(expecting someone but it's a lunchroom at lunchtime so entirely open area)

Astrid had arrived in the lunchroom but only picked up a bottle of orange juice from the food counter. She then found her way to where she had sat the previous day and took out two small boxes, putting them on the table but not opening them. Her hair was styled slightly differently today it seemed.

She sipped her bottle of orange juice, her red eyes looking around the lunchroom for Cameron.

She would not have to look long, her red eyes would find Cam entering the lunch room his dreads shaking slightly as he walked.

His brown eyes met her red ones and his lips curled up into a little smile and he headed over to her.

"Sup girl, how's it hangin?"

"Yo" Astrid said with a smile, waiting for the boy to sit down before moving one of the boxes over to him.

"Today is a decent day, although I am still yet to think better of the actual classes. Starting to consider spending my lesson times just doing my own studies. Is this normal for American schools?"

Today Cam flipped his chair around and straddled it backwards as he looked at the box "aw shit you weren't clownin you actually brought me lunch." He sounded a little surprised and looked at the box for a second "thanks Astrid." He smiled warmly at her.

He opened it up to see what was inside and started talking while he did "I mean yeah some teachers are better than others. Most mean well, se are lazy and/or mean. But yeah a lot of class can feel pointless, why do you think I skip so often?"

Inside sitting on a bed of salad was two oddly shaped looking pastries



"I said I was going to do it, why are you surprised?" Astrid shrugged, opening her box as well "I tested one yesterday and is close enough to what my mother made. They are better hot but I cannot cook them in school I think so this will have to do. It has beef, celery, carrots and potato in. Plus cheese, hope it will be ok?"

She took out one of her own ones, biting into it and chewing. Finishing her mouthful before speaking.

"Shape is off is only thing, but never learnt how to shape pastry properly. Still, I think you should not skip class. Just use class time and resource to further own education."

"Some people make jokes saying they'll do something and then not do it." He explained before looking at the pastry.

"Damn that sounds good and it don't matter how it's shaped if it tastes good." He picked one up and took a bite.

"Mmmmm" enjoyment sounds came from his throat while he chewed. He swallowed and smiled at Astrid "ay yo these are the bomb, you can really cook."

There was a smile at that.

"Thank you. I'm glad to hear it meets approval, and it is all fresh ingredients also. I did not consider to ask about allergies, so hopefully there are no issues there. It's my mothers recipe that I had to try and remember."

He shook his head "Nah I don't have any major allergies. Spring and fall my eyes get mad watery sometimes though." He said as he took another bite enjoying the foreign food.

"Well hey you did a good job or improved on it cause it's delicious."

"Spring and fall? Mm..maybe you are allergic to the plants waking up and sleeping then? I forget what name it has."

Astrid took another bite out of her pastry, chewing and swallowing before speaking again.

"You do not cook then?"

"Yeah pollen is what gets me. Some plants pollinate in the fall, not as bad then spring really sucks if I forget to take my meds." He explained.

He shook his head at her question "Nah I never learned how. I can like microwave stuff and like make box meals like Mac and cheese but something like this?" He lifted the pastry "Nah I can't do nothin like this."

There was a nod.

"You should learn. Is very important skill, I used to have to cook at home a lot when my mother was late home and my father was out working. All my family can cook. I can show you how to make macaroni cheese from scratch if you want? Is very simple."

"Uh sure yeah." He looked a touch embarassed but also grateful "I never really had anyone to teach me how. Both my parents work a lot and usually end up getting take out."

"But yeah I guess learning would be good to do." He looked kind of excited about the idea in his own reserved way.

"Am not sure if I'm a good teacher, depends if I took on any of my mothers traits" Astrid said with a small laugh "but it is not difficult as long as you can read and follow what is happening. Then you can make me lunch on days right?"

She took another bite out of the food.

"Am free most days if you want to come round. People I live with won't bother us as long as you don't go wandering round the house."

"Well I'm no bookworm but I think I can manage a little reading and watching you." He smiles and then his eyes go a little wide "Work! Watching you, uh, following along."

He cleared his throat "Uh but yeah Iean I could come over tomorrow maybe? After school, if you're free."

Astrid laughed, reaching over to poke the boy on the nose.

"I get that Norwegians do not appear often in America but I am a normal average girl really. Ok, tomorrow after school. I will go to the store today then to buy some more pasta and cream. It lets me also use up the flour I have left over, that is good."

Even through his darkened skin the blush on his cheeks could be seen as she booped his nose. He did look a little relieved though as she booped his nose "there ain't nothin average about you." He said a little quietly but smiled and nodded.

"That sounds like a plan." He quieted down a bit and ate more of the pastry.

There was a smile at that, as she fell into silence to finish off the first of the two pastries she had.

"Is meat done differently in America? There is something...different about how it tastes" Astrid said after finishing one, a thoughtful look on her face

His head cocked to the side "Uh I guess it depends what you mean by different."

"It seems...I do not know the best way to describe. Like it's fattier? Almost like it has a butter like taste. More rich" Astrid tried to find a way to describe it "I guess it would be difficult to compare if you have not had meat from different places, but it surprises me that meat can taste different from same animal."

Cam shook his head "yeah you got me on that one. I don't know shit about meat, like where it comes from and stuff. I guess maybe we raise our animals different? Different food for them or something? You're right it's hard to say since it's the only meat I know."