Even though she felt his grip loosen, Victoria remained near him. “Uh huh. Jerk.” She scrunched her nose up at him. “I guess misery really [i]does[/i] love company, huh?”
	When they stopped near an open doorway, she slowly lifted her attention from the floor. She suppressed a sigh of relief at the vacant room before them. She took in the tidy setting, streaks of wetness visible on a couple of the tabletops from a recent washing. Daylight streamed in through a few windows visible between soda and juice machines against one wall, and large trashcans cowered away in the corners from the army of chairs.
	[i]Feeding ground,[/i] she chuckled through her nose.
	She nodded as Alex continued speaking, imagining the scene unfold in the room; hundreds of students packed together, impatiently waiting for their turn to get their hands on whatever food the cooks dished out, only to hurry back to their table and waiting friends.
	“Sounds like a good idea,” she muttered, frowning at the visual as her imaginary students faded into nothingness.
	Ever since she found out one of the cooks at her high school was a rather grumpy old troll, Victoria had insisted on bringing her own lunch. It seemed college would be no different, except perhaps without the troll cook.
	[i]At least I'll probably get to see him then,[/i] she thought, casting Alex a quick side glance, hoping he would not mind her tagging along with him to the store.