Sahara sat with me outside as we had lunch. It was my idea to sit outside and she seemed to like it so she followed. "So...do you have any other friends, Roland?" Sahara asked.

"Yeah, one."

"Just one?" I just nodded. "Well, I guess one is better than none. Who is your friend?"

"Did you forget already?" I asked, laughing. "It's Eugene!"

"Oh, right!" Sahara exclaimed. "Sorry, I kinda forgot."

"No, it's fine. Eugene should be here today but I guess he's running a little late."

"Wasn't he supposed to be here yesterday?"

"Well, yeah, but his flight had to be put on hold for multiple reasons."

"What is Eugene like?" Sahara asked.

"Well, I have to admit, he kind of adopted me," I said, smiling.

"Oh, so he's an extrovert then!"

"Yeah, pretty much. Let's see, he likes parties and to say he likes food would be an understatement."

Sahara giggled. "So he loves food then!" I nodded, then continued. "Let's see. He's very helpful and helps where he's not needed most of the time. Sometimes he helps in mother's bakery. Hmm...he's a cat person and he really likes my mother's cupcakes. He likes teasing me but he knows when to get serious."

"He sounds nice!" Sahara said, clapping her hands together.

"He is fun," I replied. And if on cue, Eugene walked next to me. "Hey! Guess who it is!" he cried.

"Oh, Eugene!" I cheered. "Great to see you again!"

"Yeah, buddy!" He smiled and sat down, with a sacked lunch.

"You don't usually bring sacked lunches," I mentioned.

"Oh, this thing?" he asked. "My mom told me to bring it since I'm a little late for school."

"Makes sense. Eugene, this is Sahara," I moved a little so he wouldn't have to look around me.

"Hi," Sahara said, smiling and greeting him with a wave.

"Hey!" Eugene said, throwing his arms up and dropping his lunch in the process. "Roland told me a bunch about you! I was super excited to meet you!" He held out a hand for a handshake. Except, it's not a handshake. Knowing Eugene, right as soon as she accepts his hand, he's going to pull her in for a hug. Which is usually why I don't give him a handshake.

Sahara accepted his hand and he did just that. "Oh!" Sahara exclaimed.

I smiled nervously. "Yeah, I probably should've mentioned that."

"Oh, no it's fine, really! I like hugs!"

"Well, that's good."

Eugene let her go after a few seconds longer. "Roland said you were pretty but you are MUCH prettier in person!" Eugene said, rather loudly. I felt my cheeks grow warm. "Eugene! Was that really necessary?" I asked.

"Sure it was!" he replied. I just buried my face in my hands. I can't believe he would do that. "I like him already!" Sahara exclaimed. "He's fun!"

"Oh, you think I'm fun now, wait until you see me at a party!" Eugene said, elbowing me.

I uncovered my face enough so I could speak without muffling my voice. "Yeah, we aren't going to mention that."

"Oh, come on, Roland! Are you still embarrassed?" Eugene asked.

"Yes," I replied. "Everyone could hear you."

"Get over it! We have better things to do!"

I uncovered my face. "Like what? Eat lunch?"

"Well, sure," Eugene said, picking up his sack lunch off the floor. "But, I have some souvenirs that you guys would like!"

"Ooh! I love souvenirs!" Sahara exclaimed.

"Great!" Eugene cheered, pulling out a bag from his back pack. "Here," he dumped the bag out, revealing the contents inside, "pick what you want." All of the souvenirs are small things, like tokens. There are a few Mexican coins, which Sahara grabbed to examine. "Woah, these are cool."

"You can keep 'em if you want," Eugene said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yep! Go ahead!"

Sahara accepted the coins while I declined. "Aw, come on. You can get something!" Eugene said.

"No, I'm fine. You keep them."

"If you insist." Eugene said, scooping up the remaining items back into his bag. "So, how did it go while I was away?"

"It was fine," I said.

"Great. Sahara, I heard about something that was bothering you the other day. It's okay if I ask what it was...right?"

"Oh. So Roland told you."

"Just that something was bothering you." Eugene opened his lunch and pulled out an orange. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me."

"Oh, it's fine now. I'll tell you." Sahara explained the situation from last night and how I called. Then, she said that the police came two minutes after her call with me and pulled her father out of the house. She said that her parents are getting a divorce later. "Oh, geez. Sahara, I'm sorry," Eugene said, just now finished peeling his orange. "I'm sorry you had to go through that by yourself."

"It's okay. Roland helped me last night so it made me feel better."

"Well, it's great to hear he was able to help!" Eugene exclaimed. "Anyway, as a memory of out friendship, I brought a camera!"

"Are we going to take a picture?" Sahara asked.

"It's a part of the deal," I explained. "Being friends with Eugene gets you a picture. The camera prints out one and then he comes back with more copies for the rest."

"Oh! I've never been in a friendship picture before!"

"Well, then, you better be happy for this one!" Eugene said. He pulled his camera out of his bag and raised it in the air. "Everyone in!"

Sahara and I moved closer to Eugene. Eugene reached up and flipped the screen around so he could see the picture. "Hey, Roland. Move down a bit. My arm's not that long." I bent down to be in the picture. Sahara moved her hair out of her face and behind her ear. "Say cheese!" Eugene said.

"Cheese!" Sahara and Eugene both said in unison. The camera flashed and the picture was taken. Eugene looked at it. "Hey, Roland, you aren't smiling!"

"Sorry," I replied.

"One more!" Eugene said, raising the camera again. I smiled this time and Sahara adjusted her hair. "One more!" Sahara and Eugene both said cheese in unision again. He scanned the picture taken. "It's perfect!" he said.

"That's good!" Sahara replied.

"I'll bring two copies over tomorrow."

"I'm excited!"