The days went by. And Naser had pretty much become the new seat at our table, showing up once his training was done to chill and hang out with us… including Olivia. … Especially Olivia. It was kinda funny in a way, noticing the seat I used to sit at, slowly inching closer and closer day by day because of how often Naser would be looking at her newer, or older sketches of art. And it wasn’t just Naser who was changing his habits… but Olivia too, more often than not finding her outside by the trees to idly sketch, waiting for Naser to finish training. Speaking of which… “Hi.” Olivia and Naser practically flinch from their sitting positions atop the grass, the pterodactyl dropping his textbook onto his chest as it shut closed, the baryonyx managing to keep hold of her own notebook. “Raptor Jesus Anon…” Olivia shook her head, “Where’d you even come from?” “Behind the tree.” I say as a matter of fact. My insolence is rewarded with a high-velocity blueberry getting thrown by Olivia from her lunchbox, striking the side of my cheek as I manage to catch it with my claw on the way down, opening my snout to toss it in. Finally, some good fucking food. I smile before leaning against the bark of the tree. “So what’re you two up to? Studying?” “We- I was just-” Naser looked to the baryonyx, “Showing Olivia some of my homework.” Although I could see that was the case… Why the hell did Naser make it sound so unconvincing? Olivia on the other hand, smiled. “And I’m just drawing whatever he’s working on.” She then showed me her notebook, a grey and orange colored cell with bold text beneath it. The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the Naser. “But it’s insane-” Olivia looked to the pterodactyl. “-that you really have to read all of that book while you’re here…” “Not just this one, but history, English, and math too.” Naser explained, picking the book off his chest. “Since I’m missing a month of classes, I’ll be tested on those subjects when I get back. ” “Wow.” Olivia simply said, less out of admiration and more out of shock as I shook my head. “I don’t think I could ever survive If I did anything like that.” Naser looked at me. “Do you even have any free time?” “Well uh-” Naser scratched the back of his head, “... I kinda do? I basically stick to a schedule that-” He then reached into his pocket, producing a neatly folded piece of paper. “-I organized myself that tells me when-” I’m now kneeling next to Olivia, the two of us just blankly staring as Naser fully unfolds the paper to show off a timetable. “-I… Oh, I guess not anytime soon.” He then turned it around to show us the horror on paper, rows and columns just filled with text boxes of subjects as Naser smiled, closing his eyes as if it were something to be proud of. “As you can see, I’m pretty full up on-” Olivia and I look at each other, coming to an unspoken agreement as the baryonyx looked back. And immediately snatched the heretical text from Naser’s claws. “Wha-? Hey!” “Sorry, Naser.” I apologize, “But there is no way we’re letting you do-” I count as Olivia silently reads through it, the baryonyx grabbing her pencil and using her notebook as a hard surface to draw on. “13 history assignments in one frickin’ week. That’s probably breaking the Eighth Amendment, inflicting cruel and unusual punishment on yourself.” “13’s an unlucky number.” Olivia adds. “And 13’s an unlucky number.” I agree, Naser looking ready to argue before I speak out. “Listen man, I totally get that you have to study for your tests and stuff, but surely you can make a little bit of time to do other things outside of school?” Naser pauses, looking down. “Well… to be honest-” He looked back up, “I really don’t know what there is to do in Janoga Park, so I just figured that I may as well do something productive with my time.” “Don’t worry, we got plenty of productive ideas like…-” I think for a moment. Surprisingly, it's Naser who offers the first suggestion. “I could…-” His face lights up, “-go check out your boxing club for after school today, just have it replace English practice. I’m already pretty confident with that subject...” “Write that down, write that down!” Olivia nods, scribbling frantically to write ‘Write that down’ on the sheet. “But what else…” I blink, remembering that Mom, Dad, Olivia, and I were going to the mall this weekend, which involved a little bit of shopping, and… of course… A few fun-filled hours at the arcade. “Hey, Olivia.” She raises her head from the timetable, “This