"SAMIR THE PEAR." Takashi laughed as soon as he walked through the door. Returning from the corner store, a black plastic bag filled with snacks sat in his hand with his official white apple earphones plugged into his ear, while he listened to some 90's hip hop.

"Takashi stop!" Toryn shouted, on the verge of tears as she nervously brought in a pan of macaroni and cheese to the table from the kitchen. She had on a knee length floral dress with knee high white socks. Her thick bifocals sat up on her face and her hair was in it's usual ponytail. She looked like a twelve year old church girl.

It was a couple months after their sixteenth birthday, and after having had Samir to herself for a while, Toryn finally decided to announce that she had a boyfriend. Laura wanted him at the house the very next day to meet him and find out who he was and who was around Toryn. She was ecstatic for her baby girl and had been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

Laura and Toryn had been cleaning the house the whole day just for Samir's arrival. Takashi on the other hand, hadn't even asked if they needed a dish to be washed. He stayed upstairs blasting music the whole time, and making fun of Samir once he found out about he and Toryn. The only time he stepped out of his room was to go to the store. He had no clue Toryn even knew him. That one time he saw them in front of the bookstore, when Toryn said she did it know him, Takashi believed her. He just thought Samir was trying to flirt with her and Toryn being the punk she was, instead of just telling him to leave her alone, allowed the dude to be all up in her face. Today was the day he was now finding out that they had actually been in communication for quite some time, though.

"What's going on out there?" Laura asked, hearing Toryn's high pitched whiny voice. She was tending to the vegetable rice. She had put too much water in the pot and was trying to drain some out so it wouldn't be too soft.

Toryn stood in the living room irritated by Takashi. She knew a pear was a fruit and people called gay people "fruits." Takashi was really annoying her by making fun of Samir. She really liked him and he was not a fruit.

Takashi smacked Toryn's butt as he travelled up the stairs to his room. Toryn cut her eyes at him but placed the pan down, before returning to the kitchen. It was six in the evening and Laura suggested a dinner would be the proper way to meet this boyfriend of her's and when Toryn called Samir, he agreed. Laura may not have been Toryn's mother but she was her guardian and because Toryn did have some issues, she needed to know who else was going to be around her besides herself and Takashi.

Toryn went back into the kitchen and saw the pan of baked fish sitting on the stove top and took it in. She walked it into the living room and sat it down on the table next to the macaroni and cheese. Several moments later Takashi came walking down the stairs, taking a seat at the table. He rubbed his hands together.

"This smells good,"

Toryn rolled her eyes, it was just like him to come as soon as the food was finished. "Taka move..." She mumbled, trying to position the utensils perfectly as she went around the table to each seat.

Takashi watched her walking around the table fixing everything. The corners of his mouth turned up as he tapped his fingers on the table. She was humming, trying to make everything perfect. When she got close to him Takashi looked her up and down even though she couldn't see because she was too busy prepping.

"I don't think I like the way you talking to me." He uttered.

"Oh well,"

He jumped up causing the chair legs to scrap back against the floor. Toryn's glasses fell off and she looked like a cartoon character the way she almost levitated off the floor.

Takashi laughed. "Punk ass."

He went in search of her glasses and gave them back to her just as Laura came out with the pan of rice. She placed it next to the baked fish and macaroni pie. Takashi could already hear his stomach grumbling. He started rubbing his rands together for the second time.

"Boy did you wash your hands? You just came off the street." Laura reminded him.

Takashi sucked his teeth and gave his mother a knowing look. As soon as he put his snacks up in his room for later the first thing he did was wash his hands. He could never eat without washing his hands first. Laura was the one who instilled that in him since he was a baby. "Ma, really? Of course I did."

"Good. And suck your teeth again and see if they don't fall in that pan of rice." She said, cutting her eyes at him.

Laura took a seat next to Takashi and Toryn sat across from them. Takashi noticed the extra chair next to Toryn and assumed it was for Samir. He grabbed one of the plates on the table and immediately began dishing out his food. Laura looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.

