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"It’s not bad," Noah conceded "But the ability to fly is the best superpower ever Why do you think Iron Man’s suit has rockets?"

"Iron Man’s suit has everything"

"Spiderman wishes he could fly It’s what puts the Super in Superman," Finn declared

We then debated the value of various super powers Apparently my chosen superpower passed Finn’s internal test because I wasn’t told to go home

When we arrived at the QC Café, I realized I was pretty hungry Instead of pretending that I loved lettuce, I followed Noah to the grill I ordered a burger, assuer He ordered a plain grilled chicken breast and even asked for extra vegetables Finn detoured to another part of the café altogether, but we met at the check-out line

"What is that plate of food?" Noah asked Finn as we paid It was clear from Noah’s expression he was offended by Finn’s selection

"I think it’s cheesy tairlish figures"

"Get your food, you clown," Noah replied, shaking his head a little, and giving Finn’s tray a little push Noah led us to a table on the far side against s overlooking the North lawn and residence halls The Café wasn’t very full, as it was still fairly early We sat down and spread out our trays and set to eating

I decided that eating a burger in front of Noah was right up there with trying tospaghetti Ditto with haer wasn’t sexy, but I also feared that using a fork and knife would be ridiculous I sighed internally Who cared about sexy? Friends didn’t worry about being sexy, I lectured er and made liberal use of my napkin

"How are your cheesy tamales?" I asked Finn

"Terrible," he adrined smile "But probably ht now"

"Jackson’s insides are shriveling at the thought of eating your mystery plate," Noah replied

"Then stay away, because you really can’t handle irl"

"Your sister had no coht"

"That would actually be an insult if I had a sister, but I’m not surprised your little brain couldn’t forled his eyebrows

The two continued to exchange insults, each more vile than the last

Noah seeot another drink and returned,his chair so it was farther away froe his ars

"I’, want to have breakfast afterward?" he asked me

Before I could answer, Finn interjected, "Did you know that Noah and Bo can run for 12150 pounds, while siuns, all before the sun rises?"

Finn must not know that Noah and I corresponded for four years while Noah was a deployed Marine

"She knows," Noah replied before I could respond "Grace and I were, ah, friends, while I was deployed"

"Oh, you froo I wrote to Noah as part of a class project"

Finn looked froain "What year are you?"

"Sophomore And no, before you ask, I don’t have a major"

"That makes you nineteen?" Finn hooted "I think you are too old for her, oldat me "Ah but it sound like a nervous giggle "Of course you aren’t too old to be my friend"

Noah made a noise like a hum at the back of his throat I wished for Lana’s perception skills that were aliven anything to knohat that noise uy I didn’t know came over and clapped Noah on the back of the shoulder hard enough that Noah almost spilled his drink on me "Jackass," I heard Noah say under his breath, and I sed a suy brayed like a donkey His shirt, emblazoned with three Greek letters, looked stylishly faded, and he wore loud plaid shorts and flip flops Noah knocked the fraternity guy’s fist and received a slap on the upper ar to shorten every word to three letters was part of the secret rituals that took place on Greek Street during pledge week

"Marco," Noah replied in greeting

"I hear you all are having a little get together on Friday to welcome back the ladies Any chance of an invite?" Marco said

"First I’ve heard of it," Noah responded, a non-answer to Marco’s query

"Let hed at his own terrible joke and moved to sit down at the euy would talk to us all evening if we stayed, so he stood up and said, "We’ve got to run Nice seeing you, Marco"

"Yeah, man, I will see you around campus" Marco turned to Finn and added, "And Finnster, man, ill see you at your party"

"Indeed," Finn intoned and picked up his tray

Noah grabbed our backpacks and slung them over his shoulders, so I picked up both trays and his cups and ht for a ht me for them, but I raised an eyebrow at him and he backed away

"You know," I said to Noah, "I can carry my own books"

"I’m sure you can," came his laconic reply, "but why should you?"

I didn’t have a non-confrontational answer I wondered if friends were invited to parties, but neither Finn nor Noah brought it up again They walkedand said he’d see

Noah

"Could it have killed you to give us a , where I had left the truck

"Yes, actually," Finn replied "After hearing froirl, I had to stick around"

"I hope we put on a good show for you"

"Nope I kept waiting for you to put your big-ass foot in your ," Finn let out a loud belch

"Goddamn, that reeks," We stopped at the truck and I ood minute before I unlocked the doors "I told you not to eat anything that they s hall," I said after we had finally gotten into the cab