weekend, do you think we should…-?” She immediately knows what I’m referring to pausing for a moment before nodding as I turn to Naser. “Hey man, think you can shed your Saturday studies?” The pterodactyl blinked, “You mean all of it?” He placed a claw on the back of his neck, “Er, what for?” Olivia already begins to scribble off his Saturday schedule. “My parents will be taking Olivia and I to the Jurassic Mall to eat lunch and stuff before letting us loose in the arcade for a bit, so it’d be cool if you joined us.” “Oh, but that’s with your family.” Naser nervously responded, “I don’t want to intrude on anything-” “You won’t.” It’s Olivia that speaks up, pausing for a moment. “I… want you to come with.” She admits, hiding her eyes behind the timetable and pretending to be preoccupied… even though I could clearly see that she was blushing furiously. And as was Naser, the pterodactyl’s wing gave a quick flap before he slowly nodded. “O-Okay then, if it’s alright with your parents… then I’d like to join.” He then seemed to remember, “After I call my own parents, of course.” A smile builds on my snout, “Sounds good.” After a few more seconds of Olivia sketching, she finally lowers the paper to show it off. And what a beautiful sight, fun doodles having filled the boring text monotony, from a tic-tac-toe game Olivia had somehow lost against herself, a boxing ring around the now scribbled out ‘English studies’, a gigant arcade machine smashed into his Saturday column- As well as, of course… Write that down Oh yeah, it’s all coming together. “Welcome to the gymnasium Naser.” I proudly announced as we went inside, “This is where the boxing club takes place.” “Wow, it’s…-” He looked around, “A lot more spacious than I expected.” “That’s because it's the newest built structure in Mezosoic Private.” Worden explained, “Which is like… almost 20 years old now, so that’s not really saying much to be honest.” I shrug, peering at Naser. “But hey, can’t complain since we’re the club that gets to use it.” I then perk up, noticing a familiar giganotosaurus setting up the equipment container. “Hey, Jeremy!” The giganotosaurus perks up, turning to us before approaching, the two of us grinning as we clasp claws, shoulder bashing one another with a grunt, Jeremy doing the same with Worden before he took notice of Naser. “Hey, you must be Naser!” He beamed as he offered a gentler claw instead to a new dinosaur. “It’s good to finally meet you.” “Oh uh-” The pterodactyl seemed slightly intimidated by Jeremy’s size, awkwardly accepting his claw as Worden and I watched from the side. “Good to meet you too…?” “Name’s Jeremy.” The giganotosaurus answered, thumbing his chest. “Student and assistant coach of the boxing club.” “Jeremy…” Naser murmured, now smiling as they finished the clawshake. “I think I heard of you, from the other contenders. They say you’re actually competing for almost all of the events for the Sophomore league.” “Yep.” Jeremy nodded. “That’s amazing!” The pterodactyl exclaimed before resting a claw on the back of his neck, “Admittedly, I only came here to run, not really that big of a deal…” “You kidding me? It was easy for me to decide it since my school was hosting, but anyone coming from outside is already moving mountains just to be here.” Jeremy gave an encouraging thumbs up. “You’ve earned a lot of my respect dude.” Naser nodded bashfully as I looked to Jeremy, “By the way, when’s Coach Misha coming?” The doors to the gym slammed open, the familiar ankylosaurus having brought his favorite weight to the gym. “I AM HERE BABIES, FEAR ME!” Needless to say, Naser’s first introduction to our coach was off to a resounding success, indicated by the startled flap of his wings and completely taken aback by the loud shouting as Coach Mikhaila entered the gymnasium, weight in one hand and sandwich in the other, placing down the former to properly bite into the veggie sandwich. “Nom nom nom, om nom!” He then pretended to listen to the food item, “What was that, Sandvich? ‘Train them all’? Good idea! Hahahaha!” The ankylosaurus then shouted, “RUN BABIES! RUUUUUN!” Jeremy, Worden, and I immediately get moving… Except Naser. Oh. We probably should’ve warned Naser, but if you come into gymnasiums while Coach Mikhail was in…- “YOU! YES YOU!” “M-Me?” Naser asked in a meek voice. “GO!” -you were expected to warm up. The pterodactyl joined us as we rounded a lap… and he was moving, zooming past as his good wing stretched to provide an