Catching Fire

Chapter Seven

I wasn't too sure why my thoughts bothered me so much. I was happy as long as all of my friends were happy. I always wished that their happiness included me in some form or fashion. Javontae always said that was my biggest problem. I always put others happiness above my own, but he didn't care about anybody's happiness, so I took him with a grain of salt.

My happiness was in my work. It was in my friends. It was in food. Cheeseburgers specifically. It was in music. All the necessities I use to get through a week or sometimes even one day. The thought of food made my mouth water as my stomach growled for the umpteenth time while sitting at my desk. I loved my breakfast spot, but it barely lasted till I got off work in the late afternoon.

I tried to tap away the hungry thoughts by completing assignments for my classes, but it was to no avail. I had to tap away more than hungry thoughts. I needed to tap away angry thoughts, sad thoughts, horny teenage thoughts, stressful thoughts. The roaring growl that my stomach was letting out told me I was failing at pushing away my hungry thoughts. As I tried to focus on the screen in front of me and not the dying animal known as my stomach the growl failed to take a break.

"Dude, you need to eat," my supervisor Donna said noticing the growl.

"I will at some point." I reassured her with the most cheerful tone I could muster.

"Some point today or this year?"She laughed at her own joke.

"I'll let you know." I went back to face my school work, but my mind was clearly somewhere else. It was Probably in the bed where I needed to be or eating some form of pasta without me. The vibration in my pocket brought me back to reality. I waited to see if a second vibration would follow, but it was just a text.

I paused before pulling out my favorite distraction. I quickly pressed the button to wake my phone. The new message appeared on the screen.

Chance: Good afternoon guys! I hope y'all have an amazing day. 😁

I failed to suppress the eye rolling. I placed my phone to the side as I tried to return my attention back to my school work. For a brief second I was prepared to begin until a second buzz came from my favorite distraction. I clicked open a new document as I tried to focus. I started to dive into the assignment before a third vibration and eventually a fourth one caught my attention. I pulled the phone closer as it was obvious that no school work was getting done.

Julian: You sound happy today mbn 😩

Chance: Your time will come soon JuJu

Julian: I need whatever you had today.

The conversation unknowingly was triggering. I knew what had him so chipper. It was in fact the unspoken thing. I would be lying if I didn't confess my jealousy. My best friend was happy and I was hungry and jealous. Before I knew it my fingers were typing away a response filled with emotion.

"We all could have what he had today just not who he had today🙃"

After hitting send I definitely felt like lunch was in order.

~*~

"You think that was cute? You thought that was classy?" A stammering Chance followed me as I passed through the union. It would mark our first encounter since the exchange.

"I thought it was cute and you know I always keep it classy." I responded without looking him in his eyes. The fear of seeing the emotion in his eyes prevented me from turning around.