Martin Van Bruen Cafeteria

"This shit looks disgusting." Lupe grumbled, throwing her tray of food out. Today's lunch special was "Mystery Meat". Blech! For all she knew, they could have been serving meat from some animal she'd never even heard of. Maybe she could cut school for a bit to get something from Abuelito's shop. Lupe's thoughts came to a close when her cheap, beat up cellphone vibrated in the pocket of her shorts. She smiled once Becky's text reached her and replied: The food sucks! Still wanna come? Slipping her phone back into her pocket, she sighed. She needed to tell someone about her day today. Why not tell Becky? They were in need of some catching up, anyway.

"I'm already here, " Rebecca told her friend, appearing soon enough behind her. "Boo." She grabbed onto Lupe's shoulders to peer over at a dark substance on her friend's tray. "You're right, total crap. But I'll deal." Rebecca slid into a lightly-graffitied plastic seat beside her friend and stretched back casually. "What's new with you?"
She leaned forward again, stealing a cheap fork from beside Lupe's tray to poke at the alien substance. "Ooh, do you suppose it might come alive and eat us all?" she mused quietly, ever the horror-fanatic.

Lupe glared at the tray in front of her, as if the food would jump right off her tray and make a run for it. "It betta not come alive. And quit pokin it! I don like the way it moves." She frowned, her accent evident in her speech. Leaning back in her chair, Lupe let out a long sigh. "Nothin new at school. It's the same crap everyday." Not much went on in Martin Van Bruen, unless you consider fighting and prank playing to be something interesting. Turning her head to look at Becky, she added, "But we did get stuff sent from the states. Abuelita didn't like it though. Said it was a slap to the face or insulting, iunno. Never looked at what was in the box." Lupe's family was close; her family outside the island, not so much. There was always something her family was arguing about. Shrugging it off, she asked Becky, "So, what's new with chu?"

"Nothing much, only that I have my job for maybe one more week before Arty's closing out and Carson just started public school," Rebecca said, one piece of news more positive in nature than the other. "Any chance your Abuelito needs another pair of hands in his shop?" She highly doubted it, but it was worth it to ask, she figured.
She fiddled with the fork in front of her face, crossing her eyes absentmindedly at it. The noise level was a lot higher at this lunchroom than Valevay, but Rebecca really didn't mind. The sounds were mostly a dull hum in the background anyway, kind of like at the mall every weekend.

"Aww, little Carson's goin to school? I'm so proud a him!" Lupe grinned. She understood the family's concerns about Carson's health, but she wondered if he'd be okay in public school. Then again, he did have Becky, so he should be fine. After hearing Becky ask about Abuelito's shop, she sighed and shook her head. "Sorry, Becky. To be honest, business has been slow there. Uncle Emi's gotta work an extra shift jus so we're good on food." The tanned skinned girl took another look around the cafeteria, rolling her eyes at everything she thought was stupid. She was glad Becky decided to come here. That made school just a bit more bearable. "So, what's up with Arty's? Why's it closing?"

Rebecca grimaced as she swiped the mystery meat into her mouth. Mulling it over in her mouth, her lips turned down in consideration and she nodded. "Not fo bad...." Finishing her bite, Rebecca gulped it down. "I really need to get you some Valevay lunch some time. Just come over when you want."
Readjusting her semi-frizzy ponytail, Rebecca looked down. She didn't feel pity for too many people, but she did feel pretty horrible for asking a job from a family that didn't have much. Her eyes turned upwards bright and normal again, as if nothing serious had passed through her head. "Y'know, like Netflix and stuff took over, and no one goes to rent movies anymore... I'm gonna see I guess if the mall has anymore openings then."

"Oh? Dun mind if I do! " Lupe grinned. "Valevay food sounds pretty good at the moment. I shoulda just ditched and met chu there for lunch; if they'd actually let me in." She leaned back in her chair, eyes on Becky who looked as if she was in deep thought. It must have not been that serious, since she started casually talking about her job again. "Oh! If you get a new job, get one someplace cool! Ju know, like uhh... Um.. Shit, whas it called again...?" Lupe trailed off, trying to think of the correct word. "Juego...? No... Becky! That place where you play all them games an you get tickets an win prizes, whas that called? Well, whatever it is, you should work there!" Lupe grinned as she slammed her hand on the table, quite pleased with how she handled her translation situation.

"I'm not at all against sneaking you in if I need to, Loopy," Rebecca said, honestly conspiratorial. When the conversation turned back to possible jobs, Rebecca laughed and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that place definitely has it goin on but....Gah, can you imagine me around so many people and whiny kids? I think it'd be awesome for a bit, then I'd snap." Rebecca was pretty sure she was only good around well-behaved kids, like Carson when he was younger. Spoiled rotten annoying brats she had no patience for, and people kept having them. "I'll probably end up applying, anyway. That or someplace I can pass time doing something when only a few people are there, like the movie store did."
When Rebecca had worked at Arty's movie rental store, she had been in charge of the television that constantly played in the store. Aside from a few restrictions, she had almost free reign over what the customers watched and therefore herself as well. Something like that, where she wasn't too busy, or too bored-- that suited her the best.

Lupe thought about that game place for a while. Becky did have a point about the bratty kids. It's not like you could have treated them how they needed to be treated, since their bratty parents would get on your case. The brunette did face Becky once more when she spoke about working where not many people go. "Oh, then work at the book store then. It's usually quiet." Lupe shrugged. She was only giving out suggestions, but she wasn't sure if Becky would want to try them all.

