>>Buckets and Burgers<<

[sarah]

<sup>I so so so so so SO hate you right now! Sarah yelled at Tristan from across the enormous cafeteria as she shoved the mop back into the bucket of soapy water. Her voice echoed through the empty room and she was glad. Now all the dead spirits in the school could hear how much she really resented Tristan right now.

She wasn't made for detention. It just wasn't something she was used to, for having never gotten one back home, except when it was Tristan's fault. It was always Tristan's fault when she got in trouble come to think of it. He just had to follow her everywhere like a dog. It was really starting to get on her nerves. She knew he meant well but still.

Tristan wheeled the garbage barrel around to the next table, taking his arm and just sliding everything off into it. It was much easier that way, who cares if there was still utensils and things. The school was rich enough to buy more. And you would think that the students would clean up their own messes when they were done eating. Apparently not. But that also explained why there were hardly any "empty" tables when you came into eat.

He kept rolling to the next table when he heard Sarah's voice echoing through the cafeteria. Good I'm glad. It's payback for standing me up last night! He yelled back shoving more stuff into the barrel.

Sarah pulled the mop out of the water bucket and dropped it onto the floor listening to it make a loud "slap" before starting to push it in all directions. This was disgusting. No wonder she never ate in here. She usually got her food and went back to her dorm, the Great Hall, or out into the yard to eat. Plus it was quieter and gave her a chance to catch up on some reading, or notes.

Tristan you knew I wouldn't come! We've been friends forever since when do you think I would give in to going out to a club when I would much rather stay here and study! She felt like a janitor, which tonight, technically she was. You know better then that! She called, lifting the mop back into the bucket and grabbing the handle to roll it back to a spot she hadn't cleaned yet.

What are you doing?! She exclaimed in a slightly disgusted voice when she was close enough to see Tristan clearly.

Tristan swallowed and quickly dropped the burger into the trash. What?! We missed dinner and I was hungry!

Sarah's mouth dropped open and her face had a look of utter disgust. That's gross! You don't know who was eating that before you. Who on earth would even try to eat a left over burger, from who knows how long ago. That was totally sickening. I hope you don't die now. She said in a lower voice starting to mop around the table Tristan had just cleaned off again.

Please. Tristan said as he grabbed a piece of turkey from a half eaten sandwich. My stomach is completely made of iron. I can eat anything and everything as long as it's edible...or I'm just hungry. He swallowed the meat then started clearing that table picking up a plate of salad. Unless it's green...yuck. He held it at arms length before dumping it quickly into the trash.

Sarah rolled her eyes and looked back down at the floor as it shined from the water being pushed around. It had to only be eight o'clock or so. Maybe if they finished by nine she could get some more of Hamlet read before she turned in for the night.

(yea little shorter then I wanted but i was running out of muse LoL...if i think of anything later ill Modify haha)</sup>

[noelle]

Noelle slowly made her way down the seemingly endless hall, kicking her feet out in front of her with each step. She stared down at them, finding nothing better to do. Her fingertips ran lightly over the brick wall, taking in their every groove and bump. It was very quite around the school right now, seeing as most people were either off campus or in their dorms. In her head she was humming the melody to a song she had had stuck in there all day. There was nothing else to do. She knew that she wasn't really to wander around the school like this after hours, but that just made it funner. That small possibility that she could be caught. Besides, how much could they do to her? It wasn't like she was wreaking havoc or anything, she was just walking around.

Her deep thoughts were broken when she heard faint yells coming from further down the hall. Her gaze shifted upward away from her feet, looking down the stretch. She didn't even realize she had walked this far, wow she must have really been out of it. That was okay though, as long as she knew where she was. She was by the cafeteria, and she knew how to get back to the dorms from here.

She let her eyes fall again, figuring she had just been imagining things, but titled her head back up wards when she heard more yells echoing faintly down the white walls. Who else could possibly be around here at this time?

She picked her step up to a normal pace, looking in each room as she passed them. There were all empty though, except for a couple where she spotted a teacher at their desk with one of those mini TVs that looked like it was the first time it was away from their mommy. Kind of weird...maybe teachers did live in their classrooms.

She slowed down when she came to the cafeteria doors, letting her hand slide down wards away from the wall as she stepped close enough to them to peak through the windows. She could see Tristan at the far end, calling to someone she assumed was Sarah. Had this been their after school detention? Well...that sucked. She wouldn't even be up for cleaning that monstrous room.