"Boy you not gonna wait for the guest to get here?"

"Nobody care about Toryn guest." He mumbled. Takashi's plate was piled to the max. Half a plate of rice, two slices of thick salmon and a big square shaped piece of macaroni pie baked with sharp cheddar cheese. He was a growing teenage boy so Laura never complained.

Takashi pulled out his phone with one hand while eating with the other. It was a bad habit but sometimes the Internet was too popping to check at a later time. He was watching Instagram videos of some of his friends who were at a movie theater. He wanted to go but Laura made him stay home. She said he didn't have to be out all the time.

Toryn was nervous as the table was deadpan quiet except for Takashi who would giggle every few seconds at whatever it was he was watching. Toryn's nerves were rattled.

"Oh, juice." Laura said realizing she had glasses on the table but nothing to drink.

"I'll get it!" Toryn squealed, jumping up and racing to the kitchen.

Laura giggled as Toryn flew into the kitchen. Just as she did the doorbell rang. Toryn blew out a breath, her heart like Congo drums in her chest. She heard Laura open the door and greet Samir. Toryn looked in the fridge and wondered what drinks to take. She wasn't big on soda, it was only occasionally. So instead she took a box of cranberry juice and a box of lemonade.

She walked into the living room and saw Samir standing there with a big smile that extended from ear to ear. He had a fresh haircut, a black t-shirt on and some black baggy jeans. He wore the all red Vans and sported Sean John cologne. Toryn set the juices on the table and walked up to him to shake his hand.

Laura was impressed by Samir and her silence showed it. She never expected him to be so handsome. He looked like one of the boys who would have sweated her back in high school when she was their age. She more expected Toryn's boyfriend to be more like her. Maybe fat. Or skinny. Bad posture and terribly quiet. Laura had to say as surprised as she was, she was even more intrigued by the matchup.

"Whassup," Samir mumbled, ignoring Toryn's hand to shake as he smoothly snaked a hand behind her lower back and pulled her in to kiss her lips.

Laura's eyes widened but she quickly caught herself. He was handsome and Laura was by far impressed. She wondered how Toryn was able to snag such a good looking guy. And that wasn't to say there was anything wrong with Toryn...but it was Toryn. She didn't even think Toryn was into guys like this. All this kid needed were some tattoos he would be the ultimate cliché bad boy.

Laura smiled and extended her hand once Samir broke away from Toryn. "Hello, I'm Toryn's caretaker, Laura."

"It's nice to meet you miss Laura." Samir smiled.

Toryn escorted him to his seat and he sat next to her. Laura quickly excused herself when she heard her phone ringing upstairs. Samir saw Takashi at the table and was a little surprised. He honestly wasn't expecting him to be here. He knew he lived here since Toryn said she lived with him, but he just didn't expect him to be part of the little gathering.

"Whassup." Samir said to Takashi.

Takashi peeked up from his phone and Samir noticed Takashi studying him. Watching him as if he had never seen him before. Then he nodded his head all of a sudden, "Whassup." He mumbled, going back to his cellphone.

I guess...Samir said to himself.

Samir looked around the house. It was a nice size, he couldn't see the kitchen but the living room was a large space. There was a smart TV above the fireplace and a nice Yamaha surround sound system. There was also a L shaped creme suede sectional. The floors were a sturdy hardwood and were nowhere near cheap. Samir could tell because it didn't creak at all. He could tell they lived very comfortably even by Takashi's clothes. He always did have something nice on Samir had to admit. He also had an iPhone 6S.

"Nice house man, hopefully I can get a place like this when I grow up." Samir said genuinely.

Takashi turned his attention on Samir and gave a slight smile. One that almost seemed forced. Samir couldn't tell though. "Thank you...but it's my mom's house, I just live here."

Samir smiled. "True, true...so how you like school? Your school crazy or you go to a good school?"

