Page 23 of Wylder and the Almost Rockstar
It was too early to be awake. She didn’t have class for another hour, plenty of time to hit snooze a few times, but her stomach growled, and there was no way she was going to get Logan and her utter failure to bring him home out of her mind.
She tugged on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, shoving her feet into her boots. She didn’t bother with her hair before she headed to the dining hall for breakfast.
“O…M…G. Is that Wylder?” Devyn whisper-shouted.
“Do you think she’s sleepwalking?” Killian snorted into his protein shake.
“Ha ha, you guys are so funny.” Wylder flopped into a seat beside Will at their usual table. “Why didn’t you tell me they had an assortment of all the best cereals?” She glared at him like he was responsible for the oversight.
“I um, I’m sorry?” Will sputtered, turning beet red.
“Was that a question?” Wylder scowled.
“Drink your coffee.” Killian scooted her travel mug closer. “Finish waking up before you ruin Will’s entire day.”
“Seriously, you guys should have told me about the breakfast bar.” She poured milk over her cereal.
“You’re supposed to pick one.” Diego scrunched up his nose at the collection of various cereals in her bowl.
“No, you’re not. You’re supposed to pick all your favorites. That’s why they have it buffet style.”
“I don’t think you’re doing cereal right, Wylder.” He shook his head, scooping up a mouthful of some sort of bran flake cereal.
“What are you, eighty? You’re supposed to go for the sugar-coated ones.” She fished out a collection of Fruity Pebbles and Lucky Charms from her bowl.
“That’s just… wrong.” Devyn wrinkled her nose. “You know they have an omelet station too? You should try their egg-white veggie omelet. And maybe skip the fifty deep-fried French toast sticks and butter next time.”
Wylder dipped a French toast stick into a mixture of melted butter and syrup. “This is not a pick on Wylder’s eating habits kind of morning. New subject. I suck as a friend.” She stuffed her mouth with gooey fried goodness.
“We’re aware of your less-than-desirable behaviors, habits, wardrobe, and diet choices.” Devyn frowned at her. “But one thing you are not, is a bad friend.”
“Cheers to that.” Killian lifted his decaf latte.
“Wylder, you’re the best meddler there is,” Diego said. “And we all know it comes from a good place. What have you done this time?”
“Aww, that was sort of sweet, you guys.” She sipped her fully caffeinated coffee. “I didn’t bring Logan back. I failed him.”
“I’m sure you did your very best meddling.” Devyn stood up, shoving her chair under the table. “He’ll come around once he realizes the people who matter don’t believe the rumors. Gotta run. See you in class.”
“Just maybe try to get your brother to pick a fight with someone else on Twitter,” Will said.
“No way.” Killian grinned. “That’s my favorite thing on Twitter right now. They should add a subscribe button to their tweet war. Did you really punch Luke?”
“I assure you, he deserved it.”
“Did you leave a bruise?”
“A big purple and yellow one.” She drained the rainbow-colored milk from her bowl.
“Hurt your hand?” Will asked.
“Nope.” Wylder knew how to throw a punch, mostly. Okay, it hurt a little.
“That’s my girl.” Killian clapped her on the back.
“We have class.” Diego gathered his minimal trash, separating the food scraps from the recyclables. “You shouldn’t waste food, Wylds.” He eyed the stack of uneaten French toast sticks.
“Who says I’m wasting it?” She pulled a zip-lock bag from her pocket and dumped the leftovers into the bag. “It might be worth coming to breakfast every once in a while, to stock up for the week.”
