Day 57: Cafeteria

[gald_digger]

Edgar's charming company had raised Anise's spirits enough that not even the Head Doctor's voice could bring them back down. Besides, she was feeling pretty sure that Landel wasn't actually around. To begin with, it wouldn't make sense, and secondly, his announcements sounded suspiciously like ones she'd already heard before. While Anise wasn't

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[lookslikeher]

Elena was having the same 'I can't even look at this stuff, let alone convince myself to eat it, but I'll starve if I don't, so...' problem that Bella was, finding herself staring at the mush in that horrible 'how do you even exist' sort of way as she walked around the cafeteria, trying to find a seat. Not that this place seemed to care much about the well-being of its patients, but she couldn't help but wonder how this crud even had any sort of vitamins or whatever it was that made it okay to feed it to humans. And why were they being so awful as to feed the patients with higher ranks real food, while they still got this? Ergh. Whatever.

It was difficult, staring at the goo and simultaneously keeping her eyes out for an open place to sit, so eventually she broke the stare of horror, just in time to spot Bella. And the open seat across from her! Great!

Quickly (and carefully, as to not knock into anyone with her tray) she made her way over to her table, giving the girl an easy smile, despite the obvious expression of disgust Bella was making at her food.

"Hey. Mind if I sit with you?"

[vitale]

By the time Elena had wandered over to her, Bella had somehow consumed at least half of the putrid gruel. At her question, the teenager looked up at her new found friend with a look of "I want to vomit". However, she swallowed down the rest of the disgusting nonsense in her mouth, shoving her plate away as she shook her head and stuck out her tongue. "Oh god. This must be what death tastes like, but in food form. And I don't mind at all."

The last part was said with a forced smile ... as she was still trying not to gag up what she had just consumed.

Chugging down nearly all of her cup of water, Bella let out a sigh, leaning back in her seat to look at Elena. "How're you? Since we didn't get to talk that much on the bus. I hope your night went well," at least from the front Elena didn't look injured. That was good, at least.

Especially because she knew how crazy vampire boyfriends could be when it came to bodily injuries. Crazy was an understatement.

Bella, however, at that moment, had an idea. Perhaps ... next time Edward and Stefan and Damon went out, the two of them could team up. Of course, she could already hear her vampire ... completely hating this idea, but it would be better than nothing. She could protect Elena, just like she protected Claire.

She just. Had to think up a way to bring it up. And tell Elena to not think about it when in the vicinity of Edward. Ever.

[lookslikeher]

Elena gave Bella a sympathetic smile as she took her seat, since yeah, she knew it was going to take a lot of self control to not just turn down her plate of gruel right from the start, let alone eating much more than her friend did. She'd made the mistake of skipping breakfast too many times now, and she wouldn't again. Not when there was always a chance something would keep her from her next meal - whether it be another doctors appointment or something else this place decided to throw at her.

Still, that didn't mean she was going to rush into digging in.

"My night went surprisingly well, yeah. Unfortunately another person from Mystic Falls just got here, but I bumped into her without scaring the heck out of her in the dark, so that was good. Well I mean, unfortunately for her, since this place is terrible, but I'm kinda glad to have someone else around that I know I can trust." For a second she considered mentioning that Rose was like the Salvatores, and Edward, but that wasn't really her information to tell. It wasn't as if she felt the need to warn Bella either. Then again, she had no idea that vampires apparently thought she smelled delicious, so maybe she did need a warning. Ah.

"Of course, we're still zero steps closer to finding a way out of here, but. We didn't cross paths with any monsters or evil things, so I'd call it a good night." Elena was poking at the pink goop now, still trying to convince herself to take a bite. "How about you?"

[vitale]

Listening to Elena talk about her night kept her mind off of the glob of mush that was sitting in her stomach, so Bella tried her hardest to listen intently. She couldn't help but wonder if this was how Edward felt when he ate human food; like a legit rock inside of her that she wished to expel. It was uncomfortable, but she knew she had to at least keep it down because she ... really didn't want to pass out. And she felt like she was about to. Maybe that why she had been so tired that morning.

"Well, I'm glad you weren't hurt," Bella told the other teenager with a smile. "And that you ran into a friend," a pause, "I mean, I'm glad for ... you. Not for them, since it kind of sucks to wind up here, you know? That's why part of me is glad that no one else I know is here. ... Some days I wish Edward wasn't here, just so he wouldn't have to suffer like this. But I don't know what I'd do if he wasn't stuck like me."

Truthfully, she didn't. Would she be dead? She liked to think she could take care of herself, but when monsters and a danger magnet were involved ... well. She couldn't be too sure.

"I slept last night," she admitted sheepishly. "I was exhausted, I guess. In fact, I'm still kind of tired, but it's getting better, so that's a plus." a hopeful plus.

"But that reminds me," Bella continued, a small smile creeping onto her lips. "The next time that Edward and Stefan ... you know, go out hunting," she said this part in a hushed voice, "We should team up and go around. Together. It would be safer than anything else, I mean. Just so we wouldn't be alone. Plus, I have a wooden bat, so I could kick some monster face in if anything attacks us. And we could find you something if you don't have anything already."

She became quiet then, continuing. "And ... there's a blood fountain in the Chapel we could always go to together."