The mess hall. It was like most other mess halls. Unhappy and uninterested looking lunch ladies, crappy food that would make most students that had just turned in from home flinch and, of course, the constant reminder that they had a time limit and had to eat quickly.
There were two tv screens playing what just so happened to be music videos by the more famous artists on the walls.
Max: So you guys just don't have packed lunch?
Luke sighed.
Max: Huh?
Ken: Umm...... Max. Luke and Tiffany both live without their parents.
Max: Oh. Sorry, I...
Tiffany: It's fine.
Luke: Don't worry about it.
Max: You can share my food if you like?
Tiffany: No need.
Luke: Thanks, Max, but we'll be fine. This ain't our first rodeo.
Max: Oh, ok.
Rose: Is everything ok, Max?
Max: Yeah, yeah....
He just realised he'd made a huge mistake.
Rose: It's ok. I'm sure they know you didn't mean it like that.
Max remained in the line, talking to them irregardless of the fact that he already had his own meal in his backpack.
As he spoke to his friends, he noticed an odd scenario occurring in front of him.
In a world where the majority of food in the cafeteria really sucks, kids who don't have packed lunch make it a habit of buying lunch from kids that got some from their parents.
In this dog eat dog world, one would have to find some form of way to survive.
As a result, several students remained at the tables, bargaining.
Who could blame them?
The food on the menu was roast chicken, rice, hard-boiled eggs, and a cup cake.
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That all sounded great until one realised that the chicken was a bit burnt. the rice was soggy, the hard-boiled eggs were not exactly hard boiled, and the cup cake was one of those poor quality store bought ones.
Max: Oh man!
The largest lunch lady spoke.
Lunch lady: We cooked this food with a lot of love to welcome you guys. So, enjoy!
Name: Gertrude Hoffmann
Age: 41
Description: Is a compulsive liar
Occupation: High school cook
Fact: Rumour has it that she was once a part of the Mafia.
Gertrude: Especially that chicken.
She was in a particularly happier mood than the other lunch ladies, who just served as it was their job.
Max: There's no way you're serious.
Gertrude: (fakely kindly) Oh, really. And who might you be? I haven't seen you around before.
Max: The name's M...
Tiffany stopped him immediately, blocking his mouth with her hand.
Tiffany: So sorry, Mrs. Gertrude.
Max's mumbling became louder. He was more shocked to hear that she was married.
Tiffany: He's new.
Gertrude: Ohhhh, I see. Well, you've always been a well-behaved little girl, so why not show him around. In fact, give him a bite of our chicken, I'm sure he"ll change his mind.
Tiffany: Of course, of course.
Once she was out of earshot, Tiffany started.
Tiffany: Do you ever shut up?
Max: What?
Tiffany: Ugh. Nevermind. Just don't talk to the lunch lady like that.
Luke: Yeah, Max. We all know the food sucks, but we don't wanna make things worse for us with the lunch ladies.
Max: It can get worse?
Luke: Well, let's just say that there are reasons as to why no one complains about the food.
Ken: It isn't that bad.
Luke: Easy for you to say, you're not eating it.
Ken: (cockily) Well.... I was only trying to make you feel better.
Luke: Mmmm. It didn't work.
Ken chuckled a bit at his friends predicament as the five of them picked a table and prepared to sit down.
Rose, Max, and Ken pulled out their home packed food while Luke and Tiffany prepared to scarf down the less that perfect meal.
Just as Max was about to take his first bite, he heard a familiar voice from a distance. It was Vince.
Vince: Hey, come on. I said you'd give us your lunch for half price this time.
He was picking on somebody smaller and comparatively much shorter and nerdier looking than anybody else.
Max: What's going on?
Luke: Oh, that's Lenny Lark. He just came in last semester.
Name: Lenny Lark
Age: 15
Description: Garden variety nerd
Occupation: Student
Fact: He and his family together make one hell of a vocal band.
He was a skinny red head compared to Vince.
Vince: Oh, come on. It's an amazing deal. Think of the benefits. You'd be helping the school.
Lenny: N.. No. I'd... I'd just be helping you.
Vince: Oh, come on. You're smart, right? Think about it. Why hasn't any lunch lady tried to stop me?
Lenny: Wha.. W... Well... it's...
Vince: It's because I am the star of the football team. Because of that, no one wants to mess with me. Because if you mess with the wolf, you get the....
Lenny: F... fangs?
Vince: Hypercity High motto, amirite.
Lenny gulped.
Vince: So then, how about...
Max: Why isn't anybody helping him?
Luke: That's just how it is.