, glad to have something to talk about.

“No. I like wearing casual things… like sweaters. Sweaters are nice,” Moondancer said. “This just feels like I’m working at an office or something.”

“Not really a variety of colors, either,” Sunny added, smiling softly. “And that ribbon—my friend Indigo can never get hers straight. She gave up a few weeks into freshman year.”

Moondancer huffed, unwrapping a little dessert cake she’d brought with her lunch, and a silence fell over them once again as they resumed eating. Sunny snuck glances up at Moondancer, who never seemed to let go of her dour mood.

“Say,” Sunny said as she finished the last bites of her salad. “Did you want anything from the vending machines? I’m not much for junk food, but I always try and get my girlfriend a pack of peanut butter crackers.”

“No thanks,” Moondancer said, packing her trash away in the lunch box. “Think I’m just going to go find a quiet place to read before next period. See you later, uh…”

“Sunny Flare,” Sunny said.

“Right.” Stowing away her lunch box and thermos in her backpack, Moondancer shouldered it and walked out of the cafeteria.

Sunny sighed as she watched her go, head propped up on the table by one arm. This friendship thing was harder than it looked.

Author's Note

I haven't forgotten about Trixie and her peanut butter crackers.

-The Legendary Bill Cipher