CP   Hey soldier.

CP   Those aren’t good for you, you know.

You give him the faintest grunt of acknowledgement.

EM   >> didnt ask.

CP   I'm just saying.

EM   >> oh yeah?

You flick some ash at him, which makes him flinch, which makes you laugh.

EM   >> real tough.

He joins you against the brick wall.

CP   Hey.

EM   >> this going down your throat.

CP   Whoa! i wasn't going to say anything more about it.

CP   I promise.

CP   Even if you're totally going to get super lung cancer from those.

EM   >> better to die early than listen to this shit.

If this was his first time approaching you, you'd rough him up for even trying. But, unfortunately, you've learned that he's a stubborn fool, and it's best to just deal with him.

CP   What class do you have right now?

EM   >> you think this is a pencil in my hands?

CP   I mean, what class are you supposed to be in, right now.

CP   Should've been obvious what I meant.

EM   >> eah...

EM   >> some social studies shit.

EM   >> i cant be assed to know every old fuck with a beard.

CP   Really? i thought you liked history.

EM   >> no one likes all of history, dude.

EM   >> are you stupid?

CP   Excuse me for trying to remember your interests.

CP   Phah, I bet the era didn't have a high enough death toll to pique your interest.

CP   Sicko.

EM   >> whatever.

He’s right on the money, actually. But you’ll be damned if you give him the satisfaction of confirming it.

EM   >> enough about me. you have lunch or something?

EM   >> i dont take you for a skipper.

CP   Phah hah. then you’d be right.

CP   Look.

He reaches into the bag he’s been holding and pulls out what looks like a crispy potato. He takes a bite, and it sounds a lot crunchier and softer than you expected.

EM   >> the hell is that?

CP   Mmrph?

CP   It’s like… what’s the American equivalent?

CP   A dumpling? or a croquette?

EM   >> idiot, neither of those are american.

CP   Ah, well, try it. its got some good meat in it.

CP   I promise it’s good.

He hands one to you, though not before wrapping it in a napkin. With a wary sniff, you take it with your free hand. It smells good, but different. Like a meatball and a corndog rolled around in some spices.

CP   You know its just fried dough on the outside?

CP   Ingredient-wise, you've had something like this before.

EM   >> ...

CP   It tastes better than cigarettes.

EM   >> your girlfriend isnt trying to poison me, right?

CP   G-girlfriend?

EM   >> yknow.

CP   Oh! you mean… no.

CP   It's not like that. phah hah.

CP   Jun has nothing to do with this, I swear.

You roll your eyes. The way she makes those goo-goo eyes at him and only him… it’s hardly a good impression. And it makes all his attempts to ‘get to know one of Jun’s friends’ feel wrong.

And since you’re not afraid of some wimp who blushes at just the mention of his girlfriend, you take a bite. Poison be damned.

CP   It’s called kubba.

CP   Or kibbeh.

EM   >> mmph.

You pocket the rest of your cigarette (your pants will get a little charred, whatever) and devote all your attention to the flaky goodness in your hands. It’s not hot, but it’s just warm enough to melt in your mouth. It’s the best thing you’ve had in a long time.

When you’re done, it’s all too soon.

EM   >> i guess it was -

Wordlessly, he hands you another one.

EM   >> ...

EM   >> how many of these did you pack, fatass?

CP   Too many, it turns out.

EM   >> sucks to be you.

You accept it. As you eat, he looks out at the schoolyard. It's a while before he speaks up again.

CP   It’s funny. the word in arabic.

CP   It’s very literal.

EM   >> kubbuh?

CP   Good effort.

He grimaces a little - probably because you haven’t swallowed before speaking. But that dumb smile returns.

EM   >> what? does it mean potato-looking?

EM   >> share with the coolest person you know?

CP   No. it’s ‘ball’.

CP   So you’re eating balls right now.

You choke a little. But you don't dare waste a crumb, so you keep chewing.

EM   >> you son of a bitch.

EM   >> i knew there was a catch.

CP   What catch?

CP   I offered you some delicious balls, and you graciously accepted.

CP   If anything, it was charity.

EM   >> yeah youre the one who gave them to me.

EM   >> its your damn balls im eating.

EM   >> its on you more than anything.

CP   But they’re good.

EM   >> theyve got potential.

CP   You like my balls?

EM   >> not the worst ive had.

EM   >> ...

CP   Phff.

EM   >> not a damn word.

CP   I would never.

People are starting to shuffle around. The period must be ending soon. Too bad. He just started to seem not that punchable.

EM   >> youre weird as shit, dude.

CP   Why's that?

EM   >> cause youre clearly buttering me up for something.

EM   >> why else would you go out of your way to see me?

Aside from some friends, most people leave you alone. You’ve done a good job making sure of that. But this guy is stubborn. You've been hoping to take advantage of it for as long as you could.

But right now, you feel like letting him down gently.

EM   >> jokes on you, i aint got shit to provide.

He glances at you, then faces the schoolyard again.

CP   Not true.

CP   I had someone to share my kubba with.

EM   >> like anyone would turn that down.

CP   You liked it?

EM   >> if you ever have it again, you have to slide me some.

EM   >> or ill cut you. i swear.

CP   Phah hah. i’ll try to remember.

The next time he bothers you, you're not smoking. Better to taste the food with.