Silence and awkwardness

I get to the cafeteria and sit down with my friends as I'm thinking about Sam and McKayla. I mean, after the arguement we made up, but decided it would be best to stay friends. I do feel kind of bad though. I moved earlier than expected, so I never really got to say goodbye in person. But there's nothing I can do about that.

"So I'm guessing no news on Sam?" Mark asks, looking tired even more than before. Eyes are darker, bags are drooping, they look even more pale than before. They look like a ghost, and I didn't think he could get even more pale. They're really pale, even for a ginger. Mark needs help, this is not normal. It's not ok.

We're all there sitting there in silence. I don't bother getting up for food, I might be able to get away with eating nothing for a whole day. I might be able to actually lose weight. I won't look like a fat pig anymore. Finally, I always seem to have a belly.

"N-no," Alexis finally speaks up, "we haven't..."

Mark just sets their head down and covers it up. It must pain Alexis to see the one she likes like this. Mark's health is going downhill, and she can tell. It's obvious at this point.

"H-hey," Laureen tries to comfort him, "it'll be ok someday...I hope..."

"We can only hope..." Mark mutters.

We just sit there in silence. No one dares to breathe too loud. Laureen and Alexis already got food, Mark and I didn't. I don't think either of us will eat anything. It's not like they can make us. Well, Laureen could probably make me, but she doesn't need to know that.

The whole lunch period is silent and awkward. When the bell rings, Laureen and I head a different way than Alexis and Mark. I feel like the atmosphere is a bit lighter now, considering Mark's mental and physical state isn't right there to keep weighing us down with the sight. It's horrible, seeing him going from an already terrible state, to the most horrific state I've ever seen a human being in.

"Hey Grace," Laureen asks as we walk into the class. "how do you cope with insomnia?"

I'm not sure what to say...I mean, I've gone through it, but I don't know how to cope. Maybe taking Melatonin? Counting sheep never works. What do I say? Do I tell her the truth?

"I'm not really sure..." I tell the truth, it just seems like the right thing to do. "I've experienced insomnia, but it's off and on for me. I don't really know, but I guess melatonin might be the smartest guess."

"Well, I don't have insomnia," she admits, "I'm just worried it might become insomnia. I couldn't sleep last night. Well, I slept a bit but I woke up really early. It's not normal for me. I just don't want it to become normal. But also what's happened recently isn't normal."

"Well," I start to ask a question. It's kind of awkward, but I think I might be able to pass it off. "did you have a dream?"

Her response isn't unusual, even if she answered differently there would be questions. However, I think this narrows it down.