you have the means in your possession

[edgeofyourseat]

Lunch has just started and there are not very many people in the cafeteria, but apparently there isn't enough room for these two students to stand in line next to one another without... friction.

It begins with a scowl. Well, a scowl from the taller of the two. Delaney honestly doesn't seem to care. Unfortunately, this is not the correct response.

Comments

[self_composed]

Bella regains her calm slowly, and mostly by the mechanism of adjusting her hair, before looking to the source of the clapping. "Hello, Ms. Finch," she says, relieved.

[edgeofyourseat]

"So I don't have to put anybody in a detention he's not gonna show up for anyway," says Ms. Finch, giving Bella a nod.

"Nope," says Delaney, very cheerfully.

"Congratulations," she deadpans.

Delaney tips his head Bellaward. "Blame her."

The other kid, what with the inhibiting presence of a teacher, shuffles slowly away.

[self_composed]

Bella inhales deeply, exhales, and smiles politely at Ms. Finch. "Thanks for appearing so quickly. It was not guaranteed that I'd be able to say anything useful."

[edgeofyourseat]

"No problem," says Ms. Finch.

Delaney picks up the single intact item out of the remains of his lunch - a bottle of juice - opens it, and heads for the door. People get out of his way with remarkable speed, except for Ms. Finch, who stays put.

"Any chance you'll help clean that up?" she asks him.

...He pauses to consider this question.

[self_composed]

Bella is reasonably sure that she is not responsible for cleanup. She sits back down in her seat and eats her little package of popcorn.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Nah," says Delaney. Ms. Finch doesn't argue, just steps aside to let him leave the room. The lunch lady who went after her reappears, and the normal course of lunch resumes, plus an expected buzz of gossip and the minor kerfuffle of Ms. Finch cornering the other boy and getting a promise of cleanup out of him, which she remains for a few minutes to supervise.

[self_composed]

Bella has eaten three kernels of popcorn before Jessica finishes her own lunch transaction, plops into the seat at Bella's left, and demands a word-for-word recap.

Bella sighs very quietly and provides.