“And in those books, you can never take anything for granted.” She handed the cashier her cafeteria card. “You know how if you watch a movie, there’s always certain characters you don’t really have to worry about?”

“Like the cute five-year-old who keeps saying surprisingly wise things?” Ajay offered. “But no matter how bad things get, that kid always survives the vampires or the earthquake or the serial killer or whatever.”

“Exactly.” Bridget picked up her tray. “In the Swords and Shadows series, a five-year-old could and maybe would die. And the reader might even have to watch.” She hesitated. Normally she sat on the edge of the cafeteria with a book and Ajay sat in the middle with friends.

“Want to eat outside?” he said. Now that the temperature was dropping, only a few people were sitting at the concrete benches and tables.

“Um, sure.”

As they walked past his regular table, a couple of his friends nudged each other. He didn’t seem to notice. In the far corner, Derrick was peering intently at his phone.

Outside, they found an empty table. Next to them, a couple was enthusiastically kissing. On the other side, a boy exhaled his vape smoke into his hoodie.

Ajay unzipped his backpack. “Okay, give me the basic rundown of the plot.”

“For the whole series? That’s like explaining how the entire world works to an alien who just landed here.” But if anyone was up to the task, Bridget figured she was.

“Do the best you can.”

AJAY

Struck a Nerve

Ajay still couldn’t believe he was doing this. Asking a girl to have lunch with him. And judging from the expressions of his friends staring at him through the cafeteria window, they couldn’t believe it either. Feeling self-conscious, he looked down as he pulled a large, shiny cloth bag from his backpack.

“Wait, what’s that made out of?” Reaching out, Bridget grazed the stiff cloth with her fingers.

“Waxed cotton. Like, literally beeswax. To fold it, you warm it up with your hands.” Her expression seemed oddly unhappy. “What’s the matter? Usually people think it’s cool. This new company in Beaverton is making them.”

Two spots of color appeared in her cheeks. “Don’t hate me, but my dad sells food-grade plastic for this company called Triple P. Mostly plastic wrap.”

Plastic? That went against everything Ajay stood for. But then again, it was Bridget’s dad. Not Bridget.

“No offense, but I just don’t like things that are going to live on for centuries after I use them once.” From the bag, Ajay took out metal utensils, a cloth napkin, and a tiffin.

Bridget looked intrigued by the series of interlocking stainless steel containers. “What’s that?”

“A tiffin box. It’s like the Indian equivalent of a lunch box.” Ajay began unsnapping the clasps that held the flat round containers together.