aerodynamic boost, the ‘flight’ part of his fight or flight instincts clearly activated. After a few more laps around the gymnasium, we were properly warmed up… Yet Naser didn’t get the message, clearly on some adrenaline high as I attempted to call out. “Hey, Naser! The warm-up’s over!” He was already halfway through his next lap before realizing that no one else was running, earning a few laughs from the other club members as he returned, an embarrassed look on his face. “Whoops…” He chuckled nervously, “Guess I got a little carried away there.” “To be honest-” I admit, “We probably should have warned you about that.” Worden explained, “If you’re in the gym when Coach Mikhail is, everyone is expected to warm up, and I mean everyone. Students, teachers, it doesn’t matter.” “Yeah, Dad even made a substitute teacher run… and cry once.” He shook his head, “Though honestly, that was kind of an overreaction by the substitute.” Naser nodded before looking at Jeremy with shock and surprise. “Wait, he’s your father?!” “Yep, stepdad really, but he’s awesome, so he earns a 'Dad' from me.” Jeremy answered proudly as coach Mikhail approached, standing beside his stepson and crossing his burly arms “You run fast like comrade I knew! But I do not know you...” “This is Naser Misha, he’s from…-” The giganotosaurus then seemed to wince as if trying to remember. “Crap, what school are you from again, Naser?” “Volcano High, in Volcadera Bluffs.” “Ah!” Coach Mikhail nodded, despite lacking much of a neck with how built he was. “I see! You have come far for the Meteor Bowl. Now tell me-” The ankylosaurus smiled, “Is Spears still teaching in Volcano High?” Naser and I were both surprised by that question, indicating that Mikhail somehow knew Spears. “I- He’s not a teacher anymore, but the principal now.” “Ha! Very VERY good!” Mikhail yelled with joy. “He is hardworking Neanderthal.” He then clapped his hands together, turning away. “Now, I must get ring ready.” “Ring?” Naser asked as the coach walked away, “What did he mean by that?” “Well-” I shrug, “-we gotta spar somewhere.” And right on cue, Mikhail tossed the room-wide boxing ring into the middle of the gymnasium, the entire ground quaking as all of us literally bounced straight up from the floor before landing back down, the boxing club pretty much used to the impact whenever it came. Except Naser, who had almost lost his footing, gaping at the sudden boxing ring. “Anon, Worden! You fight first!” “Got it.” Worden responded as I nodded, the two of us gearing ourselves up from the box Jeremy had bought out. Before long, we were in the ring, facing off against one another as we assumed guards, Worden with a basic guard and myself with a low-hand guard, Naser and Jeremy watched from the sidelines. “Wow, they’re really going to fight?” Naser asked. Jeremy chuckled as Worden and I began circling one another. “Of course, this is boxing club after all. How else are we going to train if we don’t spar?” “I know that, but what I mean is…-” Naser scanned us both. “Worden seems to be in a bigger weight class than Anon, so how’s he even going to win?” Wow, Naser. So much for a vote of confidence… I knew he probably meant to phrase that better, but it didn’t matter. Because now I wanted to win. “Well here’s the thing about Anon,-” Jeremy spoke as Worden threw a jab. I slip my head to the side, narrowly avoiding it, dodging another in an attempt to get close to his guard, now with my back to the edge of the ring. “-any time he ever takes a hit-” Worden was an adept boxer and he knew what I was trying to do, swinging a powerful punch at my meager defense as I’m just barely able to raise my guard in time, still feeling the punch of the powerful allosaurus as my sharp teeth rattled, my body leaning back against the rope of the ring. Perfect. “-he bounces right back.” I lean back against the elastic perimeter like a bungy chord, using the momentum to shoot off while preparing a left hook, Worden’s eyes widening as he prepared to guard his right… For a punch that never came as I had feinted it, slipping low to deliver an uppercut right beneath his unguarded snout, glove meeting protective padding. The strike caused him to fall back like a plank of wood, collapsing against the floor of the ring as he stared up at the ceiling of the gymnasium, blinking. “Anon wins!” Coach Mikhail announces as I help Worden back up, the allosaurus having fully recovered, if not a little rattled, a testament to his toughness. “Damn, I