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?

EM   >> like you havent done some hard shit before?

CP   Doing it socially is completely different.

CP   It's about the experience.

EM   >> what, you dont want any of this?

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

EM   >> pussy.

CP   Hey, that stuff stains and stinks like death.

CP   You wouldn't want it touching your threads either.

EM   >> whatever.

He joins you against the wall, patting down the back of his jacket so it doesn't scrape against the bricks too hard. Rich kids and their obsession with their fancy clothes.

He's always trying to figure people out. It's no surprise he'd even approach you, despite your best efforts to lurk on the periphery of all the student clique bullshit. If this was his first time pulling something like this, 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   So...

EM   >> this is going down your throat.

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

CP   I promise.

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

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

CP   I was just wondering.

CP   What class do you have right now?

EM   >> eah ha ha!

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.

Riling him up is always fun, since there you can see the cracks of frustration in that mask of patient affability. Maybe if you're lucky, you can goad him into a fight. One he initiates, rather than one he's trying to dodge and weave out of.

EM   >> eah... what is it, 4th period?

EM   >> some social studies shit.

EM   >> not like i can be assed to know every old bearded fuck.

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.

You didn't ask him to. In fact, you're still wondering why he bothers.

CP   Ah, I know!

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

CP   That's what it is.

EM   >> ...

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

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 at the goods.

He reaches into the bag he’s been holding and pulls out what looks like a crispy potato, still steaming with warmth. He takes a bite, and it sounds 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   >> dumbass, neither of those are american.

CP   Ah, well, try it. Its got some good meat.

EM   >> youre just giving me one?

CP   I promise it’s good.

He reaches in the bag again and 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   Ph-phuh -

He chokes on the pieces he's still chewing.

CP   Why's this about her all of a sudden?

EM   >> just trying to keep my ass safe.

CP   Phah hah, well,

CP   She wouldn't do something like that.

CP   Not unless you really fucked up.

CP   Then, I doubt she'd want to settle it through me.

You roll your eyes. The way she makes those goo-goo eyes at him and only him… 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. or kibbeh.

CP   I'm not usually one for deep-fried, heavy stuff.

CP   But it's a... guilty pleasure. comfort food.

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

CP   Too many, it turns out.

CP   It's a leftover dish. and we make a lot.

EM   >> well, 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 some rice and meat flew out when you tried to enunicate the word. 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   >> son of a bitch. 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.

CP   But they’re good.

EM   >> theyve got potential.

CP   You like my balls?

EM   >> not the worst ive had.

EM   >> ...

CP   Phff.

EM   >> shut up.

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.

You'd end up disappointing him eventually. Might as well do it now.

EM   >> jokes on you, im just here cause i know the right people.

EM   >> i aint got shit to give you.

He glances at you, then faces the schoolyard again.

CP   No, that's not true.

CP   I had someone to share my kubba with.

EM   >> dumbass.

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.

CP   Right, you and your knives.

CP   Phah hah. then, I’ll try to remember.

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