Work Text:
The cafeteria was rapidly growing louder and more crowded with an inflow of students eager to chat with their friends and, perhaps to a lesser degree, attempt to satisfy their hunger with whatever was being served that day. Or, in some cases, just sit there alone at their tables, pretending to be humans.
When Elliot and Danny approached their usual table, each carrying a lunch tray, Rayna and James were already there. The four friends greeted each other as the Werewolf and the Vampire took their seats. Rayna looked around.
“Where’s Nora? She’s not eating with us today?”
“We saw her on our way here. She said there was something she and William needed to do, so they’re eating somewhere else today,” Danny explained.
“And what about your friend?” Rayna grinned at Elliot.
James perked up at this. He peered curiously at the Vampire and then at Rayna, eager to hear more.
“Oh? What friend?”
Danny also seemed intrigued about what she might have meant, while Elliot just seemed confused.
“Oh, you know. That blonde in black? Wears glasses? I think she’s a grade below us?”
“You mean Shelly? What about her?”
“Well, I saw the two of you talk earlier today, you seemed pretty close.”
“Wait, she can talk?” James seemed genuinely surprised. Elliot and Danny both gave him an unamused look, to which he raised his hands in surrender. “I just don’t think I’ve ever seen her talk to anyone, that’s all.”
“Of course she can talk. She’s just shy. I think she mostly talks to people she feels comfortable with,” Danny explained.
Rayna grinned at this.
“In this case, I think she must feel very comfortable with you, Mozzie.”
Danny laughed good-naturedly at that. James looked with amusement at Elliot who suddenly became very flustered.
“Oh yeah, she most certainly likes him a lot.” Danny nodded.
“Does she…? I-I don’t think…I, uh, I mean, she always talks to me, yeah. And she’s so nice and sweet…and pretty…”
The entire table laughed while Elliot stammered in embarrassment. His face turned even redder than before. Danny gave him a knowing look. The Vampire muttered those last two words under his breath, but Danny heard them anyway.
“Anyway, why don’t you invite her to sit with us?” Rayna asked, resting her chin on her clasped hands.
“I would, but she doesn’t like this place. The cafeteria, that is. She says she gets overwhelmed easily. I don’t…I mean, what’s the point for her to come here if she’s anxious the entire time? I-I mean, I would hate to make her uncomfortable, you know?”
James smirked at him.
“Very protective of her, aren’t you?”
“James, come on!”
The entire table laughed again as Elliot started to flail in embarrassment once more.
Finally, Rayna and James let the Vampire off the hook, turning their attention to some other school gossip and the upcoming holiday. As usual, they tried to talk Danny and Elliot into coming to a Halloween party, but the two friends refused, making up an excuse about voluntary work in the neighborhood.
At some point, while James and Rayna were busy talking about something else, Danny gave Elliot a subtle nudge to the side and glanced towards the doorway. The Vampire followed his gaze and saw Shelly standing there, fidgeting nervously. Finally, she shook her head slightly, likely deciding she wasn’t ready to venture into the cafeteria. The Witch cast one last glance at the crowd in the room and it so happened that she met Elliot’s eyes. She gave him a shy smile and turned around, probably to flee back to wherever she came from.