did not think you were going to go for the feint.” Worden spoke. “... Neither did I…” I fully admit, having done it out of the heat of the moment… And I guess, a deep part of me really wanted to impress Naser. Which had worked as I turned to the pterodactyl, the jaw of his snout dropped open as Jeremy chuckled. “Anon isn’t the second best of the boxing club for no reason.” He then turned to Naser, tapping him on the shoulder. “Alright, time for you and I to spar.” Somehow, that jaw dropped even lower as Naser stared wide-eyed at Jeremy. “B-But I-” Jeremy and Coach Mikhail burst into laughter, throwing an arm as if in sync to attempt but fail to control their sudden schadenfreude. “I’m just screwing with you man! You’re not even in the club, that’d be like, illegal or something.” Naser let out a heavy sigh of relief, clutching his chest. “Whew.” He then looked up at me as I leaned forward against the rope, an uneasy smile on his snout. “... I guess I ate those words, huh?” “Looks can be deceiving.” I simply answer. And didn’t I know that to be the truth… I tested my acoustic guitar whilst sitting on the living room couch, twanging a few strings to test the tune before adjusting the tuning pegs on the headstock. Olivia sat close by, drawing as I turned to her. “So should I tell Dad or-” “Don’t worry, I’ll tell him.” Olivia answered, just as Mom and Dad arrived from upstairs, passing the dining room. “You two ready for the mall this saturday?” My dad asked with a smile, my mother sitting off the side of one of the chairs by the dining table. I peer at Olivia, giving her an encouraging nod as she looked to Dad, speaking up. “Actually, Uncle Ed, I was wondering…-” She suddenly found the tip of the couch more interesting before steeling herself, looking directly into Edward’s glasses. “-if it was okay to have another dino come along when we go.” “That’s fine.” Dad answered, “We can make some more room in the car if Worden is-” “Not Worden… he’s too busy.” Olivia admitted, “But someone else…” That seemed to get the undivided attention of both my parents, now focused on the baryonyx. “His name’s Naser, he’s visiting our school for the Meteor Bowl.” She idly twirled a strand of her short green hair with a sharp digit, “And… since I figured he’s really far from his family and doesn’t really have much to do on his weekends-” “You want to invite him over?” Mom asked. Olivia nodded, a knowing smile growing on Joan’s snout. “Is this Naser… special to you?” This would be the part where Olivia would stutter and outright deny that fact, like something out of a movie or a TV show… but Olivia, and I wasn’t even trying to meme, was really ‘not like other girls’ in that she simply nodded, bashfully peering away. “Y-Yeah, kinda.” Mom’s snout dropped open as a glint of light grew on my Dad’s glasses, obscuring his eyes… a twitch at the side of his snout. “Oh my.” Mom gasped, “I see.” They both then briefly looked at one another, as if coming to some silent decision, looking back at Olivia, Edward’s face stony and stoic before the glint disappeared from his glasses, sporting a smile. “That’s fine, he can come.” Olivia paused for a moment. “Thanks… Just uh-” She fiddled with her claws, “-promise not to make it weird when he’s with us?” “We won’t dear.” Joan promised. The baryonyx smiled, “Cool. I’ll tell him the good news when I see him again.” She then stood up, heading upstairs to her room to work on some homework with a skip to her step as I stayed on the couch. That went pretty well. I was about to continue practicing only to be suddenly aware of my dad’s claw on my shoulder. “Anon.” “Yeah?” I peer back, pausing to see that the bright glint of his glasses was back, making it hard to discern what he was thinking. “You know Naser too?” Edward asked. I slowly nod, “... Yeah, pretty well.” “How well?” “Uh, well enough.” I answer truthfully, “A good student and a total bro, so he’s not a bad influence at all if that’s what you’re asking.” Edward slowly nods, “As expected if he’s at Mezosoic Private for the Meteor Bowl…” He murmured, “Any weaknesses?” I tilt my head at the weird question, as if my dad were writing a file, and somehow I felt that any obstruction of the truth was not going to end well. “Uh… I guess he’s bad with words sometimes? Liable to say… and maybe do the wrong thing at the wrong time?” I admit honestly. “Hmm, that could be an issue.” He then asked another question, “What classification? Baryonyx, tyrannosaurus, triceritops