Starting a fire.

Brook took her seat at the popular table. Looking slightly sullen at the food on her tray then back at the board over the food area with the menu on it, then back at her tray. She mumbled something to herself. "I ordered the wrong thing..." she said to herself.

"Brook..Brook...Brook!" one of her friends shouted her name and she snapped out her malaise.

"Sorry." she said putting on a smile.

"Didn't Lance tell a funny joke?" the friend asked.

"Yeah... It was great." she said, beaming a smile at Lance. He'd never know it but it was as plastic as the silver wear.

--

Meanwhile across the cafeteria Dante saw Mel enter with some guy, who B-lined for the breakfast bar. He watched on with curiosity at the way the two moved. Seeing them stop. He couldn't see what she reached for but did see her stop when Doug, leaned in to whisper something in her ear. It was just a moment, a flash, but he was her stiffen up. Something he'd seen before, and it started a fire in him.

Dante 'invited' himself to sit with the 'rich popular' people. Catching the end of Lance's 'joke' "HA! Funny. Monkeys." he said, looking at Lance and smiling but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Hi Brook." Dante said, and she returned a smile. "Hi Dante."

Then Dante's eyes met Doug's then to Mel's "That can't be all you're eating." he started. "That's a snack not breakfast. You should really get some more to eat. It's a long time till lunch." he said, side eyeing Doug was he spoke.

Shifting his attention to Doug. "You should really wipe that look off your face, Douglas. People might start to think you are an abusive prick if you scowl at everyone that talks to Mel and force her to eat like a bird." again he smiled but nothing in his tone was happy.

(sorry if i missed anyone)