Stuck in the Middle (MxMxM)?

 Kendric stood before him with two tins of food. Ryder eyed the offering as they stood in the hall, outside the club room, and asked, "What's this for?"

"You said you didn't have a grill to cook barbeque. So I brought some for you."

Ryder had forgotten the barbeque situation in lieu of everything else that's happened. When he finally processed the situation, he thanked the man. But when he went to grab them both, he was stopped.

"Just the top one," Kendric explained, "The bottom one has fried tacos."

"So you did make them!" Ryder grew excited to try new foods and was happy that he wouldn't have to embarrass himself.

They set the food on the counters before taking their seats. He'd tried regular tacos before, and there weren't many fast food places back in Polporro, so he never had an opportunity to try them any other way but traditional.

"You should visit Blue Field sometime." Kendric then suggested.

"Yeah? Is it nice?"

"It's scenic. We have rivers and ponds, plus a lake for swimming. There's a valley too that only the locals get to enjoy."

"Sounds amazing. But I don't know if I'm in the mood for nature with all those wolves around."

Kendric's jaw tightened. "The wolves are not a problem."

"A man died last week in a wolf attack. Plus I..." Again, he felt uncomfortable bringing up his attack and went quiet.

The tattooed man noticed. "You're hiding something."

"Not hiding." Ryder corrected him. "Just...Keeping a promise."

See? He could be cryptic too!

People started filing in, and he noticed the trio of Scene members didn't appear. It looked like they had quit the club after all. How unfortunate, but probably for the best. They liked to spread gossip way too much.

The counter had only five different dishes since not every member could cook or afford to bring their own thing. Ryder knew he wouldn't have gotten into any serious trouble for backing out, but it was more of an issue of honor. If he said he was going to do something, he was going to do it. Or so he wished.

The club started, and everyone got to try a little bit of everything, with the club president bringing two liters of soda and disposable cups and plates.

Aside from the barbeque and fried tacos, there was also spaghetti, Dorito casserole, and a store-bought tub of hummus with a bag of pita chips. Most of these things Ryder had already tried before, but still appreciated the free food as he ate nearly three plates.

Even with how much he'd downed, there was plenty left over by the end.    

"It's too bad that loud group decided to leave," Ryder mentioned to Kendric, unthinking. "They're missing out."

"It's for the best." Kendric picked up the leftover tacos, knowing exactly who he was talking about. "They should be focusing on their college credits anyway."

"Shouldn't we all?" Ryder quipped, thinking the man was joking, but he frowned back at him.

"Those three are still kids."

"What?"

"They're from Sutton High School, doing their college credits."

Ryder had forgotten that dual credits were a thing. He never had the opportunity to do them himself because of how remote his old school was.