“You don’t need to worry, nobody’s gonna beat you with a ruler or anything like that. Though Principal Kroll might spank you, I heard she’s into that sort of thing.”

“No way.” I said, getting up to follow as Alice beckoned from her position near the door.

“Rumor has it she used to be a nun but got kicked out for ordering some under the habit take-out if you know what I mean.” She replied from behind her hand in a loud stage whisper and I was still laughing as we went downstairs, tumbling out into the blinding sunshine. All the other girls from our floor except Jenny were there waiting and I was about to ask where we going but got beat out by Dana’s stomach growling.

“Man I’m starving, I hope the food’s good.” She announced and everyone else agreed with her, my own tummy joining in on the chorus.

“Hmm is Lara the cook today?” Alice asked airily and I caught the dirty look she gave the brown-haired girl, who just shrugged and looked down at the pavement as we walked. Tina was positively bouncing up and down, holding on to Bette’s arm and babbling at top speed about how great this year was supposed to be.

“We’re seniors! I can’t believe we made it! We get to leave class early and go to lunch whenever we want and–” She continued to talk and Bette just smiled, offering up non-committal responses. I noticed that the tall brunette got more than a few stares from girls and guys alike as the brick and glass building that apparently housed the dining hall came into view. Tasha was stony faced as I we walked in, quickly peeling off to join another group of athletic looking girls once we’d made it past the gray double doors that opened up to a huge buffet style serving area.

At first I just stared, used to the flimsy white Styrofoam trays and single sliding line of the Home. Here there were at least four green and beige carts floating around, all of them filled with pans of hot food that looked straight out of an episode of Iron Chef. Actual plates were stacked up in circular depressions set into the front of each cart, magically popping up and into the hand of anyone who pressed down on one. Three drink fountains were set up, one offering soda, the other juice, and different kinds of flavored water in the last one. There was a coffee and tea machine with real mugs and teacups, little containers of sugar, honey, and cream neatly assembled on little silver trays ready for the taking.