Chapter 70

Laila

Just half an hour later James announced that we were going for lunch as everyone ate at a certain time during the day in a big dining hall. I am grateful James is with me, as we enter the dining room all the chatter stops and all the eyes are on us. No, me. I am the complete outsider here, the ugly duckling, the oddball. Maybe it is my imagination, but I felt like they were judging me with grunts and huffs and displeasure that they had to share their space with a weakling human. I guess I was freaking out without a reason as some smiled and some just kept on eating staying on neutral grounds.

James nodded at everyone and guided me towards a buffey-like table where we could put whatever we wanted on our plates and I was grateful many items were cooked and placed separately so I could choose something vegetarian among tons of different kinds of meats. As we had our plates full, he pulled me towards a group of people among whom I recognized his cousin with whom I danced at the ch