or is he a hominid, if so then wha-?” “Um… pterodactyl.” I answer. “A pterodactyl…” He then seemed to recall, adjusting his bright glasses. “Right… they have approximately 90 teeth if I remember correctly…” … Holy fucking shit. And here I thought Mr. Ripley was terrifying enough… Luckily, Mom stepped in, brushing his shoulder with a hiss. “Oh you’re terrible Edward! Not even a minute after Olivia’s left and you’re already thinking of ways to torment her new boyfriend!” She probably meant that as an exaggeration… but somehow I didn’t feel it, a pause in the air as Edward relinquished his claw, resting it on the couch to let out a sigh. “Her boyfriend…” He murmured the word as if in disbelief, the glint disappeared from his glasses as he looked to Joan, wariness in his green eyes. “Isn’t it still too soon for her for anything like that?” I took the moment to interject, “Well its-” I take a moment to find the right words, both of my parents now looking at me. “First of all, they like each other… a lot, but I wouldn’t call Naser her ‘boyfriend’... not yet at least.” I then move on, “And second, it’ll be a good opportunity for you guys to get to know Naser for yourselves at least, but you can trust me when I say it-” A smile builds on my snout. “-Naser’s good.” My mother slowly turns her head back to Edward, “... Anon’s right dear.” She giggles with embarrassment, “I suppose we both were overthinking things…” “Yeah…” Edward chuckled, “Sorry, old habits die hard.” … I did not like to think what those ‘old habits’ could’ve been if it involved knowing the amount of teeth a pterodactyl had in their snout… My Glowie Dad was a menace. The weekend arrived. And so did Naser, now seated in the backseat beside Olivia and I, my parents sitting in the front as my dad drove. “I gotta say, I’m really grateful that you brought me along Mr. and Mrs. Agos.” The pterodactyl thanked. “I hope I’m not a burden or anything.” “Of course not dear.” Mom turns from the passenger seat with a smile, “It’s always good to have extra company on these sorts of trips.” There was a brief lull, the sound of the rumbling outside and whirring car engine being the only noise for a few seconds. “So how’s Mezosoic Private treating you?” Edward asked, eyes glued to the road. “Are the dormitories comfortable?” “Super comfy!” Naser enthusiastically replied, “And it’s spacious too, every athlete gets their own room. I guess that’s why Mezosoic Private was the school to host the Meteor Bowl.” My Dad nods, “It’s a good school for Anon and Olivia too, they’ve been there since they were 5.” “Wow-” Naser looked to the side, “I didn’t know you both were there for that long.” “Yeah, started in kindergarten...” Olivia murmured, “... Kinda surreal just thinking about it…” “I bet.” The pterodactyl agreed, “I’ve moved schools a few times, but never stayed that long.” He then paused, “But I think I’ll be staying at Volcano High until I graduate for sure…” “That’s good.” My mother commented, “And what do your parents do?” “My parents?” Naser asked, “My mom stays at home, but my dad is the police commissioner of Volcaldera Bluffs.” “Oh wow! My own dad was a police officer, maybe they know each other!” She then smiled, “Or at the very least, would talk the ear off of your father if they ever meet.” Edward on the other hand… I could see the ghost of a smile on the edge of his snout. “... Interesting.” It then thankfully developed into a proper smile, “We’re here.” All of us look out the windows to see the gigantic building, Dad pulling us off the highway and into the car park. The Mall of Dinofornia. Its central plaza was gigantic, decorated with palm trees, rocky outcropping, and a flowing waterfall to simulate some jungle oasis… were it not completely given away by the milling families and wooden benches. “Woah.” Naser joined me beside the railing, as did Olivia. “This place is huge!” Olivia turned her head to the pterodactyl. “There’s also an indoor rope course and a ferris wheel too if you go further down.” “For real?!” Naser exclaimed like an excited puppy as I resisted the urge to chuckle. “Naser, Olivia, Anon!” The three of us turn to see Edward and Joan by the restaurant, a smile growing on my snout as well as Olivia’s. “C’mon-” I turn to Naser, “-I think you’ll like this place.” Eurasian BBQ. Half-buffet, half-BBQ, all-you-can-eat. It was, in my opinion, the best cuisine to grace this planet, which made it such a shame that I had never tried it earlier, especially in my