This cafeteria had been closed off to staff for use in the assessment testing, but there was a large assortment of food already prepared and waiting for the new arrivals. The room resembled a food court of sorts, with several different stations around the room and many tables scattered across the open space. The high ceiling had large pipes running the length of it and despite the fake skylights pretending to cast sunlight down on the tables below, it all had a dark industrial feel.
Claire took a shower and got changed as soon as the doctors left, and didn’t have to wait long before the TV in her room lit up and Qelli’s voice gave her instructions for getting to the cafeteria where everyone would be meeting.
Kevin was sitting by himself with a couple tables worth of space between him and everyone else, a half-eaten plate of shrimp and steak in front of him. The space around him seemed darker, as if he’d managed to find the only spot in the room where the light couldn’t reach properly.
Simon was sitting at a table with Ezra, about to be enjoy his rather sizable burger along with the other man.
Ezra seemed to be far more interested in food than speaking, but had found a kindred spirit in that.
Sarah had taken the vegetarian options, and smiled when Miranda asked to sit with her, gesturing across from her. “Sure, I’m Sarah, nice to meet you.”
Miranda sat down with her plate of pasta across from Sarah and smiled in return. “Miranda, Thank you.”
Abby was side-eyeing Kevin as she raided the buffet, picking just a little bit of everything and scooting things over to make room for new things.
Claire looked the room and its occupants over and then meandered over toward the food. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she smelled food, but now she was practically ravenous.
Abby grinned at Claire as she approached the buffet while she was juggling her full plate. “Hey! Oh man, everything just looks so good.”
Claire smiled at Abby as she looked at her current situation. “Pretty sure you can come back for more you know, don’t think you have to one-trip it.”, she said as she picked up one of the clean plates and sets of utensils.
“Yeah, you’re right. But what if I lose my spot and miss something?”, Abby asked as she looked from her plate to the buffet again.
Blinking a couple of times while she tried to process whether or not the girl was being serious, Claire started to put some food on her own plate. “Maybe get a second plate then to carry it?”, she suggested as she added some mashed potatoes to her growing collection of southern comfort foods.
“Oh!”, Abby exclaimed as she ran down and put the full plate at a table, then ran back up and grabbed another plate, sliding back in behind Claire in line. “That is a great idea, and look, I saved us a spot.”, she said as she indicated the table.
Claire raised an eyebrow, and sighed a little as she grabbed some mac and cheese. “Oh, cool. Thanks.”, she said, trying not to sound bothered. Not wanting to hurt Abby’s feelings, she took her plate and made her way to sit at the table while Abby finished her mission to gather a little bit of everything.
When Abby made it back to the table, she sat down and got about half a dozen bites into her food before she looked straight at Claire. “I am so sorry! I feel so rude. I’m Abigail by the way. Abigail Jones. But you can call me Abby.”, she said before crunching into a taco.
“No need to be sorry. It’s cool. I’m Claire Wilson.”, replied Claire before taking a few more bites of her own food.