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This whole day could be summed up with just one inelegant word - stupid!
It started the moment he woke up and struggled to roll out of bed with his only good arm. His right arm was held prisoner in its cast. He groaned as the pain from his broken bone made its ugly reappearance.
Ewen had heard him and groggily asked if the young lord needed help. Damian sharply told him to bug off, so the blonde boy simply went back to sleep. It was a school day and they would all have to be up in an hour, but Damian preferred an early start.
Stubbornly, the boy tried to change into his school uniform with only one arm but managed to get his head stuck in his shirt. He fought with the polyester for some time before he finally gave up and woke Ewen up again to ask for help.
A truly embarrassing morning.
His school day did not go any better. It was his first day in school since the doctor put on his cast and so anyone who did not stay in the dormitory was seeing his injury for the first time. Including the one and only Anya Forager.
All morning Anya stared at his broken arm. While he had to deal with the flock of butt-kissers swarming him to sign his cast, he also had to put up with Anya’s intense gaze. Even with two arms that was hard to do.
She would always be caught staring at him, like she was trying to read his thoughts. She unnerved him when she did that.
It was not until lunch time when she actually spoke to him. He was sitting with Ewen and Emile, his homemade lunch sitting on the table mocking him, when she came up to them with her own lunch tray topped with her favorite omurice. She was looking at his bright pink cast before she met his annoyed glare with a curious look.
“Sy-on boy, does it really hurt that much?” She asked him with genuine concern laced in her voice.
Damian’s glare softened a little at her earnest question. “Just a little.” He admitted to her.
Anya pierced her lips together in a frown. There was a silent pause between them for a moment, then Anya opened her mouth again. “Do you need help with your food?”
Damian’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, while Ewen and Emile barked for her to get lost. Becky stood just behind Anya and cooed about romantic gestures. Anya just waited patiently for a reply.
“No! I don’t need anyone’s help! Especially not from a shrimp like you!” The scion roared, his friends nodding in approval.
Anya scowled at him this time.
“She was just trying to be thoughtful, Desmond!” Becky yelled in defense of her friend.
“Oh really Sy-on boy? You don’t need help? Then go on and eat your soup.” Anya challenged him with an evil smirk.
Damian narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her. He turned to look at the bowl of hot miso soup sitting in front of him and the spoon that was laid next to it. Determined to prove he did not need anyone’s help, the master picked up the spoon with his left hand and scooped up some soup. He sided-eyed Anya as he slowly brought the spoon to his lips. The spoon shook in his hand even though he tried hard to keep it steady. Everyone was watching him now, anxious for his success. The spoon was just an inch away from his mouth when his left hand suddenly jerked and all the contents of the soup landed in his lap.
The soup burned but not as much as his face when the whole table erupted in laughter. Even Ewen and Emile were beside themselves. The only one not laughing was Anya. She simply stood in her spot with a triumphant grin.
Damian, however, was mortified at the situation. He couldn’t get himself dressed, he couldn’t write his own notes, and now he couldn’t eat his own lunch. The poor boy just wanted to scream. He hated his broken arm. He hated how much he failed. First the soccer injury and now his daily routine. This whole day just made him feel like such a screw up.
“Sy-on boy?” A tiny voice called out to him. He ignored her, instead staring into his soup.
The weirdest thing happened next.
He felt himself being pushed down the bench and he was so upset he didn’t bother to question it. Anya made herself comfortable beside him, setting her tray down on the table. She gently took his spoon from his hand and scooped up another spoonful of his soup. She turned to him with a smile and declared “I’m the best at feeding people, just ask my Mama!”
Damian hesitated. His pride told him not to take help from this commoner. His heart told him she was sitting much too close, their legs were practically touching. But his stomach growled in hunger.
“Fine.” He sighed, accepting his fate.
Ewen and Emile looked horrified while Becky looked shocked.
Anya’s smile grew wider. “Okay here comes the choo choo!” Before Damian knew what was happening, Anya forced the spoon into his mouth with added train sound effects. Damian nearly choked on his soup.
“Yay! You did it! Now here comes another one.” Again she scooped up some soup and choo choo’ed her way to his lips.
Everyone started laughing again. Leave it to Anya to be so juvenile.
Mr. Henderson walked past them and gave them a happy nod. “Helping a friend in his time of need. Very elegant Miss Forager.”
Anya became smug. “I’m going to get the next Stella for sure!”
Damian grew ever more flustered. “You can’t use me to get a - hmph!”
“Shh Sy-on boy…the choo choo is coming to the station.” Anya said while shoving another spoonful of soup into his mouth.
At least her train sounds distracted him from his broken arm.