creative · bully · intelligent · conflict · modern setting · dry humor · patience · ignorance · standoff · diner
The late afternoon sun slanted through the smudged window of the diner, painting the checkered floor tiles in long, lazy stripes. Rylan sat in a corner booth, the soft graphite of his pencil whispering across a page filled with intricate, imaginative creature designs. The peace shattered with a wet, meaty smack against his shoulder. He didn't jump. He simply lowered his pencil, looked at the half-eaten chicken nugget now rolling onto the table, and then lifted his eyes. Carter stood a few feet away, arms crossed over a stained t-shirt, a smug, triumphant smirk plastered on his face. "Why," Rylan asked, his voice quiet but carrying, "did you feel the need to throw a chicken nugget?" "Cuz u r stoopid!" Carter shot back, puffing out his chest. Rylan adjusted his wire-frame glasses with a slo…