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He pulled out three metals containers packed with food.

“Wow, what’s all that?”

It smelled amazing and there was so much of it.

“This is my mom’s chickpea curry and veg, rice, and homemade naan bread. Orange and mango slices. And string cheese.”

“String cheese?” I asked. “It doesn’t sound like it goes with the other stuff.”

“I love them,” Faise giggled. “My dad too, but we hide them from Mom. She says they’re processed foods.”

“All I’ve ever eaten is that.”

“Here,” Faise said and passed me his fork.

“You have utensils too? What else is in there? A microwave?”

Faise laughed again and the sound made me smile. I tried a mouthful of the curry, and it was good but…

“That’s kinda spicy,” I replied and reached for a piece of the bread. “But really good.”

Then I bit into the flatbread. “OMG, that’s amazing.”

Faise’s face lit up.

We spent the rest of the lunch hour eating and talking, in our own world. We liked the same video games and TV shows. And music, too.

“Do you, I mean, would you like to come to my house on Friday after school?” he asked me. “We always have pizza night on Friday. But real pizza, from a restaurant, not the frozen kind.”

Just the thought of fresh pizza had my stomach rumbling again.

“Yeah,” I replied without thinking. “I’ll check with my mom first, but it should be okay.”

Then I felt guilty. I’d have loads of pizza and my sister and mom would be eating Kraft mac & cheese again.

“Um, I just remembered. I might need to babysit my sister Friday night.”

“Bring her with you. We always have lots.”

I nodded but I didn’t reply.

“If you want,” Faise added quietly. “You don’t have to if you don’t want. I mean?—”

“I want to. I just, well—” I paused. I never told anyone about how we struggled, but suddenly, it just spilled out of me. “I won’t be able to do the same. My family can’t afford stuff like pizza nights.”

Faise nudged me with his sharp little elbow. “I don’t care. I still want you to come over.”

Then he gave me a smile that had the dimples on his cheeks popping out.

Sitting there in the lunchroom, I knew right then that Faise wasn’t going to be my friend.

He was going to be my best.

CHAPTER 2

RONIN

AGE 13

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