It was a small place and a it run down, but clean. The upholstery may have been cracked, and the floors showed exactly where people had stood and walked for years upon years, but it was clean. The teens behind the counter were Xander's age or only a little older, but they were professional enough in taking the orders of the few people brave enough to enter the old building, and the prices were fair.
Xander sat back looking around the place. He'd been here exactly three times before. The first time had been with his mother after she'd landed one of her highest-paying jobs yet and wanted to celebrate. That had been a good time! That had been over five years ago. The next time he'd come here was with several of his fellow Judo students. It was one of those times when someone said, "Hey, let's go out after this and have fun!" Everyone had agreed, but when they got there, they realized they had nothing in common except Judo. It had been awkward, but they laughed it off. The last time had been with a couple of other students again. The three of them had come to discuss Judo-related stuff, things they wanted to talk about beyond when class ended. Simple times.
The food arrived, and the hamburgers were already slowly, deliberately seeping greasy juices through their wrapping papers. Xander grinned as he selected his fries and burger and set them on their own napkin in front of him. "What's the Arabic version of 'good eating?'" he asked Dark, watching his expression with amusement. "Like bon appétit in French?"
