Panic was written on Henry’s face as he sat in the driver’s seat of his dad’s Escalade, waiting for his guy to come outside. It was his first time buying an illicit pie. He repeated the order to himself, “Pepperoni and sausage. Pepperoni and sausage.” Finally after what seemed like hours, Jonah, a friend of his older brother, came outside with a cardboard box balanced in his right palm and a half-eaten slice of cheese pizza gripped in his left. He walked around the vehicle to the passenger side and entered the car. Almost instantaneously, the delicious smell of baked Mozzarella and tomato sauce filled the car’s interior.

“Hey, man, what’s going on?” Jonah asked casually.

“Hey, uh- pepperoni and sausage?” Henry stammered.

“Oh, yeah I got it right here.” Jonah placed his slice of pizza between his teeth and lifted the flaps of the box with both of his hands. Henry’s face lit up once he saw the thick, circular cuts of pepperoni and meaty chunks of sausage.

“Wow,” he whispered in awe.

Jonah, continuing to eat his slice, nodded in mutual appreciation. “Yeah, man, this is a top shelf pie right here. My guy says he’s got a friend in Italy who bakes it. You got the money then?”

“Y-Yeah,” Henry stumbled to grab the $30 from his back pocket. He handed it to Jonah. “So, this should feed a full party, right?”

“Trust me bro, it’ll feed everyone. I tested out some of the product last night with a few friends. Let’s just say no one left hungry.” Henry chuckled awkwardly, and placed the pizza box in the back seat. “Right, well say what’s up to your brother for me.” Henry bid him farewell and started the engine.

Just as he was about to pull away from the curb, his mind started to get lost in the smell surrounding him. He looked behind him at the pizza box. I promised I’d be responsible with this... But he couldn’t control his curiosity. He excitedly placed the warm cardboard box on his lap, flimsily grabbed a piece and took a bite.