She wrapped her fingers around the cool metal handle, slowly pulling the thick wood toward her. She opened the Oak door just far enough that she could squeeze her body through, letting it quietly shut behind her again. She didn't say anything at first, just watched as they continued to clean. Poor Sarah, she looked miserable. Tristan on the other hand look like he was having fun...she wouldn't ask.

You guys want some help? She asked softly, just loud enough to be heard. She didn't mind lending a hand. And once again, there was nothing else to do. Why not spend a couple hours of her life swapping up the caf? It was a dirty job...but someone had to do it.

[sarah]

<sub>Tristan finished off another row of tables, and the person's mashed potatoes, before he finally stopped and wiped his brow. Yea, believe it or not pushing around people's dirty dishes was hard work. He looked around the caf and breathed out a relieved sigh when he saw he only had four tables left. Although, the down side to that would be only four more chances to sneak some left over grub. He was still hungry but maybe a sneak back to the kitchen wouldn't hurt after he and Sarah finished. A little reward for serving their time perhaps.

As he moved on to the next table he looked over at Sarah who seemed to have the most miserable look on her face. I'm sorry okay. That was all he was really good for at the moment. He was a little sorry at least for landing her in detention but she needed to loosen up a little. Stop being so uptight all the time.

Sarah moved a chair back into it's place after she finished mopping underneath a table. She shoved the mop back into the soapy water and grabbed the handle again, moving to a new area. When she heard Tristan talking to her she merely looked up at him, her eyes narrowing into a glare as she grabbed the mop and slapped it back into the floor. Clenching her teeth together for a moment she just glared angrily in his direction before looking away without saying anything. No way was she forgiving him that easily this time. Back in L.A. it was easier but she had come here to start anew and already she had gotten herself a bad name in front of Miss. Youngken. It was completely Tristan's fault too.

She gripped the mop with a deadly force as she slid it back and forth across the floor.

Tristan watched anxiously as Sarah gave him "the eye". He really hated that look. But when he got it he knew he had really screwed up. And this, was one of those times. His gaze moved away from her deathly glare and he pushed the trash bin along to the next row of tables and began clearing. Okay, he had gotten Sarah into detention on purpose...so why did he feel so bad now?

He stopped picking through a plate when he heard the cafeteria door open and looked up to see a girl coming in, asking if they needed any help. He would answer...if he knew her, instead he looked to Sarah, who the girl seemed to be talking to.

Sarah looked up when she heard Noelle talking from the door and slowly stopped her mopping, leaning the mop up against the nearest table. We could use any help we could get. But this is a detention sentence and if I remember correctly you aren't scheduled for detention...yet. She added with a slight teasing tone.</sub>

[noelle]

Noelle laughed to herself lightly at Sarah's response. She would still help if they wanted her to, but she knew her friend may decline. She was too nice for her own good sometimes, though that was a very admirable quality. No, I'm not yet. But who knows, maybe sometime in the near future. She teased back, walking further into the cafeteria. Especially if Jordan kept acting weird like he had this morning, then she'd be forced to hit him to knock the sense into his brain and she would surely land some kind of punishment.

When she made it to a clean table near Sarah, she pulled a chair out and stepped up, sitting herself down on the smooth top. She leaned forward, crossing her arms in front of her over her knees. Before she started speaking again, she looked to Tristan and gave him a friendly wave hello. She didn't really know him all that much, just what Sarah had mentioned about him, she still didn't want to make him feel like a third wheel though.

Okay, here's what's up. She started again, not going any further until she had reached into her pocket and pulled out a small notebook that she stole from her brother. It was one of those tiny ones that could be easily hidden, but not on her watch. She held it up so Sarah could see it with a smirk on her face. This is one of Jordan's notebooks. There is some pretty interesting stuff in here and I'd be willing to show you if you came with me to the club tomorrow night. I can promise you won't be disappointed. Of course, Jordan would be angry with her, but someone had to say something! If he had been crushing on her best friend for as long as it looked and hadn't said anything, he needed some help to get a step further. And the small notebook she held was practically stalker material, it said enough.

I'll even help you study a few chapters of Hamlet! I just really want to go and Jordan said no so now I have to beg you...Tristan can come too. She added, looking toward him again, then back at her friend. She put on an innocent, angelic like face, looking at her friend through puppy-dog eyes. Please? She asked softly, tilting her head to the side a little to add to the effect.

