"You're right. She's ganny." Eli whispered sizing up the skinny girl from across the table. "Five of her would totally fit into Betty."
"Good. Now we agree that your sister is-"
Elijah fixed him a glare. "Don't you dare complete that sentence."
"Betty, Elijah's being mean." Enoch whined facing the chubby girl beside him.
"Eli, stop bullying Nochie"
He rolled his eyes in response. "He called you an unbalanced fowl, idiot."
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Don't start!" Vicky cautioned, well more like commanded, placing a steely gaze on Elijah.
"Take those things you call eyes away from me, Vics. The lord knows they're deathly enough to murder me in my sleep."
"And we're coming close to that." she stated in menace, her jaw locked in a hard grind.
"No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper." he replied waving his hands over his head in an 'I reject it' gesture.
"Quit it you two! Always making the atmosphere chilly." Betty chided. "Toks this nut head is my brother. He's a year above us and really unbearable....sometimes..."
"Make that all the time. Blood sucking ti-"
"Don't mind Enoch, Skinnine. Welcome to the group. We'll try not to break you." He joked.
"Don't call me that." the thin girl spoke defiantly but the tremor in her voice could be heard. Or maybe that was just her legs vibrating against the table.
"What? Skinnine? Lady, I can call you whatever I want to." he stated nonchalantly.
"No. No you can't. If you call me that, I'll... I'll break your face."
There was a pregnant pause before everyone broke into laughter. ncluding Vicky.
"Oh my.... You're a funny one Toks."
"That was a joke right? Because well.... Have you checked the mirror lately?" Vicky scorned.
"It's like a broom stick threatening a palm tree!" Elijah guffawed, looking absolutely repulsive as he did.
Tokunbo squirmed in her seat fighting the tears that bridled her eyes. Did this count as 'trouble'? Because at that moment she felt like running to her father.
"Whatever." she mumbled trying to curb her emotions but failed when her voice cracked on the ever.
Enoch seemed to notice this and signaled to the others to stop, but apparently, Elijah was a man of his own. A mad one.
"Hahaha, I mean.... Do you even eat at all?! I swear we don't need that old broken skeleton in the biology lab, we've got you! And you don't even have to be dead."
Tokunbo stood up then, storming out of the cafeteria. Anyone could see her wiping the tears repeatedly as she did. Everyone watched her go then turned to Elijah with burning glares.
"Why are you so goddamn insensitive Eli?!" Enoch cursed.
"Me?! I did nothing wrong! Not my fault she has no sense of humor."
"That was low Eli! Humor or not. Skeleton? Jesus Christ! Were you thinking before you said that?!"Betty asked, disdain in her eyes.
The latter shrugged nonchalantly snapping the gum in his teeth.
"You're insufferable.Don't care what you say or do as long as it pleases you!" she screamed.
Elijah frowned then rolled his eyes. "Keep going. Maybe you'll finally have a shot at that poetry shit you're so hooked on."
"Fudge, Eli, shut the hell up will you? We get that your existence is a burden to the world, but you've done enough damage!"
"Aaaand she speaks! Miss "I've had a rough childhood and life hasn't been fair to me." " he mocked.
Vicky growled in anger. "Shut your brother up Bets, or I will. Done it before and I'll hell as hell do it again. Hopefully he disappears this time."
Elijah's nose flared at the indirect insult. "Those days are so freaking over. You do not want to mess with me Vics. You know what will happen." he growled back.
"Oh yes I do. Your ass will be freaking whooped by moi."
Enoch sighed. "Alright, shut up you two. Your arguments always give me headaches."
"No you shut up Enoch. You don't tell us what to do. And what's with the goody two shoes act? All this shit wouldn't happen if you hadn't..." Eli trailed off.
"No. Go ahead. Finish it. If I hadn't tied your leg and dragged you all the way here huh? So typical of you to blame someone else for your misfortune." Enoch spat.
"This is stupid. I'm leaving and PS, y'all are my misfortune." he bit back, dragging his chair aside so he could leave.
"You always do this, Run away when the going gets tough. Flipping coward." Vicky snarled.
Elijah shot her the finger and strutted away.
And then there were three.
"I don't understand him anymore." Betty sighed slumping against her chair.
"Well you would if you didn't spend all your days chomping down food like some pig!" Vicky sniped still riled up from the previous arguments.
Betty's jaw dropped in horror.
"Vicky!!!" Enoch sputtered.
"What?! It's the obvious truth and stop acting like you can't see it too." she replied dismissively.
"And you were going on and on about how Elijah was insensitive. You're just as bad as him Victoria."
"Oh I'm sorry Mother, Didn't realize I had to be who you need me to be." she scoffed.
"That makes no sense. It's not even related!"
"Just go away Enoch. Abeg. You can fool everyone else with the goody two shoes act but not me. For once I agree with that bastard. Y'all are a pain in the renal area."
"Hey! You may be my best friend,; I'm not so sure about that anymore ; and my brother may be such an insolent ass but you have absolutely no right to call him a bastard!"
"Awe, look who is suddenly standing up for her big brother. I'm leaving."
"I don't even know you anymore. This isn't the Vicky I know." Betty whimpered, her voice trembling as she rose to her feet grabbing her bag.
"Google it and maybe then you'll know." Vicky threw one last reply and strutted out of the cafeteria.
Enoch stood up quietly. "I need a break."
"Fine! Go away all of you. I am done with y'all too!" Betty hissed, face red in anger and etched in sadness.
They used to be happy.