The class finally finished, thankful that the trees in this building stopped most of the sun shining through. Packing up, happy that the lecture was over, Norbert walked with Jack to the food area, knowing that Jack would want something to eat.
Walking out of the class and into the hallway, following the same path he came in, now the halls bustling with people. Norbert walked in silence, waiting to be out in the open to answer the questions Norbert knew Jack was burning to ask.
Once outside, Norbert spun around, walking backwards while looking at Jack. "Well, are you going to spit it out already? I know you've been holding it in."
Jack opened his mouth, responding, "Yeah, it has been bugging me; what's with the strange getup? Going to a fantasy convention after class?"
Norbert huffed, spinning around again and walking along the bricks. "You're just jealous you don't have something cool like this" he puffed out his jacket as he did so.
"Nah, don't think green suits me too well. Now if it was in black, then another question. Hmm, maybe I should get a leather coat and pants" Jack rubbed his chin, continuing to walk as ideas popped up in his head of walking around in full leather.
Spotting Norbert's shoes, Jack spoke "The clothes might be weird, but those boots are fantastic; where did you get them? I want a pair for myself" As he finished, he bent forward, getting a better view of the boots.
"From a second-hand store out of town. I'll look around for a pair the next time I'm out there, but no promises."
Jack just nodded in response, about to open his mouth when his stomach grumbled, interrupting his train of thought. "Let's quickly get some lunch; the toast was better than nothing; I'm still a growing boy."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, let's get the little boy some food", Norbert responded, steering the two of them to the cafeteria.
***
Standing in line, the cafeteria packed, all the seats taken, Norbert looked around, hoping to find somewhere to sit. Slowly stepping up in line, the two chatted about nonsense, finally reaching the front. Jack stepped up first. "Can I have the chips, schnitzel with gravy on top? Oh, and a coke as well."
The older man behind the register nodded his head, a white apron covered in grease, as he punched the order into the cash register. Jack held his card out and over the scanner, receiving a beep of confirmation.
Norbert quickly scanned the food, nothing catching his eye. Looking at the fridge, Norbert spotted a mouth-watering chocolate milk. Norbert pointed towards the fridge. "And can I have chocolate milk?"
The punching into the register, Norbert tapping across, hearing the ding of confirmation while the older man opened the fridge, took out the chocolate milk and placed it on the counter. Picking it up, Norbert stood beside Jack, waiting for his food.
Sipping his coke, Jack looked at Norbert "Another chocky milk?"
"Of course, it's the best."
Jack shook his head, lifting the Coke bottle. "I would have to disagree with you, champ. This great black liquid is by far the best. The perfect combination of taste, sugar and caffeine, allowing someone to continue drinking it and keep you awake to finish an assignment the day before it's due."
Norbert tipped his head, admitting his defeat. "Well, I don't have an assignment to do." Looking to the side, Norbert saw a group of people leave a table; walking away, Norbert shouted to Jack, "I'll grab that table over there; come over with the food."
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Jack just waved Norbert off, standing where he was. Stalking his way to the table, he quickly slid into the seat, looking around, making sure there was nobody around to try and take his claim.
Nobody made a move towards him, happy with his successful conquest. Norbert placed the bottle on the table, took his backpack off, and pulled out the piece of paper, rereading it and tracing his finger over the harsh lines that made up the script. Studying it idly, Norbert sipped his chocolate milk, tracing the shapes of the writing on the table as Jack came up with his cardboard box and plastic cutlery sitting into the seat, opening up the box and letting the steam come off.
Presented within the box, the chicken schnitzel crumbed, already cut into thick pieces and sitting above the chips. Thick-cut deep, fried with a light dusting of chicken salt, highlighting its yellow look. The gravy covered the entire thing, pooling at the box's corners. A thick brown colour as Norbert looked across at the entire thing.
Jack opened up the cutlery pouch; pulling out the fork, he speared a piece of chicken covered in gravy, darting his head forward as he placed it in his mouth, making sure none of the gravy spilled anywhere. A smile crept on Jack's face as he reached out for the Coke bottle.
Spinning the cap open, a faint hiss of carbonation escaped the drink. Jack placed it to his lips swallowing several gulps of the liquid. Sighing in joy, he looked placed the bottle down again, picked up the fork again and began shovelling down food. With a mouth full of food, Jack asked, "Whatcha got there?"
Norbert looked at Jack, his eyes no longer wondering aimlessly, "Oh, this?" Norbert asked, tapping his finger on the page. "Just some light study, trying to get this language down, pat."
Jack scratched his face as he looked towards Norbert. "Extra study, when have you ever done extra study, Norbert?"
"Hey man, times change for everyone. So what if I want to do extracurricular study, it ain't hurting anyone." Norbert replied.
Jack placed a fork full of chips in his mouth, tapping the fork on his lip in thought. Swallowing before opening his mouth to speak, "So, what's her name?"
Norbert's face went slack, head tilting to the side as he rimmed the milk bottle; placing his hand on the side, Norbert said, "No girl, just picking up some extra hobbies, that's all."
Grinning through his full mouth, Jack nodded, saying, "Yeah, cause your change of clothes, weird behaviour and studying weird symbols, it's totally normal."
Popping another piece of chicken in his mouth, not hearing a reply from Norbert, Jack spoke up again, "All right then, keep your secrets."
Norbert just shook his head, knowing this was not a discussion he would win. And it would be a more straightforward explanation when he started doing sword practice, at least for the gloves. Remembering his sword practice before, Norbert undid a glove, forgetting he even had them on and focused on the power, confirming his veins still glowed purple.
Happy with it, Norbert changed the subject to what Jack was doing the night before: he needed to bang so hard on the door to wake him up this morning.
"Just playing a game is all; lost track of time."
"Oh yeah," Norbert replied, grinning, seeing a stab he could take. "So, what's her name?" At the question, Jack choked on the food in his mouth, covering his mouth with his hand, swallowing the mess he coughed up before replying, "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, don't give me that crap, Jack, not after a reaction like that, so spill. You're not getting it out of it that quickly." Norbert pressed on Jack, not allowing him to squirm any more.
"Fine, I'll tell you, but not here and only if you tell me what's up with you. And properly this time."
Norbert just nodded, bringing out his hand to shake Jack's. The agreement made Jack eat silently as thoughts swam through Norbert's head. What could he say about it, not wanting to tell the truth and possibly be thrown into a lab to study and be dissected? Norbert just shivered in response.
He was trying to see a way to string it all together, some way that could connect all the strange dots of his new and random activities. Thoughts drawing to the books he bought to be delivered to the apartment, knowing he would need something good to tie it all together.
As Norbert thought about what he could do to take the heat off his back, Norbert thought about something; he could say that there was a girl. He looked around the cafeteria, hoping to find someone that fits the bill but could not do so. He would not be able to pull off something like that out of the blue, his game not being that strong.
As well as thinking about it, he could tell the truth, or as most of the truth as he could get, for who was moving him from place to place, Norbert assumed, but nobody other than Luck, and he already was getting the gift for her, so two birds with one stone.
Nodding his head in his plan and Jack had finished his meal, the two moved out of the seats, walking about before their next class. Norbert looked behind, laughing and pointing to Jack that their seats had already been taken, finding humour as he was doing the same thing.