Takashi honestly didn't know why Samir was talking to him. Not that he didn't mind the questions he was just curious why. This guy obviously was not the shy type. Most people would already be feeling some type of way trying to meet the family of a chick who was not even her real family. But it was clear this dude adapted real quick.

"It's cool...sometimes there's drama other times it's chill. The normal." Takashi answered. He knew he could have asked Samir about his school, but purposefully didn't return the question. Not to be an asshole, but his phone was just much more interesting than Toryn's boyfriend.

"That's good, that's good...so how long have you and Toryn been friends?" Samir asked. He could tell Takashi didn't want to talk to him. And for that reason alone Samir was gonna troll the fuck outta him. He was gonna be on his ass the entire dinner. It seemed as if Takashi didn't like him. His short answers, his standoffish behavior, the looks he was giving him...it said it all. And that was absolutely fine with Samir.

Takashi chuckled at his phone, but Samir could tell it was because he was becoming annoyed by him. The sixteen year old looked up at him. "Met when we were five."

"And been around each other ever since huh."

"Yup." Takashi said.

"So, no girlfriend?"

"Nah, not into that kind of thing yet. I'm only sixteen, I just like chilling."

Samir nodded his head, "So you just hang with boring old Toryn."

Toryn giggled. "I'm not boring."

"Yeah she's not...not at all." Takashi said making direct eye contact with him. He stuffed a forkful of salmon in his mouth. It was seasoned lightly and tasted amazing. He blinked, staring at the fresh cut Samir got. "So you like her? Toryn I mean...she's your type and everything?"

Samir didn't even realize he didn't have a plate in front of him yet. He only noticed when Toryn placed one down in front of him. He thanked her and immediately began cutting his fish up in small pieces. He looked back at Takashi who's eyes never left his. "Yeah, she's cool. Different from all the girls I know. Not loud and with the drama and stuff. She has respect for herself and things like that."

"Hm." Takashi said to himself. He narrowed his eyes, "and you like that. Her differentness?"

"Of course."

Takashi picked his glass up to hide his smirk. He took a big gulp from his glass. "Right." He said. "Well...glad to have you. If Toryn likes you then I'm all for it." Takashi sent s big smile both of their ways.

Just then Laura came walking back into the living room. She took a seat and Samir smiled at her, "Food looks amazing."

"Thank you." She cheesed.

He took in a form of rice and fish and had to admit it was really good. Most people didn't know how to bake fish well. Usually it was undercooked. Toryn wiped Samir's mouth with a napkin because he had rice on his mouth. Laura thought it was cute. She nudged Takashi so he could see and he looked up thinking it was something important until he saw what it was. He gave his mom a look and went right back to his phone. Laura snatched the phone out of his hand, placing it next to her.

"We're at the table."

Takashi looked at his mom but knew better than to get slick. He honestly thought she was doing too much. He used his phone at the table all the time. Just because they had somebody at their house she wanted to act like they practiced table etiquette. Takashi swallowed a mouthful of food before turning to Laura.

"Can I eat upstairs please?"

Laura pulled her head back. Mice was one thing she didn't do, and Takashi was a messy eater. "No. Eat and then go upstairs."

Takashi didn't say anything and just continued to eat in silence.

Laura smiled, turning toward Samir. "Sooo, thank you for coming." She said in a sing song voice.

"Of course. Toryn said if I didn't she would beat me up."

Toryn blushed, bowing her head. "No I didn't,"

"So how did you guys meet?" Laura asked. Right after she asked the question her smile kind of faltered not knowing if Toryn remembered. She didn't want Samir to say one thing and Toryn to blurt out another. So she directed her attention toward Samir letting him know she wanted him to answer. She was pretty sure he didn't know about her schizophrenia and dementia.

"At a party I was throwing for my brother." He said not straight up saying his parents weren't home so he wanted to wild out. She would definitely think he was a bad influence and not want him around Toryn.

Laura narrowed her eyes then snapped, gasping. "Was it that party Toryn was wearing that pink dress? Remember and I told you to take her." Laura said turning toward Takashi.

