Morning all. Let’s just jump into the Friday morning prompt shall we? Set those timers to fifteen and lets get going.
I am now going to spend the rest of the day wondering what Ethan is up to.
Friday, December 20th: He held out half a sandwich.
He held out half a sandwich. Justin hesitated, then shrugged and took it. He sat down next to Ethan and the two of them ate their shaded lunch. Nothing was said. Ethan had never been one for talking and they weren’t all that close. Still Justin felt ne needed to say something. As they finished eating and Ethan dusted the crumbs off his hands, Justin looked at him.
“Thanks,” he said. Ethan nodded and then turned and walked off.
Justin let him go, his thoughts already turning elsewhere. He appreciated the sandwich half as with something in his belly his anger had subsided slightly and he was able to think more clearly. He decided he would do something nice for Ethan later, once he could figure out something that wouldn’t embarrass him for his brief show of camaraderie.
Justin liked to think of it as comradery and not pity. Ethan could sympathize but Justin would not accept his pity. No one should pity him. Justin would not allow that.
He felt his anger starting to rise again. He expected to be eating with the others. To be invided to dine with them. He wasn’t. He was not expected at the table. He managed to realize this before the others could see that he thought himself included. He smiled at them when they arrived and then checked his watch as though he was running late for something else.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” he said as he stepped towards the door. He checked his watch again and then looked at Harold. “Unless you need me for something before I go?” He tried to look as though he was resisting checking his watch even as his steps continued to take him towards the door.
“No I think we’ve got it,” Harold said.
Justin made his face show relief. “Excellent,” he said. He nodded to the others and with a polite smile he left the room. As he closed the door behind himself he heard one of the others say, “I wonder where he is so eager to get to.” Justin thought it was Roger.
“I’d keep an eye on that one,” another voice chimed in. Justin was certain it was Timothy. Not wanting to be caught lingering, he hurried away.
‘So they don’t believe I was expecting to stay,’ Justin thought. That was one humiliation he saved himself. ‘And at least one of them thinks I’m up to something.’ Justin tried to decide if that was a good thing or not.
‘Good,’ he decided. ‘It makes it seem like I am wanted elsewhere.’
Justin blinked and straightened himself. ‘I am wanted elsewhere.’ He thought of the sting of realizing he was not to be included in the luncheon and then he thought of the half sandwich Ethan gave him.
Ethan knew he had skulked off down here to eat while the others dined upstairs. Justin’s eyes narrowed. He looked towards where Ethan disappeared down the corridor. Ethan was long gone. Justin shook his head and turned away. Ethan wouldn’t tell anyone. He wouldn’t mention seeing Justin and certainly wouldn’t mention having lunch with him. Ethan didn’t talk much to the others in general but if he did mention it, Ethan would have to explain why he was down here. Justin didn’t know himself but he suspected it wasn’t something Ethan would want to explain.
Ten til Midnight 