I Do Not Not Like It

Lizzy and Stacy walked to the restaurant they had talked about earlier. Turns out it wasn't like the sit down restaurants they had at home. There are spots for people to sit either in booths or tall tables. It was the wall that confused them for a minute. The one wall was lined with vending machine fronts. 

They pretended to be engrossed in conversation when reality they were waiting and watching someone using one of the machines. Messing up in public is not something you do. It is ingrained deep in their veins if one messes up people make fun of you, so you can never mess up.

They both made mental notes of what to do. While the innocent person in front of them is too tired to realize they were being watched. They each go up to a panel and swipe their necklaces. There were multiple languages on the paneling then the electronic interfaces changed to their language. And the food names were names they weren't use to growing up in a state side small town.

Lizzy orders udon since the pictured noodles look yummy. Stacy orders miso soup with tofu because it looked light on the stomach. Warm cans pop from the machines. They both glance at the person that was in front of them with their piping hot bowl of some sort of noodles in broth, pieces of chicken and other toppings. They wonder if they messed up.

Lizzy grabs her can surprised at the heat from it. They both sit down and figure out how to eat their canned food. Lizzy's has a little stick bigger than a toothpick. Stacy has a small spoon. They were pretty quiet while they ate. They both agreed their food tasted alright.

Once out of the place. They headed to the dorms.

"Do you think we hit the wrong thing and told it we wanted it to go?" Asks Stacy.

"I have no idea but your face was priceless!" Lizzy is laughing pretty hard. Stacy pouts.

"You two were so funny in there. I had to record it. The game plan talk before you ordered was great but the looks on your faces when your canned good rolled out!" Karen laughs.

"Oh be nice Karen! You two ordered correctly. That is how they serve those dishes at that place. The other person ordered Ramen that was customized. Canned food became popular again during the war and food keeps longer that way." Kiki informs the two.

"Huh. Karen delete that for Stacy's sake." Lizzy replies to Karen.

"I guess that makes sense. Thanks Lizzy that was a bit embarrassing for me." Says Stacy.

"But it's already going viral and I could make a killing uploading videos of you two." Karen cheekily smirked.

Lizzy and Stacy give Karen a death glare.

"Yeeep! I was joking! I never uploaded anything!" Karen backs off of the pair.

"My scans show no evidence of you two on the internet outside of maybe some bashing on Lizzy from some high-school girls." Kiki replies.

"Online bullying is still a thing? Can you tell me who? Sounds like some girls need to be taught a lesson." Says Stacy.

"Online bullying is not allowed and is very heavily patrolled. So in this case it's more of a bait. Then who ever else engages and the officers can pin point who they are talking about then people will be disciplined." Kiki explains.

"And if the officers have pin pointed the person. Let's say it is Lizzy they are talking about. I won't be able to pull up that post about her because the officers will block Lizzy from seeing it and might egg on more people to find all that are involved." Karen explains further.

"Wow that's in depth. Whats the punishment? " Asks Stacy.

"It's a whole process. Punishment varies on bullying degree. If it's mild there is community service and apology letters. Severe cases may end up at jail with counseling or maybe therapy. Lots of things are tailored to the individual." Kiki explained.

"Til some rich guy pays someone off right?" Adds Lizzy.

"The officers are robots and so are the judges. We have no interest in money. Information is valued higher and we have pretty much all the info so bribing a judge or officer is next to impossible. Unless it's info of the in person black market but then you go down with charges for being at one later." Karen enlightens the group.

Lizzy and Stacy nod their heads trying to understand the world they came to.

"Look at that,  we made it back! I can't wait for a power down." Karen hoovers excitedly through the dorms.

Lizzy and Stacy part at their dorm doors. Lizzy does what little homework she has for the night. After a hot shower she dresses in a sports bra, soft t-shirt, underwear and pajama bottoms. Then leaving the door cracked to the bathroom as always. She sets her socks on the desk beside the sleeping Karen before climbing into bed

Some time in the night Lizzy hears someone walking in her room. She wakes to see Stacy in a t-shirt and underwear. Her hair is in a low pony tail. Lizzy has seen her a few times like this but now days it hits a little different. 

