In A Day Or Two

Chapter 1: The Encounter

The sun's up, but I'm still lying here, debating whether I should get up too. Just another frackin' day in college where nothing's new.
Meet the boys, try to get to class on time (and fail spectacularly), grab lunch, and—hell yeah—it's Friday. Maybe I'll get invited to another parents-out-of-town-so-we-destroy-their-house party. At least that's something to look forward to... or not.

"You look like shit," Edmund says as he drops his tray across from me.

It's piled with... something green, limp, and smothered in mayonnaise and mystery dressing. It looks like it died twice before making it to the plate.

"And you eat shit," I shoot back, shaking my head.

"It's called healthy food, Francis." He points at it like he's unveiling treasure.

"Nah, I prefer meat over what meat eats," I say, chuckling.

"What? There's nothing wrong with being vegan!" He gestures at the salad like it's the eighth wonder of the world.

"Sure. Unless you're a frustrated cheerleader avoiding extra fat, or an animal lover who refuses to eat a poor little pig."

"That's rude, bro." He presses a hand to his chest like I've wounded him deeply. "I'm an athlete. It's called disciplined eating."

"Whatever." I shrug and dig into my bacon-and-cheese soup, then into my mac and cheese. There's no such thing as too much cheese. If there is, I'll happily die proving otherwise.

"Yo, Pope," Edmund says while chewing his... plant mush.

"It's Francis. I'm far from being a Pope."

"The last time I checked, that's still the Pope's name, so why not?"

"Popes are holy, Edmund. I just happen to do holy shits every now and then."

He snorts. "Makes sense."

I point at his fork. "What is that even supposed to be? It looks like your salad got run over by a car."

"It's kale," he says, offended.

"It's sad," I correct him.

"Okay, but at least my food doesn't come with a side of instant heart attack."

"My food comes with joy, Edmund. Something you clearly haven't tasted since you betrayed bacon."

He narrows his eyes. "One day, when your arteries clog, I'll be standing at your hospital bed saying, I told you so."

"And I'll be lying there thinking, Worth it."

He rolls his eyes, then leans in. "So, uh... I heard about the new girl in town. If I got it right, her name's Xianon Pearson?"

"New girl? A transferee?" I raise a brow. "Well, that's news. Nobody chooses to live in this small town."

"Yeah, apparently she's from the city. You know... big lights, fancy coffee, people who don't say 'y'all' unironically."

"So... what's she doing here? Witness protection?"

"Could be. Or maybe she lost a bet."

I smirk. "If she's from the city, I give it two weeks before she complains about the Wi-Fi and the smell of cows."

"Or about your face," he adds with a straight face.

"That was uncalled for."

"You set yourself up for it."

I take a dramatic sip from my water. "One day, Edmund, you'll wake up and realize I was the best thing in your life."

"Yeah, right after bacon."