A Particular Way of Eating

Chelsea and Lauren sat at a table with food. Chelsea talking and Lauren listening to her while slowly eating the vegetables on her plate, the meat and potato not yet touched.

Chelsea paused in the middle of her speech and took a sip of water, eyes going to the door, watching for Tom and Simon.

Tom and Simon came in at that moment. For a change it was Tom who was laughing, Simon quiet. In fact, even to people who knew them very well, this would confuse them to who was who.

Chelsea gave them a wave, signalling for them to join her and Lauren. lauren just kept eating.

Tom came over but Simon sort of hesitated. He went and sat with his group of friends. Tom looked upset, coming over.

"Sorry, I don't know what that was all about..."

Chelsea shook her head, "It is okay, don't worry about it..." though she looked a bit upset and hurt.

Lauren had looked up and watched Simon go to another table. Was it because of her?

Tom sighed. "He's refusing to talk to me at the moment..." he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

In some ways Tom, being entirely identical to his brother, was better looking. He had more charm.

Lauren looked back down to her plate, carrying on eating, still on her vegetables.

"At least he still goes around with you...I think he is avoiding me..." Chelsea said, saddness and a bit of confusion in her voice.

"No, he doesn't go around with me, Chels, he goes around with his friends..." Tom gestured to Simon's friends.

"You came in with him..." but then she shook her head, "I am sorry..."

Lauren finished her vegetables and moved onto her meat.

"Chels...you aren't jealous are you?" Tom whispered across the table.

Lauren looked up to her friend, having heard what Tom had said.

Chelsea blushed lightly and shook her head, "No!"

"Cause, you know, sharing a room with him and being his twin is nothing to be jealous of..." Tom said softly, looking exactly as though he were Simon.

Chelsea looked down, "I...I am not jelous...I just...he's ignoring me and avoiding me...and i am just not used to that..."

"Give him some time..."

Chelsea nodded and looked down.

Lauren kept eating her meat.

"Hey Lauren," Tom smiled.

Lauren looked up at him and gave a shy smile, "H-hello Tom."

"You okay?" he asked softly.

It really was a wonder why the girls preferred Simon.

Lauren gave a smile and nodded, "Fine thank you..."

Chelsea's eyes went to the door as a guy with long auburn hair entered.

Tom looked up and saw Jeremiah, waving him over.

Jeremiah hesitated, but then gave nod, walking over to Tom's table.

Chelsea looked a bit happier now. "Jerry!"

Jeremiah gave her a nod, sitting down.

Tom blinked. "You two know each other?"

Chelsea looked to him, "Remember my ex Jerry that I dated two years ago? I've told you about him before, and you were the first person I told when I started going out with him, but you never met him."

Jeremiah just kept quiet.

Tom frowned then his eyes widened. "OH! And...this must be Jerry?"

Tom didn't know why, but he was slightly disappointed.

"Yep!" Chelsea smiled, "I could never be bothered to call him Jeremiah all the time so I just called him Jerry."

Jeremiah's eyes were on TOm, watching him.