Before coming here she always enjoyed Stacy's company and the way she smiles or pouts during conversations. The last little over two weeks living together Lizzy started thinking different thoughts. What if she did get to come home to Stacy every night? It might never happen with the way Stacy chases boys though.

"Hey sorry to wake you. I can't sleep. I'm missing home a bit." Stacy says quietly. "Can I sleep in here?"

"Yea sure." Lizzy scooches over for Stacy to climb in. Nows not the time for Lizzy to think those things. Her friend needs her.

The tone in which Stacy talked was one Lizzy barely ever encounters. She sounded scared. Stacy curls up a little by Lizzy's chest. Now Lizzy knows for sure that Stacy is scared or really upset. Lizzy wraps her arm over her friend. Resting her hand on Stacy's back.

"Thank you." Stacy says. In the dim light Lizzy could barely see Stacy's blue eyes where a little puffy. She has been crying and hurting. How long though?

"Anything you want to talk about?" Lizzy asks gently.

"Ummm..." There was a bit of a pause but Stacy steels her nerves. "I asked Kiki if she could pull up records of my parents. She was able to track them til the war really took over. Our town got bombed so all I could... think.. of. is.." She trails off into sobs.

Lizzy gets one arm under Stacy's head and hugs Stacy tight to her chest. Lizzy strokes Stacy's hair to try to comfort her a little.

"I'm sorry." Lizzy kisses the top of Stacy's head. Something Lizzy's mom use to do when she was crying. "I'm here. We are in this together."

Lizzy held onto Stacy for a long while as she grieved for her parents. Lizzy is curious on if her parents suffered the same fate. Or how Lizzy and Stacy could have faced that fate.

"I probably don't tell you enough but you're the best friend anyone can have." Stacy says drying some tears.

"Says the person that can make friends everywhere they go. And if wanted could date just about anyone they please." Lizzy adds.

"I'm serious!" Lizzy can barely see Stacy's blue eyes peeking up from her chest. Her eyes shined with determination. "You're there for me all the time. When I see people making fun of you just because you have a hard time socializing it makes me mad.... This is going to sound selfish but I want you to make friends but I don't want you to leave me either."

"I could never leave you Stacy." Lizzy pulls her in for another hug. Out of reflex Lizzy kisses the top of her head again.

"I know we are having a moment but the kissing thing is a little weird." Stacy comments. Lizzy stiffens up.

"I'm sorry. My mom use to do it so it's a reflex for me now." Lizzy apologizes.

"I said it's weird not that I do not not like it... It is comforting... a little." Stacy hides the blush on her cheeks buried in the blankets and Lizzy's arms.

"Alright." Says Lizzy relaxing a bit.

"We should probably get some sleep shouldn't we." Stacy scooches back from Lizzy. She sets her head on the pillow. 

Lizzy yawns. "Yea we do have school tomorrow." Lizzy rolls to her stomach.

"Good night Lizzy. Thank you for being here." Stacy's smiles sleepily.

"You're welcome. Good night Stacy. I will be here for as long as I can." Lizzy smiles back.

"What's that mean? As long as you can?"

"Means I can't live forever but while I'm alive I will be by your side. If you want my grumpy eighty year old butt." Lizzy giggles lightly. 

"You better be my friend when we are eighty. Who else will let me pet a goat all day?" Stacy giggles.

"Using me for the goats I see!" Lizzy pouts a very bad fake pout.

"You know what I mean. There were few like you back home living on a farm and it seems no one does now. You're definitely one of a kind. Like I said earlier I don't want you forgetting me. You have been the constant never changing presence thats been keeping me grounded since being here." Stacy holds onto one of Lizzy's hands.

"I'm happy to hear that." Lizzy squeezes Stacy's hand back.

"Alright we need sleep unless you need to talk?" Asks Stacy.

"No I think I'm good. No declaration from my heart tonight." Lizzys eye lids are heavy.

"Sounds good." Stacy smiles sleepily.

As they drift to sleep, Karen and Kiki are sending silent messages to each other.