Private Finished Getting out

The cafeteria food was decent, at least better than it was in all the schools Diego had been at previously. At least their mashed potatoes wasn't more like mashed yellow-ish sludge. But still Diego preferred to bring his own food, to save money and his taste buds. But the cafeteria had one good food he craved; mozzarella sticks. Cheese was Diego's absolute weakness and mozzarella in those sticks was so fucking good. So, when Diego sauntered on into the cafeteria that day with a packed lunch in his bag he headed straight to the moz sticks.

Diego got his sticks quickly enough, grinning excitedly the whole time. He looked around the cafeteria, he didn't see anyone familiar. Shit. Diego didn't exactly need company but good convo always made the food taste better.
Oh well, beggars couldn't be choosers. Diego floated over the worst crowd and landed by an empty table. He sat down and began eating his self-made veg quesadillas and mozzarella sticks, washed down with coke (obviously). And of course Diego ate the obligatory carrot sticks that mom had packed. Diego didn't want to loose any of his muscles to fat.

Diego people-watched, for once quiet out of his own volition. Mostly he just wanted to spot at least one familiar face so he could hijack their lunch. But instead Diego spotted a guy that looked pretty awkward. Like he didn't know where to sit. Diego knew that feeling, he acted all confident and stuff but even he could feel insecure and unsure about social structures and where to sit at lunch.
Diego felt bad enough, that when he made eye contact with the guy he grinned and waved. How the guy would interpret it was up to him, Diego was basically offering him a rope in this cafeteria sea of cliques and strangers.

The guy chose to grab the rope and made his way to Diego. Diego's grin turned to a normal friendly smile, one that settled on his face with natural ease.
"Nah, I just felt like being creepy and waving at you only to send you packing if you came over."
Diego answered with a joking tone and laughed goofily, then shook his head a bit. The guy seemed so nervous that Diego probably shouldn't joke around about this too much.
"But seriously, don't mind at all. Sit down, bro. Imma be your saviour for today's lunch."
Diego grinned again and gestured to the seat opposite from his, just waiting for a behind to sit on it.

"You got the cheeseburger? Dude, I swear they make half of the patty from cardboard. The fries are pretty good tho, I would just put bit more salt on 'em."
Diego chatted and bit into his own quesadilla. And no, he wasn't going to offer this guy any. Diego was friendly but he loved his food and was gonna keep it that way. His.
"Oh, by the way, I'm Diego. Who're you? Haven't see ya around. Tho that ain't much of a surprise, I was away for a while too."

Wow, this guy really was nervous. Like, seriously nervous. Diego felt kinda bad for the guy, though he didn't really know how he felt like. Diego had always been outgoing, even if part of his goofiness and confidence had been just a front once upon a time. These days Diego felt comfortable in his outgoing skin, thankfully. This guy obviously didn't, tho. Well, Diego was just gonna be himself, maybe a bit dialed down, and if this guy couldn't handle it then it was neither of their fault. Simple as that.

"Aj? That's a cool-ass name, bro. I don't even wanna know what it's short for, that's how cool it is."
Diego said and chuckled, taking a sip from his coke.
"If you've been here for a year then I've been here a bit longer. I've been here around, I think almost two years now? And that means as a senior islander I gotta ask you the mandatory question of how's the island been treatin' you?"
Diego grinned and leaned on the table, waiting for the answer.

Aj chuckled and Diego's smile widened. Seemed like he was loosening up a bit, that was good. Didn't do anyone good to be too tense and stressed all the time.
"Told ya so."
Diego said back and snickered, in turn taking a bite out of his quesadilla.

Diego returned Aj's smile and gave half a shrug.
"I guess it can be, huh. I originally came from a place that had some crazy shit too, but this place is on a whole 'nother level, man. Like, on unbelievable levels."
Diego agreed and chuckled. Diego's elbows were waaay on the table, he didn't remember and didn't really care about manners anyway in a cafeteria full of teenagers and their angst. Diego also noted the nullification bracelet, but a bunch of people wore those around here and he'd long since stopped caring about them.

Ooooh, Aj had grown up in the outside world, or Narrow reality like the people here called it. Diego always found the term to be kinda weird, honestly. Like the humans living in the outside were narrow-minded or stupid for not knowing about the supernatural.
"Then no wonder it's overwhelming, bro."
Diego sympathized and gave Aj a lopsided smile.

"Tell me about it. Like, the first time I learned I had three gods and two demigods in my class I was blown away. Superheroes are one thing but, like, legit gods?"
Diego said and laughed, fishing a carrot slice from his container and crunching on it.