{Elira}
~**^**~
After what felt like a minute, a soft shake at my shoulder stirred from sleep.
"Elira," Cambria’s voice floated gently. "It’s dinner ti."
I groaned inwardly as I sat up, my head imdiately protesting with a dull, steady throb in the front. The hunger had worsened.
My stomach felt hollow—no, worse—it felt like the sides of it were trying to gnaw at each other, and the ache clawed up toward my ribs.
It was that kind of pain where sleep no longer mattered. I needed food. Badly.
Just as I swung my legs down from the bed, a familiar voice pierced the quiet.
"Well, well. The new girl is back? I thought she dropped out of ESA?"
I exhaled a long, tired sigh. ’Here we go.’
I didn’t even bother looking. I already knew who it was.
Cambria straightened up. "Nari," she said, her voice calm but edged. "Hold your tongue."
"Unfortunately, my hands are occupied," Nari replied, nonchalantly.
I glanced toward her. One hand held a lollipop like so spoiled drama princess. The other had a phone raised halfway, her thumb lazily scrolling. I almost rolled my eyes.
I was too hungry to argue or snap back. Too drained to let her bother . Her words couldn’t fill the hollow pit in my stomach.
Cambria turned to , her tone light again. "Co on," she said, reaching out and grabbing my hand gently. "Let’s go before all the good stuff is taken."
I let her pull to my feet, grateful to follow her lead.
The five of us—Cambria and I up front, the other three trailing behind—made our way to the cafeteria.
The closer we got, the stronger the scent of food beca. And gosh, did it sll good. Like it knew I was suffering.
Cambria grabbed two stainless food trays with partitioned sections and handed one to .
"Thanks," I murmured, taking it with both hands.
Then we each reached for our cutlery sets. I grabbed a spoon, a fork, and a pair of chopsticks—still unsure which would be the most useful with whatever I was about to eat.
My stomach gave another impatient growl.
We moved through the serving line. The choices tonight looked glorious: salsa chicken baked tacos, BBQ beef atballs, cashew chicken with peppers, fragrant white rice, cheeseburger sliders, and creamy coleslaw.
I even saw steaming chicken soup.
I filled my tray up quickly, feeling like I could actually eat the whole world now, swallow and keep it down.
Cambria and I each took a bowl of soup, then looked around and found a table near the far wall.
We set our trays down.
"I will go get us water," Cambria said. "Do you want anything else? Juice?"
"Apple, juice," I said quickly, almost embarrassed by how eager I sounded.
But I would have gone for pineapple juice if I didn’t think it was right for at the mont, given that my stomach was practically empty and I was experiencing sharp pain.
So, apple juice sounded like a safe option.
Cambria smiled. "Got it. Be right back."
I nodded and watched her go, then I told myself to wait.
She was being thoughtful, and the least I could do was be polite enough not to start without her. Even if my stomach hurt so bad I was considering chewing air.
Just as I shifted slightly on the bench, the others showed up.
Juniper set her tray down opposite . "Where’s Cambria?" she asked, her voice neutral.
"She went to get water," I replied, trying to sound normal.
Nari dropped into the seat next to her, her tray clattering like she wanted to be heard. Tamryn slid into the spot beside , quiet as ever.
A minute later, Cambria returned with two bottles of water, setting one before .
She placed a chilled apple juice beside my tray and a small yoghurt cup next to hers. Then, she sat down at my other side.
"Is this what it looks like now?" Nari comnted dryly. "Cambria, running errands?"
Cambria didn’t blink. "What’s an errand?"
Nari huffed and shook her head, stabbing her fork into a atball like it had offended her.
I didn’t even let her voice register this ti. I was too hungry.
Still, just as I reached for my spoon, Tamryn spoke beside , calm and surprisingly gentle. "Drink so water first."
I turned toward her.
"It will help your stomach handle food better when you haven’t eaten all day," she added, short and to the point.
"Oh. Right." I nodded, thankful for the tip. "Thanks."
I didn’t even realize that she had paid attention to during breakfast and lunch earlier today.
I thought Cambria was the only observant one.
But maybe, Cambria was the observant one who cared while Tamryn was the observant one who didn’t give a damn?
I took a sip of water—then two—before finally allowing myself the pleasure of real food.
It tasted divine.
My tray may as well have been a royal feast.
Around , the others were talking, mostly Nari. Apparently, she had a lot to say about how boring dorm life was.
"I swear," Nari said, dramatically flipping her chopsticks, "if our first field trip doesn’t co soon, I’m going to snap. I didn’t co to ESA just to go to class and co back here like a prison routine."
Juniper rolled her eyes. "You’ve been here for a month."
"And?"
"You’re already bored."
"Yes. Obviously."
They went on like that. I let their banter fade into the background, letting my mind wander.
I didn’t know which place was better for anymore.
Uncle Marc’s house?
Never an option.
Here, in ESA?
It should’ve been ideal—except for the whole Oga and no-powers thing. And the humiliation.
Still... even with all that... it was better than being in a house where every corner felt like a trap.
Regina was here too, but oddly, I hadn’t had any run-ins with her yet. And that was saying sothing.
Maybe, just maybe... this place could be livable. Not easy. But livable.
At least here, I had a friend, Cambria.
And maybe—just maybe—more than one person who cared if I disappeared again, apart from the brothers.
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