The cafeteria was buzzing as Noah walked to the gold-tier section, the clatter of trays and hum of conversation bouncing off the high ceilings.
The smells of bread, eggs, and stewed meat hung thick in the air.
He took his tray from the line, piled high with toast, a bowl of broth, and a tall glass of water, and searched for an empty table away from the clusters of students that always seemed too loud for his liking.
Spotting one near the far wall, half-shadowed from the light streaming in through the long windows, Noah made his way over.
He set the tray down carefully, slid into his seat, and immediately dug in.
He didn't care for the noise, and he didn't care to watch the way people glanced at him out of the corners of their eyes.
He had bigger things on his mind to be so concerned with the stares and whispers of students.
He'd barely managed a few bites before the familiar scrape of another tray hitting the table across from him made him freeze.
