Astrid wasn't really sure what to expect. Back home, she would have a decent lunch all covered by the school. It wasn't the best food in the world but it was warming and at least from a trustworthy source.

This...was not. She had collected her food and likely offended multiple lunch ladies with the questions and insistence on finding out what was in the 'lunch' prepared. With little actual answer, she walked around finding somewhere to sit before locating a place near the window to sit and...poke the food.

"Used to better food huh?" Came the familiar voice as Cam walked up from behind Astrid "it's not the best, and no one knows whats in it but it hasn't killed anyone. Yet." He chuckled

"Mind if I sit?"

Astrid poked at the meat again and pulled a face.

"It does not look like any meat I know. I think I am going to phone my dad this evening and ask for extra money to afford lunch. In Norway we're provided a proper meal for free and I don't feel worried that the meat was meat."

She sat back, and motioned to the seat on front of her with a smile.

"I do not mind. Come, sit. Enjoy mystery food with me."

He set his tray down and sat across from her. He had less reservation about the food and took a bite "It's not great, I get it. But cheaper than having to bring food from home."

"So what's your impression of American school so far?"

Astrid picked up one of the carrots with her fork.

"Mmm...I am not impressed. It is big, but it is like the teachers do not care and the students are too how you say uh...fight or flight? Like they either want to sit on everyone or run away and hide. That was not so different to home but the schools were smaller so I guess I noticed it less. Or they just didn't bother me."

He nodded "Sounds about right."

"Lots of bullies, usually just stay out of their way but I've had to step up to one or two of them."

"I think I met one yesterday who was picking on the Laura girl. Some brat called Genesis?" Astrid shrugged "I don't avoid people but I also don't look to cross peoples paths if I don't need to. No reason to make life harder."

She took a bite out of the carrot, chewed for a bit, then pulled a face.

"I'm going to have to call my father this evening. Think I'll just buy and make my own lunches."

Cam nodded "yeah, Gen is one of the big ones. Picks on anyone that she views as beneath her. Hell I've seen her pick on Richard her kid brother."

"I saw that also. Richard seems to be afraid of his own shadow, is more like Manet than person" Astrid frowned more "I do not get it."

"Yeahhhh dude doesn't really have much of a spine. He's a nice enough dude just tends to let people walk all over him. Can't say I get it either. But I doubt he had an easy time growing up with the sister he's got."

"I have 4 older brothers and sisters. It is just something you need to face up to sometimes" Astrid shrugged as she attempted some other vegetables with the same expression.

"This...sauce is awful."

"Yeah but we're your brothers and sisters bullies? Not like did they pick on you sometimes but were they like mean bullies? It can be different, plus some people are just softer than others and you seem like a pretty strong person."

"Well Kristoff was a bit much but none of them were bullies to me. My slightly older sister got picked on a little. They used to try with me but I'd punch them" Astrid shrugged "so they stopped. Being the youngest is not fun, you get eaten alive if you don't stand up for yourself."

Cam smiled a bit at her description and laughed a little when she talked about punching them "Remind me not to pick on you." He said in an amused tone.

"I dont really talk much to my brother especially since he left home. We were pretty tight when we were kids but he got mixed up in some bad stuff before we left Aurora."

"My two oldest brothers and eldest sister are on the mainland or in Sweden in Kristoffs case so I rarely hear from them. Ida didn't want to go to college so she's working as an apprentice with my dad now. And now the youngest has fled to America to enjoy...mystery lunch meat" Astrid laughed "big family. What did your brother do?"

"Hey if you came here for the food, I'm sorry I have to be be the one to break it to ya that it ain't that great." He chuckled as well.

At her question he was a little more somber "Shit same as a lot of black kids in the city, got mixed up in the wrong group. People talk about family, about community, protecting ours. We grew up in a rough neighborhood. My parents never understood my brother and well he just got mixed up with the wrong crowd. They claim to care about the community but they do a lot to hurt it, sell drugs, fight over gangs just for being in a different neighborhood and wearing the wrong colors." He shook his head

"You're not kidding, this really is not good...I'm going to have to make my own lunches from now on to have something nice to eat" Astrid said as she tried some of the mystery meat and pulled a face. She went silent as he explained about his brother.

"That sucks. So he's kinda got stuck with the wrong crowds now and is all gang related then? No chance of him breaking out of this stuff? He's still your brother, I'm sure he doesn't want to like hurt you or anything."

"Not usually, most these gangs you get in and you're in for life. And you right he doesn't want to hurt me or anything but he also doesn't listen to me. He doesn't see how the gangs just make things worse. Some are at least mean well, they do what they can even though they got a shit hand in life. But in the end a lot of it is a cycle of violence."

He waved a hand "Ah shit you just tryin to eat lunch and I'm going on about heavy shit like gangs in America."

Astrid shook her head.

"It is ok, it is learning about America and I'll be here for at least a few years after all. Still...I am sorry for your brothers situation" she reached over a put a hand on his "believe in him and show you support him. Is all you can do."

He looked down at the contact for a few seconds before nodding "Yeah, you right. Thanks." His voice was a little softer.

He cleared his throat and took a bite of mystery meat stew, he seemed entirely unaffected by its lack of quality "I assume you didn't have many gangs in your little arctic village. Except maybe roving gangs of seals or something."