Finding a seat was difficult. Almost every table was filled with students, the ones that weren’t large enough to sit the party of five. They had to walk past the salad bar before finding a seat. There was a counter with a barstool, but Stormy didn’t want to climb into a seat while carrying food. They kept looking, a moment later someone took the barstool seats.
Stormy noticed several eyes on him as the group moved, most were too into their own conversations to notice anything else. How many want help with weather? He wondered, happy he was in a group so no one would approach him while he ate. So far people only came up to him if he was alone. The pony’s head kept scanning, looking for a seat. He found several singular seats, but nothing big enough for the group.
Follow the alicorn, that’s what this reminded Stormy of; everyone following Chevonne and mimicking her actions looking for a table. After at least five minutes a table was found but the pony wasn’t sure who first found it. Chevonne stayed at the table, a long thing with 6 seats at the end free, while everyone else went to get their food and something to drink.
Stormy left with Edward, the pony spotted a delicious smelling pasta earlier.
Below the counter, a place the pony never thought to look, Edward pulled out two brown trays and handed one to Stormy.
“Shanks.” Stormy spoke around the tray. It tasted like nothing but plastic, none of the tastes he picked up if someone had touched it a lot like with door handles. This works much better. He thought, setting it on the counter. His rear hooves stayed on the floor as he walked the tray down the counter as the line moved, waiting for some food.
The sign above the counter read:
Veggie Alfredo (vegetarian)
Shrimp Alfredo
Edward didn’t reply to the thanks, just kept his eyes on the moving line. He pulled off a bowl of pasta with little pink round things the pony decided had to be shrimp.
Stormy got up front, the person behind the counter pointed to a bowl with green specks in it, peas and other vegetables. The pony grabbed the bowl, placing it on his tray.
“They let animals in here now?”
“So much for the health code.” Followed by some kind of a laugh.
Stormy turned around, two male humans, the kind with alabaster skin were snickering to themselves. I guess I do look like an Earth pony, but what’s so funny about it?
Edward spoke, loud enough for the two to hear him, staring solidly at their eyes. “Obviously, or they never would have let you in. Or maybe you are the type who thinks Homo Erectus is a dirty word.” His words spewed forth, scathing at best. He was met with shocked stares by the other two. “Or maybe your parents just couldn’t afford to educate you properly. Or don’t you know humans are apes.” He grabbed his plate and walked off, leaving Stormy to catch up to him. “Simpletons.”
They stopped just long enough for them both two get cups of water and head towards their seats, sitting down quietly. Katherine and Suzanne were back, Sue with a burger most likely made of meat and Kat with a salad.
“Now THIS is food!” Sue enthused, talking around a large bite of partially masticated burger. Getting a disapproving glance from her friend who took small bites of salad.
Edward twirled a fork into the concave part of a spoon while it picked up the linguini. He looked like he normally did though, prim and proper.
The food smelled divine, the pony didn’t even realize he was hungry. His mouth dove into the bowl. He finished his first bite before noticing his mistake. Stormy lifted his head up, looking straight at Katherine. “Sorry.”
He was greeted with a gentle smile. “It’s okay. Eat up.” She took another small bite of salad and pointed to her lip.
Stormy felt with his tongue at an errant noodle before hungrily slurping it up.
Ed gave a disapproving stare over his cup of water.
“What?” Stormy tilted his head and crossed his brows. “It’s good.”
Sue lost it. She practically fell to the table laughing.
“Glad to see you all getting along so well.” Chevonne returned to her seat with some sort of soup. “It wasn’t til my second year that I made friends like this.”