As soon as his meal card had been checked, Pippin ran across the cafeteria, barging his way to the front of the food line hollering, "Starving hobbit, coming through!"
"Pippin!" a voice behind him exclaimed.
"Oh, hey, Eowyn," Pippin said guiltily, looking up at her. "Sorry to cut in front of you, but it's an EMERGENCY -- I missed BOTH second breakfast AND elevenses!"
Eowyn laughed. "That IS an emergency. Then, by all means, cut."
Pippin grinned at her and then turned to the cafeteria server.
"What'll you have?" the hair-netted server asked with enthusiasm, gesturing to the hot luncheon entrees in front of her.
"One of each, please."
Eowyn laughed. "That'll make for an interesting meal," she said as the server placed a ladle-full of spaghetti, a slice of vegie quiche, a fish fillet, and some soggy chips on a plate and handed it to Pippin.
He put the plate on his tray, smiling broadly as Eowyn ordered only the spaghetti. "That's all?!" Pippin asked in shock as she took her plate.
Eowyn shrugged. "I snacked during bio, so I'm not that hungry."
Pippin nodded in understanding, leading her to the drink dispenser and filling his cup with ice. "That's okay, then. And you can always come back for seconds."
"I s'pose so," Eowyn said, grinning at the hobbit as she got her own coke.
"C'mon," Pippin said impatiently, holding his tray. "Let's go sit before I collapse from hunger."
"Well...uh...I...." Eowyn began, but Pippin interrupted.
"We've missed eating with you this week -- why haven't you been sitting with us lately?"
"I just...uh...." Eowyn's explanation seemed to melt away under Pippin's inquisitive gaze. She cleared her throat and said, "No reason. C'mon -- let's go find the others."
Pippin led Eowyn across the cafeteria to where his friends were sitting.
"Interesting menu," Merry teased as Pippin set his tray down next to his roommate.
"Thanks to YOU," Pippin teased back, sitting down and launching into his meal. He didn't pay much attention to the assorted chatter, he was so intent on filling his stomach. His plate was empty in no time, and he headed back to the line with a "I'll be right back".
Returning moments later with several fish fillets and another piece of quiche (cheese this time), he tripped slightly, barely steadying himself before crashing into the table.
Frodo smiled sympathetically at him. "I'll bet you're glad it's the last day of Pledge Week," he said as Pippin sat back down. "I can't imagine how you've survived all week in those torturous shoes."
"Actually, I still have one more day to go," Pippin explained, feeling more like himself again now that he had some food in him. "We all have to wear our shoes to the Pledge party tomorrow." He suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, I forgot," and turned eagerly towards Merry. "You'll come to the party with me, won't you, Mer?"
Merry evidently swallowed his Dr. Pepper wrong for he started coughing. When he'd recovered, he asked, "To the Eta Pi Pledge party?"
Pippin nodded. "The pledges are responsible for arranging everything -- the food, the decorations, even the entertainment. Fatty's band is gonna play -- it'll be fun!"
"Well actually, Pip, there's this new Elvish are film playing at The Towne which I wanted to review for The Palantir, and I thought that maybe Frodo would like to see it with me tomorrow night."
But Frodo shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't this weekend, Merry. I'm leaving this afternoon for the Student Council Team-Building retreat."
"That sounds like fun," Eowyn offered.
"But Frodo, I thought you were gonna help me with my Elvish this weekend," Sam said nervously.
"Oh, I'll be back Sunday afternoon, Sam, and we can study together then."
Sam sighed with relief.
But Pippin didn't much care about Sam's tutoring needs. "You can see that Elvish film any old time, Merry -- you should come to the party with me."
Merry leaned across Pippin to ask, "Eowyn, you've been wanting me to help you with that new photo editing software -- did you maybe want to get together Saturday night?"
Eowyn flushed crimson. "I...uh...I can't. Actually, my cousin just got back, so my uncle arranged a family dinner for all of us."
Merry nodded in understanding. "Theodred?"
"Yes! How did you...." Eowyn trailed off as the answer came to her. "You must've met him at polo practice."
Merry nodded. "He seems nice. He's a junior, right?"
But Pippin wasn't interested in what class some stranger was in. "Fatty said he wants me to bring my violin because he might have me jam with them on a few songs. It would mean a lot to me if you were there, Mer."
Merry looked across the table in desperation. "Sam?"
Pippin sighed in frustration, suddenly realizing what Merry was up to.
Luckily, Sam was unable to come to Merry's rescue either.
"I'm sorry, Merry, but I'm working tomorrow night."
Frodo smiled warmly at his friend. "Where are you working this time, Sam?"
Sam nodded towards Pippin. "At the party, actually. Pippin arranged for the Perk to cater desserts for the party."
"Yum!" Eowyn said. "The Perk has GREAT desserts."
"Exactly!" Pippin said. "So you HAVE to come, Merry!" He then gestured to an adjacent table of chattering hobbits. "Unless, of course, you want to ask THAT table to come up with an excuse why you can't go."
Merry bit his upper lip, his face turning slightly red, before answering, "I'll go with you, Pip -- I'd like to hear you play."
Pippin grinned, glad to have finally gotten his way.
But Sam hadn't quite caught up yet. "I've got about an hour free TONIGHT, Merry, if you wanted to do something together."
Pippin giggled as Merry shook his head. "Thanks, Sam, but I'm busy tonight."
"That's right, Sam," Pippin said, smiling at Merry as he thought again of the note and all the thanking he'd give Merry all morning. "Merry owes me a foot rub tonight."
Merry smiled back at his roommate and, when he was sure no one was looking, gave him a quick wink.
***
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