"Eh, I'll figure it out," Rebecca shrugged, smiling back at Lupe. "I've got a bit of time." She was pretty glad she'd found someone like this she felt she could connect with, and just talk about whatever.

"Are you trying for any sports teams this year?" she asked her comrade. If she was Rebecca thought she might also, especially since Carson was more out and about now. The older Clemens sibling knew she had to get out of caretaker mode and into her own life a bit more, but at the same time she was so used to it that she realized it would be the hardest thing for her to change. Athletics were probably the most significant part of her routine curbed by that niggling feeling of Carson's being home alone--but they were something that she could maybe get back into, more than just casually.
After all she was a junior in senior-level classes, so it was probably the last year she'd ever have that chance.

"Of course I am! I signed up for futbol." cried out, suddenly more energetic. The actual games against Valevay didn't start till way later, since training was needed, but she was looking forward to it. "I wanted to play baseball too, but I jus dun have time to do em both." Helping out at Abuelito's shop and doing chores at home were very time consuming, even if the house was small. Oh, how she wished school hadn't started yet. Lupe wasn't excited to come back at all. "So, wha sports are ju gonna do?" A determined smile made it's way to her face. "Pick futbol, so I can kick your ass this year!" Lupe laughed. It was nice when playing on the same team as Becky, but it always made things more challenging when Becky was on the opposite team too. She knew it wouldn't just be an easy win, and that made it all the more fun.

Rebecca's face drew into a wide grin and the girl pointed a tanned index finger at her rival of a friend. "You're on!" she cried. " Kick my ass? It'll be like you were just learning soccer for the first time!" Rebecca was satisfied--with this, she would be more actively involved in something she loved, especially with and against a friend. It would be really cool-- the first time since freshman year she'd be taking part in an organized sport, and the thought excited her.
If one looked, they would probably be able to tell that Rebecca's fierce eyes shone at the prospects, jumping ahead of herself a bit. What position would she try for? Which would she get? Midfielder, that's where it was at-- the range of motion she'd have offensively and defensively... She could already feel the ground tearing beneath her cleats, maybe Carson cheering on the sidelines for both his sister and Lupe, the restless crowd in the stands full of parents other than hers.... Maybe...maybe I shouldn't skip so far ahead, Rebecca thought, her visions taking somewhat of a negative turn. Brought back suddenly to the present, Rebecca hadn't lost her sharp grin however.

"Hahaha! Awright then! It's settled!" Grinning, Lupe draped her arm over Becky's shoulder. She couldn't wait for soccer season to kick off, but she did have some practicing to do if she wanted to be named victor. "Ju wanna practice soccer sometime? I dunno when but try outs don't start til, like, two weeks from now. At least in this school anyway." Lupe was confident she could snag a spot on the team; but it didn't hurt to practice.

Despite her friend's prior protests, Rebecca absently poked at the remaining stuff on the tray as she replied. "Totally, but sometime next week--this weekend is kinda full-up what with volleyball and fishing and stuff." Turning to face Lupe, she added: "Are you coming to volleyball this time? I mean, would you wanna?"
By then though, Rebecca's mind was drifting to distractedness and the spirit in her voice had died down a little bit. She had no clue why, but at this point Rebecca was either getting a little tired or a little bored or both. Nothing besides her friend was keeping her at the not-so-nice school that in all rights probably should have been hers as well. Aside from that, Lupe probably also hadn't done much more than stare at the cafeteria food by the time Rebecca had arrived, and she didn't really blame her. Rebecca hadn't really eaten more than a bite or two of anything either.
She stood from her chair and looked down at Lupe. "Wanna go somewhere else? Like for lunch?"

"Volleyball... Ehhhhh...." Lupe wasn't very good at volleyball. The only reason she ever played was because it was a great way to spend time with Becky, even if she wasn't the best at it. "Yea, why not? Besides, if I don't go, yer jus gonna drag me to the beach anyway." She mumbled, rolling her eyes playfully. After fixing her ponytail, she looked up at Becky, giving her a slight smile. "I would, but doesn't class start soon? Unless ju wanna ditch. I got no problem with dat." Lupe smirked at the brunette before her.

"Yup, I'da dragged you anyway--you know me much too well for your own good." Rebecca winked knowingly at her best friend, grinning all the while. "Y'know I love having you there--it's tooooons more fun then." Her eyes widened when Lupe reminded her of the time. "Dammit! I probably shoudn't miss two days of class in the first week. mainly cuz Mom works there...."
She frowned deeply, but smied as another thought struck her. "Next week--next week we'll skip and do somethin'. Text me?" Rebecca stood for a bit to give Lupe a chance to say something before she decided to make a mad dash back to campus.

Standing up to stretch, Lupe let out a weird sound before flashing a grin towards her brunette friend. "So we're ditchin next week? Cool with me. Dun worry, I'll text ya." Watching the herd of students leave for their next class, the raven-haired girl decided she should follow pursuit. "Imma catch chu later, girl!" She cried, waving goodbye as she headed out of the cafeteria. Lupe wasn't too fond of getting to class straight away, so she thought she'd linger around for a bit. Hey, it was better than sitting in a chair for forty-five minutes doing absolutely nothing.