The Most Awkward Dinner

You start to eat, after Sephora starts eating first. You didn't tend to say grace or anything, but it also didn't feel right to go straight from that fraught experience to chowing down. As you eat, your body calms down. The food is good, rich. So why... why does it feel like you're still on the tightrope?

There's the obvious answer, as Erica sits far to your side, her eyes only laying on you. Not glaring, but cautious, watching.

Then the less obvious one, or rather the one you can't explain. You compliment Sephora for the food, who accepts it. And then says nothing else. You also try to remind everyone of a funny story, of how Olivia had been upset one time over choosing pizza again for that one movie night. But no laughter, no encouragement, the story dying before you can get to the part where she learned she liked pineapple on pizza.

No story pierces the silence. If you hadn't just won your freedom, you'd be convinced your food was poisoned. So you sat there, awkwardly.

Soon everyone finishes their food, and as they finish they leave. Rebecca is first. Erica is second. She stands, looking at you, before she almost jogs back to her room, probably to report to Olivia. Then Sephora stands after finishing hers, taking all of the plates before taking them to the kitchen to wash.

So you sit at the table, alone, as you feel more alone than you have ever felt. Even before this all started, you could count on Rebecca and Sephora to laugh at your dumb jokes, to start up a conversation. But now, you feel alone. Why?

You stand up, bringing your dish to Sephora. "So, is there something I should know? I thought you didn't think I was guilty of anything too bad." She looks at you, before looking down. "Sometimes, it's not a matter of being guilty or innocent. It rarely is. Try not to stick out too much, Olivia made some good points. Maybe... some times it's better to be cautious."

The paranoia is infecting the house, you think as you walk to your room. You can only hope that it doesn't sting you.