previous life. The ‘main-course’ was a raw buffet in that you put together before handing it to a chef behind the countertop, who’d take whatever you had in your bowl and cook it with your choice of sauce. We all sat at a booth, already given plates of shumai and small cups of wonton soup, already started with the best kind of appetizers… free appetizers. Naser tried to ask. “Oh did we-?” “It’s free.” All four of us answer instantly, with the exact same wavelength, tone, and look before digging in, Naser looking around at us before reluctantly joining, fiddling with his chopsticks before consuming a dumpling. His face immediately lit up. “Mm! That’s-” “You should try the soup too, while it’s still hot.” I speak up, sipping from my own bowl. Naser did just that, glomping on a spoonful as a smile curved on the edges of his snout. “... That is so good.” “Yep.” Olivia agreed, finishing her own bowl. “Pretty much the only restaurant we ever eat at whenever we visit the mall.” “I can definitely taste why!” Naser exclaimed, “I wish I had a bigger snout!” “... You just gave me an idea for my next drawing…” Olivia said with a smirk, the pterodactyl’s good wing folding in as his face turned close to something akin to horror. “W-Wait, Olivia…” Naser begged, “Let’s talk about this-!” She giggled evilly as she slowly rose up, “Too late!” Olivia then smiled, “Besides, I like drawing you.” That immediately had a profane impact on the table, Mom looking to Olivia with knowing eyes, Dad with no eyes due to the glint of his sunglasses, me personally giving a subtle shake of my head to warn her that she was potentially revealing too much of her power level… Which had me thinking of that God damn Saturnia collection… And Naser, whose eyes grew wide, turned into a blushing mess alongside Olivia, the aforementioned now just comprehending what she herself had just said before doing the smartest thing in such a situation… Immediately dipping. “I’m getting a plate.” Olivia turned tail to quickly leave as Mom turned to Dad. “I’ll be back too, I think I’ll try the tereyaki this time!” She gave Edward a peck on cheek before sitting off the booth to join Olivia. With Mom and Olivia gone, it now just left me, Naser, and Dad left sitting at the booth… Only to realize that I had thought too soon, my dad looking at me with an expectant gaze. “Anon, you look done with your soup. Why don’t you go get some more food with Olivia and your mother?” Or in other words… I need to have a talk with Naser. Peering briefly, I see Naser none the wiser at the moment, sampling another spoonful of soup with a bashful but happy smile on his snout, perhaps replaying in his head what Olivia had said to him… and not the potential rolling thunder of a father’s scorn that was about to be unleashed upon him. Hopefully, I was wrong. “Alright…” I immediately sit off, giving the pterodactyl one last look. Good luck Naser. You’re gonna need it bro. I then move to the buffet section to pick up a tray and plate, peering past the salad bar to see my Dad say something to him, Naser looking up from his bowl… and admittedly… I’m unable to help myself from listening in, using my keen senses to dim out the noise around me and focus on their conversation, watching as my father put down a dumpling before slowly resting both arms atop the table, claws balled and glasses glinting. Oh fuck. Dad was in interrogation mode. “-ve got to tell you something… something important.” “What is it, Mr. Agos?” Naser asks with a blink, Edward’s eyes hidden. “I know you like Olivia.” Raptor Jesus. My Dad was really going for the throat of the subject, Naser freezing up. “Well? Am I wrong?” “N-No- I mean, Y-” Naser struggles to form a sentence. “I…” The pterodactyl peered down for a moment as if gathering the nerve, my father silently staring as Naser slowly looked back up. … “I do, Mr. Agos. I like Olivia…” Naser confessed. My Dad closed his eyes, the glint disappearing behind his glasses before his scaly lids reopened. “I thought so. I’ll state the obvious first and say… that Olivia likes you too.” That seemed to come as news to Naser, the pterodactyl blinking. “She does?!” He then paused, “Well I kinda imagined it when she says stuff to me like…- I-I mean, I just wasn’t sure that-” He was then cut off before he rambled on his stroke-like sentence. “Which is why I have to remind you that you won’t be here in Janoga Park forever.” My dad held up three sharp digits, “Three weeks from now you’ll have to return to