The Devil's reflection

The cafeteria was pretty crowded, people filing into lines to get their lunches as others moved to tables claiming them. Frank moved to the closest table, a round one with seven chairs around it as he dropped his backpack on the table. He kicked out the chair, sat down tugging at his hood pulling it up over his head. He could hear the whispers of the other students as they sent him glances almost uncertain about him. Who starts school in the middle of the year? Frank rubbed at his eyes trying to ignore his growling stomach and the unease that seemed to mutter in the back of his mind. Unzipping the backpack he dug around inside hoping to find something to eat or some money for the vending machine that sat in the far corner of the cafeteria.

His search was fruitless, coming up with only a wrapper and few pens. Frank grumbled, shoving the stuff back into the bottom of the bag before dropping it to the floor. He could feel the eyes as they stared at him, their undivided attention on the new kid.

Why was he here? Why now? Why's his arm wrapped up? What about the scars on his face?

A clatter snapped Frank from his thoughts as his eyes snapped upwards meeting the dark eyes of the Asian woman. She brushed a few strands of her black hair out of her face before shuffling into her seat. The girl smiled at him before offering her hand across the table.

"Hi, I'm Rin. What's your name?" Rin asked as Frank leaned forward, taking the girl's hand.

"Frank. Why are you sitting with me?" Frank questioned as Rin started to eat.

"You were sitting alone. No one should sit alone." Rin stated as the seat next to her was pulled backwards. The pink haired girl plopped down in the chair setting her tray of food down as she smiled at Frank.

"Hello I'm Susie. I heard you say your name was Frank, right?" Susie said as she picked up her fork starting to eat the corn that was on her tray.

"Yeah. I goin-"

"Why the hell did you two move?" The teenager that Frank remembered was Joey stated as he yanked out a chair before sitting down. At his right was the young man that had gotten yelled at during class. What was his name again? Myers, why did that name seem to ring a bell? The dark haired girl was to Joey's left as she quickly moved to the seat beside Susie. Frank wasn't exactly expecting people to sit with him, let alone attempt to talk to him.

"Joey, just sit." Susie ordered as the dark skinned teen sat down.

"So Frank, where are you from?"

"Calgary, but I've moved around a lot." Frank muttered as the group nodded. "You guys from here?"

"Julie is, Michael is and so am I. '' Susie pipped up as Rin swallowed the bite of sandwich she was chewing.

"I've been here since I was little, I was adopted by a really nice family. Jo-'' Joey cut Rin off.

"I was adopted when I was thirteen so I've been here long enough I guess." Joey stated as he finished off his sandwich before grabbing his water. Frank nodded as his stomach growled, he was thankful that it was pretty quiet. The group fell into a comfortable conversation as they started telling stories and filling him on about living in Ormond. Frank chipped in as much as he could but he would rather sit and listen. It was nice.

"Hey!" Susie yelped as her hands went up to her hair and a woman with long dark hair stared at her with a wicked smirk on her lips. Her eyes were like amber popping against her red jacket as she flickered the small hair pin in her hand as Susie leapt up trying to grab the pin.

"Aww... come on little one! Jump!" The girl laughed as Susie tried to jump up to meet the other woman's raised arm but Susie wasn't as tall as the other.

"Amanda give her back her hair pin." Joey snapped as he started to get to his feet.

"Chill out Joey, it's a joke." Amanda grinned as another teenager walked up behind the woman. He had no hair and his presence sent a chill around the group. The guy reached up plucking the pin from Amanda's grip as she spun to look at the teen in the red and black long sleeve shirt.

"This is beautiful, Susie." The man muttered as he looked at the pin noticing the small jewel at the end. "It'd look great in your hair baby." He said as Amanda smiled at him.

"First off, that's not yours Freddy." Joey growled as he finally got to his feet as Michael got up as well. "Second, give it back." Joey spat as Freddy rolled his eyes.

"Or what MacMillan? What are you going to d-" The pin was snatched from the teens hand as Frank spun it around his fingers before returning it to Susie who smiled up at him.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Doesn't matter." Frank said as he pulled up a leather wallet getting the bald man's attention. Freddy patted down his pockets noticing his wallet gone, and he lunged forward attempting to grab it. Frank stepped backwards holding the wallet out of reach as he pulled out the ID, scanning it over.

"Give that ba-"

"Freddy Robert Krueger, a horrible name really." Frank chuckled as he noticed the smiles from those at his table. Freddy leapt forward again trying desperately to get the ID as Frank put his left arm up holding the smaller teen back. Freddy grabbed Frank's wrist as the searing pain rushed up his arm causing Frank to drop the ID and wallet. Amanda scooped up the items and pulled her boyfriend after as the two retreated across the cafeteria. Frank ran his right hand over his wrist as it continued to burn.

"You good man?" Joey asked, a bit concerned by the others' sudden reaction.

"Fine, fine..." Frank muttered as he waved off Joeys' concern. Frank flexed his hand testing it as the pain started to fade.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Susie yelled as she launched herself at Frank her arms wrapping around him in an embrace. It caught him off guard as he sort of stumbled backwards, he was never one for contact. Susie released him quickly as she stared up at him concerned in her eyes before he offered a smile back.

"No problem Susie." Frank stated as the pink haired girl smiled back before the bell chirped through the cafeteria. The group quickly gathered their items heading out of the cafeteria and down towards their classes. Rin snatched the class schedule from Frank's hand. A large smile crossed her face as she took his hand dragging him to the staircase as Joey followed after. Frank could get used to this group of friends.

~~~

Hope you guys had a good Thanksgiving!