[sarah]

<sup>Tristan had stopped working altogether when he saw Sarah and who he assumed to be her friend...or at least acquaintance talking. He couldn't quite hear what they were saying so he left the garbage bin near his table so he could remember which one he had been working at to get closer on the action. When Noelle waved to him he returned it with a smile, still wanting to know who she was. Because she was H-O-T! But then again, he was a guy and would say that about any girl, Sarah included. Although...if he told her she was hot she would probably smack him and tell him that was gross, so he never had. But really...this girl was sizzlin. And..she knew his name? How was that possible because he didn't know hers. Hot and could read minds...that was sexy.

Sarah was watching Tristan draw himself closer, knowing already by his facial expression that he thought her best friend was attractive. She knew that one was coming. But for now she just ignored him and let him eaves drop. Her eyes dropped back down to the bluish notebook Noelle was holding in front of her. What's so important in it that you want me to see it? She asked, looking away from the stationary back to her friend. If this is Jordan's then there's private stuff in there, I don't want to invade his personal things. That's not right. She shook her head slightly. It wasn't a good thing to do either, something always back-fired or things were let out that weren't supposed to be. Whole views on people could be changed and she didn't want to see Jordan differently then she did now...unless it was in a good way. But she would rather not take that chance...or the chance of him getting mad at her for seeing something she should never have laid eyes on.

When Noelle offered that she would help Sarah study some of Hamlet, her cheek began to hurt from how hard she started biting it. She was going to need all the help she could get with the play, but she didn't want to have to go out to a club or invade personal space to get it. She wasn't a partying person. The last party she went to was her own sweet 16, and even that was only a few friends and the Godfather marathon. Her only version of a party was tons of movies and junk food.

Tristan listened to Noelle's bargain to get Sarah out to a club. He could almost laugh at the attempt. Her knew Sarah better then that. And now he figured it was his time to chime in. Nice try. But I don't think offering to help her study is a best way to get her out. She's to smart for that kind of stuff...

But then again, what if Jordan had something about her in there? After all, he barely said more then "Hi" to her when they met anywhere. Yes, she had noticed his shyness around her. But she always thought he had been like that around a lot of people he didn't know well. Of course, after all the time she and Noelle had been friends and all the times they had hung out, you would think he would have gotten used to her being around.

She stared hard down at the notebook, while weighing the studying and club idea in her head. Pros and Cons were once again coordinating themselves into a list in her head. Finally the Pros weighed out and she agreed. Okay. What can it hurt right? One night? She nodded, grabbing the mop again. I'll go.

Tristan's jaw almost fell to the ground when Sarah accepted that bargain. He had tried that one so many times and every time she had told him to shut up because he was screwing up her concentration. Hey! Wait a minute! He butted in again, stepping closer and looking down at Sarah. How come you'll go with her when she tried the same thing I do all the time?! What's so different when she asks? He pointed to Noelle with one hand on his hip.

Sarah looked up at Tristan when her stepped in front of her. Well, for one, she'll actually carry out her end of the bargain. Unlike you. And two, you're the most irresponsible person at a club then I have ever met.

How would you know that if you never agreed to come with me?! Tristan still didn't get it. Maybe it was because he was a guy. Maybe she felt better going with someone her own gender. But still!

His head turned to look at Noelle. What's your name? I want to know who the person is I can call my hero for finally getting Sarah to go out to a club. And he just wanted to know her name, to engrave it on every bathroom stall in the boy's lavatory.

Sarah rolled her eyes at Tristan, not even bothering to explain any further. She knew him better then he thought she did. Tristan this is my best friend Noelle. The one from back home that you never met. He had always bugged her about who she was hanging out with, one of the reasons why she never acquainted Noelle and Tristan. He was like an annoying big brother.</sup>

[noelle]

Noelle didn't pay mind to Tristan's attempt in hearing them. Jordan had done it all the time behind closed doors, she was used to it. When her friend asked what was in the notebook, she simply raised it a little higher and wavered it back and forth slightly. Not telling. She crooned with a teasing smile. I take his stuff all the time, he knows me well enough by now. So if he gets mad at anyone it'll be me, not you. She doubted that would work, but it was true. And after Jordan realized that this notebook was gone, he'd want to kill her then bring her back and kill her again. That was okay though, he'd thank her later.

She watched Sarah closely, studying her every time her expression changed even the slightest bit. She could practically see what she was thinking. Both her and Jordan were able to read people like that, after years of practice. Her gaze was broken though when Tristan spoke, letting her eyes shift to him. She didn't say anything to his two sense, but instead held up one finger, telling him to wait a minute. She grinned softly, then looked back to her friend. She could see her faces changing again as she sorted out a Pro-Con list. So many times she had wanted to tease Sarah for her ways of making lists, but it always seemed to help her out so she let it go.

