#bergen_county

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During lunch, Sylvi's supposed to meet up with the cheerleaders, but she makes her apologies to them and sees if she can spot Adam in the sea of noisy teens.

Just the back of his head, curly brown hair disappearing out of the hallway, but not heading to the lunchroom. Heading.... outside?

Sylvi hesitates, annoyed -- he couldn't make this easy, could he -- then starts to head after him.

Adam finds a quiet corner outside, untroubled by the presence of others, to eat a Slim Jim.

She follows and finds him. "Adam," she says as she approaches.

He looks over, stiffening. "Hey."

She notes that, and puts up her hands. "I come in peace," she quips with a bit of a smirk. "Just heard you got called into the office. You okay?"

"Yeah. Gardner already did the thing, ok?

She pauses, frowns. "The thing?"

"Yeah, the whole 'understanding dude' thing. Don't wuss out your first day, yada yada yada."

"Wuss out? Adam, I don't even know what you got called in for. Did you end up fighting Dirk after I left?"

Though a quick glance shows that he has all his fingers and is still wearing the same pants he had on before, so fighting Dirk probably didn't happen.

"No. Got in trouble for it anyway. I know he's the Chief's golden child, whatever, but I'm not going to let him try and boss me around."

"Golden child?" Sylvi laughs at that. "Not hardly. Sam's closest to that. Dirk's more like...special project number twenty-three, or something. Look," she takes a seat nearby, "I asked Dirk what happened, and he straight-up says he started it. How'd you get in trouble for it?"

"Some narc overheard me and told the teacher." A shrug. He finishes the Jim. "No big deal."

"No detention or anything?"

"No. Anyway, what do you care?"

Sylvi looks at him. "Because you had a conflict with one of us on the first day of school, and we've got to keep our stuff on the down-low in here. And because I wanted to let you know Dirk admitted he started it." She glances at the SlimJim wrapper. "That all you're eating?"

A shrug. "Not really hungry."

He fishes out his phone, looks at it.... taps.

*Bzzt* Outside. Not hungry.

_bzzt I'm in line. Come sit w/us? Don't have to eat. _

Adam looks again at the phone, sighs. "Sam wants me to come sit with them."

Sylvi watches him text. "So...okay." A pause. "Later." She turns to go inside.

She looks back. "Yeah? Cool. See ya, then."

Adam slouches after Sylvi, heading inside unenthusiastically.

Sylvi heads back into the cafeteria, makes a quick acknowledgment wave with a half-smile to Sam and crew, then points at the cheerleader table with a little eyeroll before heading over there.

Sam waves at Sylvi!

Adam parts company with her at that point, dropping into a seat at Sam's table.

"Hey. Adam, this is May, and this is Lupe...."

Sylvi grins a little more when Sam waves, a little relieved...but still heads over to the cheerleaders.

Obligations.

May and Lupe appear blessedly human.

(ha!)

"Hey." Adam takes a moment to appreciate both ladies.

"Hey! So, girls, this is Adam, he's new and he plays basketball, so he's gonna try out for the boys tomorrow... now, what you gotta know about the coach is..."

Adam gets to hear all about the coach, the key boys players, the UNCONTESTED SUPERIORITY of the girls team...

Symon is in the hot lunch line, eyeing over the options. Strangely enough, there always seems to be some mystery meat or government-issue vegetable concoction that he finds palatable. Today it's a plop of the salisbury steak and some greyish potatoes, before he pauses to look over the tables. There's Sylvi at the cheerleader table - hell naw. Sam and her girls... and Adam. He scans the rest of the room before making a decision. Maybe a corner table is left unoccupied?

The others wouldn't know, but Sam can tell Adam seems uncharacteristically subdued. He responds, puts up a good front... but his natural confidence and enthusiasm is a bit lacking.

...Rutgers basketball camp, the Knicks...

Sam might note the subdued... but the conversation is inclusive, upbeat and utterly mundane. No fae stuff, no pressure.

Symon heads to that blessed corner table - huh, there's a girl sitting on the far end in a hoodie. What was her name? Gertrude or something? No matter, he doesn't bother her and she doesn't bother him as he takes his seat, sneaking a milk carton out of his pocket. He seems quite content to sit there and scope out the others.

Symon get a wave when HE is spotted, too.

He waves back, but seems settled and doesn't move to join them.

Lupe is fierce and opinionated and talks a mile a minute. May is quieter and sweet and a bit shy. But if Adam is Sam's friend, he's included.

After a few minutes, maybe halfway through lunch, Adam stands. "Gonna get a drink... you guys want any?"

She rummages for a dollar. "Chocolate milk, please?"

"I got it, Sam." A quick grin, and baring other orders, steps away.

And back shortly, a Power Aid in one hand and chocolate milk in the other.