Stuck on a Puzzle

"We won!" Wrath jumped the barrier and hugged her friend.

"Eheh… I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for your help," he smiled shyly and scratched his head.

"What?"

"Good shot lil' brother!" Lust pat Pride's back aggressively.

"Yeah, your arms are getting stronger," Envy wrapped her hands around his bicep and stroked it possessively.

"Uh, I'm still sweaty," he brushed her off.

"Let's regroup at the parking lot in half an hour. Sounds good?" Lust put his arm around Envy and steered the group away from his brother.

"Yeah! Be right with you. We're gonna have a team briefing. I'll catch up later," the baseball captain disappeared into the locker room.

Wrath returned Lust's shirt as more and more girls were looking at his pecs protruding from under the skintight sky-blue turtleneck. His arrays of accessories added more reason for people to stare at him and his posse; other than his natural good looks, towering body, bright blond hair, and his charming aura. His friend was forced to bind herself in her initial outerwear.

As soon as they were out of the crowd's view, Lust walked away from his swooning friend and excused himself before blending in with a group of seniors. Envy and Greed rushed to talk to the popular athletes from their class; leaving Wrath, Sloth, and Gluttony to idly stood around. Sloth asked for Gluttony's car keys so that he could sleep inside as the owner visited the food stalls on the opposite side of the parking lot.

Wrath found herself lost and bored in the middle of odor-filled air that had steadily suffocated her for the past hour. She finally decided that the stadium arena had proven to be too much for her as her two female members called out to her to take photos with them and their jock friends. She would have followed her roommate around, but the overcrowded field and social interactions made her feel even more like an outsider.

She snuck out to the empty parking lot as everyone had busied themselves in the populated area of the school. Lust's vintage polaroid camera was still hanging around her neck after he had told her to hold onto it while he went to the restroom earlier. She examined the antique gadget to pass the time and made sure no school staff was around to bust her for what she was about to do.

Five minutes passed. Boredom took over her and pushed her to light her cigarette behind one of the oldest cars in the lot. An exhale of white cloud covered her face as she crouched down to hide from any potential passerby. She folded her jacket as the material restricted most of her movements.

'What a day. I'm knackered,' she thought.

"We still have a meeting after this," a large figure stood next to her; its face darkened by the blinding stadium light behind.

"Geez, you scared me."

"That's a lie," Pride squatted to get to her eye level and asked for a cigarette.

She handed him one stick and her lighter, "Why are you here?"

"I thought you'd be around here somewhere. Just not alone," he puffed and returned the lighter.

"I'm not technically alone."

"Yeah, I know. Your ghost friends, right?"

"No, I was talking about Sloth. He's sleeping in G's car."

"Oh, okay," he looked away.

"So, why are you here?"

"Uhm… I got tired of hanging around people. My social battery ran out."

"Oh? Do I not count?"

"You're barely even human," he teased.

Wrath shoved him and pouted.

"Owh, c'mon now. That was pretty funny," he smiled and shoved her back. "Hey, let me borrow that camera for a bit."

"It's Lust's. I don't wanna get scolded for finishing his films."

"Don't worry. I'll buy him more for his birthday."

She handed the camera reluctantly, "Fine, just don't break it."

"I won't."

"What are you even gonna take a picture of?" she took another puff and looked into the distance.

* Click *

The shutter and flash went off and blinded her for a few seconds. She rubbed her eyes with her free hand.

"Hey! That turned out pretty well!" Pride fanned the film some more.

"Why me?" she covered her chest with the folded jacket.

"Why not? We should commemorate the day you dressed like a gothic Jessica Rabbit. With the hair and stuff."

"You're not even gonna show me the picture?"

"Nope. Only if you let me take another picture."

"Fine! Just be quick, it's getting cold."

"Why don't you just wear your jacket?"

"It feels like I'm wearing a mic of another person's skin and a beef jerky."

Pride took off his outer shirt, threw it at her, and asked for her jacket, "Give it to me."

"Huh?"

"Use my shirt and give me yours. We don't have much time."

"What?" she handed the leather jacket.

"Don't be a difficult model. We have a photoshoot to do," he put his hands on his waist.

Wrath finally realized her friend's intention and smiled at his initiative to cheer her up. She put on his like a jacket and left it unbuttoned.

"Go on then, give some poses to work with," he commanded.

The two juniors giggled among themselves, forgetting their masks of maturity and enjoying the youthful night. They ended up snapping about 20 odd films around the parking lot. Their refreshing laughter echoed around the empty lot.

Seemingly frolicking alone amongst cars, Pride vigilantly flirted with her for the first-time which Wrath had unknowingly replied to without realizing the undertone of the conversation.

On the other side of the two opposing personalities, Famine had bumped into Gluttony in the queue of the hotdog stall. The Sins member had ordered one serving with every topping and condiments available. He had brought with him his secret hot sauce and was about to squirt it on top of his food when a jolly lanky girl in pig tails interrupted him.

"Can I try some of those?" she titled her head and smiled widely; showing the gap between her front teeth.

He gasped and offered her the bottle, "You're the first person to ask me that!"

"Really?" she took a bite and her eyes widened with shock. "That was so good! Did you put white wine and clove in this?"

"You can tell?"

"Yeah, of course. Cloves are so underrated in most cuisines, but I had just discovered that a small amount can really elevate a breakfast omelet."

His eyes sparkled with admiration as he watched her share her insightful view of the culinary world.

"Uh… " she waved her hands in front of his face. "Was I boring you? Or did I have something on my face?"

"Oh. Oh. No. I-it's not like that. It's just wow! I've never meet someone as passionate about food as you. I'm just in awe. Hehe," he awkwardly bit into his hotdog.

"Hahaha… Me too. What's your name? I'm Famine."

"Gluttony," he offered his hand and smiled.

"Nice to meet you."