"Uh huh." He said. He'd been really drunk, he remembered that was the night Toryn said he had blown up on her and was talking to her crazy. He wondered if that's how she and Samir met. Maybe Samir had seen her by herself and approached her while he was drunk out his mind.

"And by the way I'm not a pedophile to answer your question."

The table got quiet and slowly Takashi looked up. He saw Samir staring at him with a smirk on his face.

"What?" Takashi asked.

"I said I'm not a pedophile. Toryn was playing a video game in my room with me that night and you called me a pedophile. I'm seventeen. I guess you thought because I was Dupree's older brother I was much older. But I'm just clarifying, I'm not."

"Takashi, you said that?" Laura said looking at him in disbelief.

"It's okay, miss Laura, I just think he had a little too much to drink. He was just looking out for his friend though, so I can't be mad." Samir smiled.

"Do you want to be a motivational speaker by any chance?" Takashi asked looking at Samir with his sugar brown eyes narrowed to slits.

Samir was surprised that he guessed that because he honestly did. He always dreamed of traveling around the world and preaching to the younger generation and even the older ones, about positivity. He always envisioned himself as a role model. Most people would laugh when they heard that's what he wanted to do, but he didn't care.

"Yeah actually, how did you know?"

"You have a knack for talking. I notice you like too...a lot."

"Hey," Laura snapped, smacking his arm.

Takashi scrounged up his eyebrows and began rubbing his arms. "What?" He then turned toward Samir and put his hand out. "Nah nah bro don't take offense. I'm just saying I notice you like speaking, making conversation and stuff like that. That's what I meant."

Samir chuckled knowing Takashi was coming for him a little. But he didn't really care. He did talk a lot so it was true.

The table was quiet for a long time as everyone just ate. Occasional conversation was being passed around between Laura and Samir. Laura mostly asked things like where he lived and how many siblings he had. She asked about his parents and even his family to get as much background information on him and his upbringing. She would be damned if Toryn was hanging around some ratchet no good set of people.

"Oh," Laura unexpectedly said, snapping her fingers. "I forgot, for dessert I bought us a nice chocolate cake. Let me go get it." Laura pushed her chair back and got up.

Toryn put her index finger up and quickly wiped her mouth as well as she also excused herself from the table. "I'll help you." She said wanting to give the boys a quick two seconds alone. She saw things like that happen in movies a lot.

Samir watched the two women walk into the kitchen. When they disappeared out of his sight he looked at Takashi. His was eating calmly, never looking up from his plate. He had waves in his hair that were pretty nice he couldn't lie. Samir could tell he used grease instead of hair oil because it had a weird shine to it.

Samir leaned forward and cleared his throat. "Hey I just thought of something...Takashi right?"

"Apparently that's what my father named me." Takashi said, looking up. He knew his mouth was slick but that was something he couldn't help.

"I know you said you don't have a girlfriend or anything, but I'm sure your into girls, right? So you may know what girls find sexy and things like that. Your pretty close to Toryn. So specifically speaking of her, you know what she's into."

Takashi automatically wanted to say 'what the fuck is your point' but instead just shrugged. "I am. Why?"

"Good, then maybe one day you can take a trip down to the mall with me. By Victoria Secret?" He lowered his voice. "I keep imagining her in this nice lil' thong. Maybe you can help me pick it out. I think it would look perfect on her for the first time she sucking my di—"

"Here it is!" Laura announced, walking in with Toryn as they both held one side of the cake.

Samir looked over at the women with a smile but Takashi's eyes never moved from his face. Samir rose his eyebrows in surprise when he saw how big the cake was. It almost looked like something for a birthday party. It was a chocolate mouse cheesecake with small Hershey mini kisses all over it.

The girls sat it down on the table and retook their seats.

"The gloves stayed on right?" Laura joked making the whole table erupt with laughter. The only person who didn't laugh was Takashi. He just stared at Samir.

Everyone went back to eating silently. When Samir caught eye contact with Takashi, he winked. "You should eat up man...your food is gonna get cold."

****