Chapter Text
Throughout their life there wasn’t one thing that Arby could’ve dreamed of more. There wasn’t a single thing that Arby could’ve wanted more in their life, yet without her it all felt incomplete. Like they had the world in their hands, yet everything was out of their grasp.
4:00 A.M. Every morning without fail Arby woke up in a cold sweat. They never knew why, Arby had no time for dream analysis, they were a busy person. In fact, they never remembered their dreams, everything was just groggy whenever they woke up. At least they didn’t have to spend money on an alarm clock.
Their morning routine was always the same.
Get up.
Brush teeth
Wash face
Get dressed
Get the meats
Repeated without fail every single morning, Arby had almost had it down to the second. This simple morning routine gave Arby ample time to grumble about all their problems throughout the day, “Oh I never get enough sleep due to my parents constantly wanting to change me!” or “I wish I lived in a better town with better places to eat. All of these restaurants are vegan or vegetarian. It’s disgusting!” It’s safe to say, that Arby was a fucking asshole. And the thing is, Arby knew that, they liked that about themselves. Their thought process was that if they make as little attachments as possible throughout their time in this town, then they can leave as soon as High School’s over. It would all be perfect, they’d never have to stick with the same people their whole life. They’d be free. Free to make mistakes outside of the glaring eyes of these people they’d literally known since they were in diapers.
Throughout the day Arby tried to keep to themselves, they liked being alone. Being alone gave them time to think, think about what they wanted out of life. There had never been a clear path that Arby felt they gravitated to. They’d guessed that they’d eventually figure it all out but as the years went by that hope dwindled more and more. The thought that they may become unaccomplished began creeping in. There were so many careers they could get into yet none of them felt right. Their parents always hoped that one day they’d work at their family owned business, but that thought filled Arby with disgust. The thought that they’d be forever strung to this town through that store horrified Arby. On top of that, Arby was a carnivore, and their parents were straight edge vegans. And to think that Arby would have to work at their vegan restaurant, filled with horrible foods that Arby couldn't even stand to look at without felling sick.
Whenever Arby walked through the halls of that horrible, vegan, school they were always tossed insults. At some point Arby had even gotten directly insulted in the hallway in front of the principal and she did nothing.
“You fucking carnivore.” said Derek.
“I bet you eat meat too, fucking loser.” yelled Chad.
These fucking vegans are disgusting, Arby thought solemnly. If only they could actually catch these hands, but with those weak and frail bones from malnourishment I doubt they could even get close. So I just have to take it. I fucking hate my parents for moving me into this goddamn town, the least they could’ve done is move me into a town with some kind of protections for carnivores but OF COURSE NOT.
Arby’s parents infuriated them, constantly Jeddidiah would hound them for being different. How the family business would go into the hands of “Criminals” instead of their own family blood. The idea of being tethered to this town for life sounded nauseating to Arby, like some sick joke. Their whole life had been miserable and filled with unsightly horrors just because they were different, just because they ate different food. For gods sake it was eating Arby inside that they had to take all of this torture.
Arby constantly thought… if I could just change… my life would be so much better. If I could just eat normal, vegetarian food, instead of meat I would be looked up to. People would applaud me for finally stepping up. My parents would finally love me.
But truly those thoughts were just poison in their mind. They'd tried to change. They'd tried to be normal. But in the end, every time they still went back to their impure eating habits. It had gotten to a point where Arby didn't even try anymore. If everyone else was just going to be constantly disappointed in them then they'd just be disappointed in themselves as well. Giving up on everything felt better to Arby, then every night when their parents had their talk about the family business and how Arby would fit into it Arby could just blank out. They could just nod and smile while Judith and Jeddidiah spoke to them like they were stupid.
They weren't stupid. They just couldn't deal with it all anymore. Every day they walked through the halls and people looked at them like they were an abomination. Like they would never be "correct." And Arby just couldn't take it anymore.
Then as they sat down for their first class of the day she walked in. Her hair was curly and red, she had freckles all over her face, her eyes were this enchanting green color. Arby just couldn't stop looking at her. She was pale, but not as pale as all the other kids in the school... she looked healthy. She looked vibrant. Then she walked over and sat at the desk right beside Arby.
"Students, this is Wendy, she's a transfer student from Chive High and she'll be joining us for the remainder of the semester!" Mrs. Arugula announced proudly, "Would you like to say an interesting fact about yourself dear?"
"Sure..." Wendy said coldly, "I guess the only interesting thing about me here would be that I'm an Omnivore."
Arby's heart stopped.