Thank you! She said joyously when Sarah agreed, pushing the notebook back into her pocket. Noelle knew she could get Sarah to say yes, just like her she could get her to agree to anything. It was just one of those things that goes along with being best friends.

She folded her arms over her legs and looked back up at Tristan as he began protesting. She didn't bother saying anything, knowing Sarah would answer that just as well. When he asked her name though, she opened her mouth to say it before getting cut off. She closed it again, not really caring. Less work for her. Not really knowing what to say after the introduction, she just unfolded her arms and dropped them beside her on the table, locking them so she could lean her weight on them. Nice to finally meet you. She said in her usual enthusiastic way.

[sarah]

Sarah wasn't really going to see what was hidden within the lined pages of Jordan's notebook, although the idea was tempting. She was just going to humor Noelle, see the look on Tristan's face when she actually walked through the door, and get that help with Hamlet. Those were pretty much the Pros on her list. The big ones anyway, there were some minor ones like getting away for a few hours and such but they weren't as important.

No big deal really...I haven't been away from this school since we got here. She pulled the mop away from the table and started swishing it around under Noelle's feet.

Tristan's mouth wouldn't pick itself ff the ground. He couldn't believe what he was hearing! Your such a hypocrite! He exclaimed, joking of course since there was a laugh in his face. You're the one who didn't want to leave the campus. I've tried and tried and tried to get you to come with me almost everywhere I went and you always just blew me off! What makes Noelle, asking so different? Not that he didn't like the fact that someone had finally gotten through to Sarah, it just wasn't fair to him. He had been friend with her longer!

Sarah stopped mopping and tilted her head up to Tristan. At first she had taken that hypocrite crack seriously but when she saw his face her scowl disappeared. Well, I guess you just don't have that touch Noelle does. She looked from Tristan to Noelle and back again. They were cute, but she wasn't one to play match-maker. Besides, she didn't even know if Noelle would be interested in her idiot of a friend. But she knew Tristan was already definitely 100% interested in Noelle. But she guessed it couldn't hurt to do...something, give the tiniest push. You guys should hang out more, get pointers on how to make me go out with you guys more. She didn't expect that to help, but it was all she had at the moment. She wasn't good with dating stuff....or guys for that matter. Tristan was a male yes...but she wasn't sure how much of a guy he was.

Tristan sighed and rolled his eyes. He should have seen that response coming. But he still didn't understand what he was doing wrong. He straightened up a bit more when Sarah suggested he and Noelle hang out. He liked that idea, whether or not she was being serious or not. He'd take it as she was. Yea...I guess we're going to have to. It appears I'm the one lacking that special touch. Although he'd like to get that touch. To touch...uh...hehe...nevermind. He shouldn't really be thinking about that right now, it was inappropriate with Sarah around.

[noelle]

Noelle watched as Sarah and Tristan continued to go back and forth. Actually, it was kind if funny. She was trying not to let out a small laugh as they continued. She smiled proudly when Sarah said she had the touch. That's right. I can be very convincing sometimes. She said as she hopped off the table. Okay, maybe not very, but convincing enough. She had gotten Sarah to agree hadn't she? That had to be a miracle.

She looked to Tristan for a moment when Sarah said they should hang out more. Her and Tristan? She hadn't pictured that. But Sarah knew both of them pretty well...maybe they'd get along. Who knows.

I don't give away my secrets. She said with a small tilt of her head toward Tristan. Her eyes wandered upward to check the time, then back down to Sarah. It's getting late, I have to head back to my dorm anyway. But I'll see you guys tomorrow, bright and early. She honestly hated having English first thing in the morning, but then again she got it out of the way quickly.

She reached out and gave Sarah a goodbye hug. You won't be sorry. She whispered to her friend just loud enough for her to hear, grinning to herself. The worst thing that could happen would be that Sarah showed no interest in Jordan what so ever. And if that was the case, they never had to tell him this happened and she could just slip his notebook back into it's place.

When she pulled away, she gave Tristan a wave goodbye as she started backing up. She then turned around and made her way to the door, actually kind of hoping tomorrow would come faster. She wanted to check out the club really bad, and finally give Sarah a hint at what was going on in Jordan's head. By now she really deserved it.