Ryan Asfour spends his dinner listening to his sisters tell their dad about their day. He mostly stays quiet, picking at his food. Lana talks about recess and how excited she was that today was pizza day. Nadia talks about the A she got on her science test and the middle school yearbook which she’s the editor of. After everyone else has shared Ryaan’s dad turns to him. “You’re quiet tonight, what’s going on? Is dinner that terrible?”

It’s not great. Tonight was Ryaan’s dad’s night to cook and he’s a terrible chef. Somehow the man managed to wolf down his plate and go back for seconds. None of the three kids have even gotten through half of what he piled on their plates.

Ryaan sighs, putting his head in his hands. “Just thinking about a big trig test I have tomorrow. I’ve been studying and working at it but I don’t seem to be getting it. Math usually comes so easy to me so I’m kind of worried. Would it be okay if I go over to Jesse’s to study after dinner?” If there’s one reliable way to get his dad’s blessing, it’s through education. Even better, Jesse’s his favorite of Ryaan’s basketball teammates, largely because he sucks up to anyone and everyone he can.

His father doesn’t answer right away, scratching at his right arm and bopping his head as if in thought. “It’s getting late already you know. You have school tomorrow. What time will you be getting there and what time will you be home?”

“He wants me to come over around eight so I’ll probably leave around seven thirty. I don’t think I’ll be that late. Ten thirty or eleven maybe.”

His dad leans forward. “Make it ten thirty and it’s a deal. You need to do good on your test. I want you to be an engineer or something important and math is a big part of that.”

There goes his dad with the e word again. He’s been pestering him to become an engineer since he was a little boy, thinking that will set him up for a bright future. Ryaan hasn’t had the heart to tell him that he finds math boring and being an engineer sounds like a nightmare. His mom knew before she took off and always encouraged him to follow his heart but look what happened to their family when she followed her own advice. Ryaan’s terrified to let his father down.

“Yes sir. I will absolutely try. If it’s going to be any later than that I’ll let you know. Jesse did mention me possibly staying over though if things run late or we’re not ready. That way I can get some extra studying in and his mom can just drive us to school in the morning. Would that be okay?”

His dad frowns at this. “I don’t want you to be a bother to them. Do Jesse’s parents know about this? Will they be okay with you staying? What about breakfast? I don’t want you eating them out of house and home.”

Reassuring his dad that Jesse’s family will be glad to let him have a bowl of cereal or something and telling him that he’ll make sure not to go too crazy on their food, his dad tentatively gives him the okay to stay over if needed. He insists that Ryaan call him if he’s going to do so though which Ryaan promises.

After finishing dinner Ryaan heads to his room to prepare. He grabs his spare backpack from under his bed, his costume and weapons already stuffed inside. He can’t change here. In the past he’s put on the more casual pieces at home but he doesn’t want them seeming too common so he decides to change completely once he’s out of here.

Once everything’s packed, Ryaan checks in with his dad one last time to let him know he’s on his way out. “Take a snack with you. Something to give you some extra brain power to study. I want you to do great. That way you can share with Jesse too and it won’t be like you’re just eating their food if you stay.”

His dad shoves an entire bag of walnuts and a full package of celery at him and he has to be very careful putting them in his bag to make sure his dad doesn’t see the rest of what he has. The last thing he needs is for his dad to wonder why he’s carrying around a bunch of throwing knives or why there aren’t any books in his bag.

Grabbing the peanut butter out of a cabinet to go with the celery and nuts he’s as ready as he’s going to be. He can’t stand celery on it’s own and while he may not be going to study, he doesn’t know how long this will take and who knows, he could get hungry. His dad swats his hands away. “You don’t need the stupid peanut butter. Always with the peanut butter. Celery is delicious on it’s own. You don’t need to glob that crap all over it. It’ll keep you healthy on it’s own. Now get going before you keep Jesse waiting.”

With a big hug and a promise to call if he’s going to stay overnight, Ryaan gets ready to leave. He’d rather not have to find a place to sleep tonight but if it comes down to it he knows a couple 24 hour places where he can get a cup of coffee and wait it out. He’ll be useless at school tomorrow if he has to pull an all nighter but it really depends on what he finds.

Looking at the clock, he realizes it’s almost quarter to eight and he planned to already be out of here by now. He knows the guys from school weren’t planning to meet up until eight so he should have time but he doesn’t want to take any chances. This is his first time getting involved with something because he planned to and he’s so excited that the hairs on his arm are standing.