Things they do - Laugh, smile, joke, gossip, eat that gross cafeteria food, eat food they made at home, make some... questionable comments about other people
Things I've overheard today - Some couple fucked in the gender neural washroom (gross. I use that to do my business), a fight being held at the corner store parking today (get a fucking life people), someone is cheating on someone (lol, rekt)
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I put down my pen and finished up the mac and cheese I packed, putting the empty container back and wrapping the dirty utensil in the napkin I put around it beforehand, putting it in with the container and taking out a small container of gram crackers to snack on. I hated having snacks but if that's what my meal binder says I have to do, then I'll just do it... I don't need the nutritionist on my ass for not gaining weight again or my brother. I took a bite out of one of the crackers and I picked up my pen again, listening and people watching as I usually do. Trying to find a way to be normal. A way to fit in with these people. I kept taking notes on their behaviour with others and things I overheard, only to get jumped by some guy sliding in on the bench across from me. I stared at him, him looking back with a dorkish smile. His chocolate brown hair that matched his eyes, a hint of freckles on his cheeks and his clothing - graphic tee matched with those tacky Hawaiian tropical tops. Something about him felt familiar but I don't know from where. Something about his eyes were familiar but I couldn't explain why."Hi!" the guy beamed, acting as if he just ate a lot of pixie sticks before coming up to me or high on caffeine... possibly both.
"Um... hi...?" Now his voice sounds familiar, but from where?
"Don't you remember me?" he asked, "Toby...? Ring any bells?". I shook my head in response, completely lost in this interaction, my good eye trying to recognize him as my other eye was covered with bandages as usual.
"Come on man! You're Strawberry boy!"
"I... don't run a fruit stand...?" I responded, my voice hopefully conveying my lostness in this conversation.
"No, like... your order! You always order the Cafe's energy drinks, it's always the Strawberry Acai Lemonade with extra freeze dried Strawberries and ice. Or it's Strawberry lemonade or just Strawberry soda when you're just sitting there reading books from our cafe's library. In the winter you always get the Cappuccinos, Americano with 1 shot of espresso when it's like... early and on the weekends. Oh! During festive seasons like Falls or the winter holidays you get anything that tastes like sugar cookies, vanilla or peppermint."
I sat there in silence, my visible eye widening as my brow furrowed. Don't know what I was feeling now but it was definitely just weird hearing some random guy list my usual orders and the Burrow Café.
"Oh, forgot about what you get from the bakery in the café... um... you really switch stuff up, one month you're all for the sugar cookies, next you're for the muffins, danishes and flatbreads, now you're a Lemon Loaf man? Like geez... I know you only order those things when you stay for the whole day but like, it makes me sad when we don't have what you want in the display case, ya know?" He rambled, his hands moving and gesturing as he talked.
"Are you stalking me?" I said bluntly, the guy's expression changed from one of focus to complete panic.
"No, nonononono! I'm not stalking you!" He said, waving his hands frantically, "You really don't recognize me?"
"If I am being completely honest with you, then yes. I don't recognize you... how do you know my every order in The Burrow?"
"I know hearing this out of context was probably a very weird experience. Borderline creepy."
"Yup. Sums up this whole situation."
"I'm your regular server in The Burrow, my family owns it. I like... literally memorized your drink order, it frustrates me that you keep changing your bakery order."
Now it all clicked to me. The guy that sat across from me was Tobias Burrow-Sinclaire, the town's idol who almost every girl tried to get with him. He was an aesthetic girl's dream guy - worked at a local café as a barista that has an old cottage core vibe, the definition of the Dark Academia with his smarts and fashion taste... Okay not now with his really touristy fashion taste here but, understandable. There's a heat wave warning this afternoon and he's much smarter than me with fashion. He's just the Dark Academia townie that every girl swoons for. He's basically straight out of a fan fic or teen meet cute romance novel.
"Shit, sorry. I... I don't really keep track of faces, didn't know you've been the one making all my drinks." I ran my hand through my messy locks
"And I didn't know we both went to Golden Valley, instantly recognize you with that bandage and your taste in pull-over sweaters." Toby said with his smile, "Then again, small town... but then again, you are the most recognizable customer I've seen."
"Really?"
"Uhhh... yeah. You're almost done with our whole cafe library, you weirdo. I had to order new books so you can keep coming back!" He laughed, taking one of my gram crackers from the container, taking a bite out of it. 'I hate that word he called me. Weirdo. I'm not that out there... Am I?'
"But then again, I just find it so interesting to watch you just reading in the corner of the shop. It's nice to know someone actually reads something from there rather than just talking really loud."
"Thought you would take notice of the consumers that dress like... in that dark academia or any other aesthetic." I muttered under my breath, closing up my journal so he doesn't notice what I've been writing, putting it in my backpack along with my pen in my pencil case.
Toby blew raspberries at my comment, "Nah, they can wear all the flashy clothes they want to get my attention but something about you just wearing earthy tones, and only earthy tones? In weather like this? That's what's gonna get my attention... like, how do you survive?"
"Water." I said bluntly, eating the last cracker in the container before closing up and putting it back in my lunch bag, taking a sip from my water bottle.
Toby bursted out laughing, "Good one, are you always this sarcastic?" he questioned me, giving him the same lost look in return. 'Did my monotone make me sound sarcastic...? Is that something rude? ... what's sarcastic?'
RIIIIING! Third period bell.
"What do you have now?" Toby asked, slinging his bag over his shoulder,
"Art class... why?" I asked back, picking up my lunch back and putting on my back pack on my shoulders
"With who?"
"Mrs. Claire, why?"
"Me too! Holy shit, we should sit together in class now!" Toby beamed, following close to my side to our next class
... I have no idea what just fucking happened today. But I think today - Today I made a new friend. The first friend I've had in a while. I wonder if Salem remembers me still.[Journal entry 03-09-2021]
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