Volcaldera Bluffs…” He then shook his head, “Chances are you’ll both never see each other again, and it’ll be hard for the both of you when that day comes.” A saddened frown grows on Naser’s face, realizing my dad was right. “... T-Then what should I do?” And in typical Naser fashion, overthought things with the worst possible solution ever. “Should I not be her friend anymore to make it easier-?” “What?! No!” My Dad exclaims, placing a claw on the side of his head. “Raptor Jesus… you do say the wrong thing at the wrong time, even think it too…” Naser blinked. “Look, I’m not here to tell you to break things off with Olivia, God forbid I’d ever want anything like that.” Edward then crossed his arms, a serious look on his snout. “In fact, I’m giving you an important objective, Naser…” The look lightened. “Continue with what you’re doing.” The words seem to come as a shock to Naser. “Admittedly, I was afraid at first when I heard Olivia first mentioned you, and I assumed the worst, maybe not too unlike you just now…” Dad awkwardly chuckled before continuing, “But after seeing for myself, I can understand why she does enjoy your company. You’re kind, gentle, you engage with her hobbies, and you’re well-meaning… despite your painfully naive tendencies.” Naser nodded before frowning at the last ‘compliment’. “And most importantly, to me at least, you make her happy.” My Dad then turned his head, my eyes widening as I pretended to be studying the various selections of salads, Edward looking to Olivia and Mom as they waited by the countertop for their food to finish cooking. “In the end, that’s all I could ever want as her guardian, because Olivia deserves all the happiness in the world after what was taken from her.” He then turned back around as I let out a relieved sigh, peering ever so slightly toward the conversation. “You mean… her parents…?” The pterodactyl asked. “Yes.” My dad sighed, “I guess she told you?” “Yeah…” Naser answered truthfully as my dad took off his glasses, folding in the temples to peer down at the table before looking back up. “Maybe you're still too young to understand, but the world can be cruel and unfair Naser, and by the end of the day the only thing anyone can ever do is adjust how they react to it.” I pause at the advice, realizing how true that was… and how monumentally difficult it seemed to live by such words, especially considering how often the world seemed to beat one down mercilessly. “... Her father wasn’t just my friend, he was like a brother to me, so I was devastated when I heard the news.” Edward shook his head, “But compared to me, Olivia had lost so much more, and worst of all, at the very moment of her life where she fully understood what she had lost.” He then softly smiled, “But despite all that, she’s persevered thanks to the support she’s gotten from those around her… and that includes you now.” My dad crossed his arms. “So when the day comes that you have to leave… just try to remember the time you had here… and with Olivia.” “...” Naser nodded, “I will, Mr. Agos.” Edward smiled, “That’s all I need to hear.” He then paused, “Well that and another thing…” Naser sat straight to indicate that he was attentive. “I trust Olivia… I trust you, but as her guardian, I have to make sure you one thing is clear-” Dad took a chopstick and expertly twirled the thin stick through his sharp digits… much like, and kinda disturbingly, how one would handle a knife. “I don’t want any funny business. I can expect a hug or even a kiss between you two, but anything beyond that?” He then held the chopstick… reverse grip style, not even saying another word. Naser stuttered, trying to hide the fear in his voice. “Y-Yes, Sir. No funny business.” Edward paused before smiling, flipping the chopstick to offer it to Naser. “Excellent.” There was then an awkward pause, Dad looking down at the chopstick and up at Naser for a few seconds before realizing that he now lacked a pair for use. “Actually, I kinda need that back…” “Of course.” Naser quickly said as he immediately handed the stick back, my dad nodding. “As long as you understand, you’ve got nothing to worry about from me.” Edward then clapped his claws together, now cheerful as he slipped his glasses back on. “Now let’s get to the buffet! I’ll show you how it works.” Naser blinked before slowly smiling, “Sure!” The two then sat off the booth, my head turning back to stare forward as they arrived, Dad and Naser inspecting the bar. “Now you just load up your plate with anything you want. If you want beef there’s beef, if you want noodles there’s noodles, and once you’re done with that-” He gestured to the countertop, Olivia and Mom’s already done as they moved back to our booth. “You give it to the chef to cook with your choice of sauce.” “Woah…” Naser seemed overwhelmed by all the choices, “Maybe I’ll pick-” He then went off on his own tangent as I was just about to join in before Dad turned to me. “So Anon, how long were you listening in on us?” I blink, alarms already sounding in my head. ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! HE FUCKING KNOWS! “Uh, I- How-” Edward’s expression grows deadpan behind his glasses, “One, you have nothing on your plate. Two, even if you did have something on your plate, Olivia and your mother are already finished cooking theirs, you should already be right behind them… and three-” He then turned his head, my own head following. “... You’re standing at the salad bar… as a carnivore.” “... Since you started talking with Naser.” I truthfully admit. “Hm, I see.” He nods, “I guess I should be glad that you’d make a terrible spy…” I stare at him for a moment, Edward shrugging. “Anyhow, I’m not angry, and I can understand that you were curious, but I do have to warn you that some dinos need their privacy.” He peers at me, “You’ll know when its not right to eavesdrop?” “... Yeah, I will.” I promise. Dad smiles, “Good. Now go get some food.” I watch Dad join Naser, the former suggesting an add-on to the latter… a small smile gracing my snout. Although I was caught, I was still glad that Dad and Naser got along, not like Mr. Ripley and I… Which made me wonder for a moment… What the fuck would ever happen if Dad and Mr. Ripley ever met? I decided it was a death battle that I didn’t want to consider, moving away from the salad bar to find actual sustenance. The arcade was surprisingly not as loud today. I mean, it was still loud, but the sounds of screaming children or a rowdy birthday party were surprisingly absent, only filled with the excited beeps and bangs from the various arcade machines, creating a constant thrumming throughout the dark room. Looking down, I counted the number of tokens in my claw, given the same amount of 15 alongside Naser and Olivia, the former seemingly having no idea where to even look, wondrously peering at all the different sights and sounds. “Wow, I can’t even remember the last time I went to an arcade. Look at all these different options that we can play-” “Time Dino Crisis 3.” Olivia simply said, moving toward the arcade shooter with fake blue and pink plastic pistols. “Time Dino Crisis 3?” Naser asked, trying to say the ridiculous name as I smiled. “Olivia’s favorite game.” I explain, “Every time we come here, we always hit that machine first.” Olivia picked up the pink pistol… before realizing that maybe she was being too hasty, turning her head to Naser with a semi-bashful look. “... We can also play something else if you want…?” I momentarily peer at Naser, a brief flash of determination on his features as if remembering what my dad had said to him before he smiled. “No, this is fine!” He came up beside her, pulling out the blue pistol and holding it with both claws. “As long as I’m playing alongside you, I’m happy.” That sentence alone seems to feed the wide smile growing on her snout, the baryonyx peering away. “C-Cool…” They then insert a token each as I quietly watch, the intro segment playing out with two anime-looking dinosaurs with guns, running through an airport as random grunts immediately appear, opening fire. Olivia character ducked into cover and Naser- Immediately died in-game. “D’what?” Naser blinked, Olivia bursting out into laughter. “You gotta use cover-” I gesture to the fake weapon, “Also, to reload you gotta point the gun away from the screen.” The pterodactyl gratefully nodded before investing another token, trying his best to survive the onslaught of token-extracting bullets as Olivia managed to thrive due to her experience, gunning down and earning a machine gun upgrade. And I just stood on the sidelines, watching with a smile as I leaned against the side of the machine. Everything was right in the world… For the moment at least. [NOTES] Just finished my midterms yesterday and immediately went on to finish up this chapter, just in time for Fang Friday too! Was originally planned to be longer, but I decided to save that for the next chapter... Hoo boy, is it gonna be loaded.