peachy keen.

— newt ! ( @salvctions​ )

          “ i think it’s coming along nicely ! ” mari piped up excitedly. she knew helping her cook probably wasn’t a high priority on her boyfriend’s list, but she so appreciated newt doing it nonetheless. hosting friendsgiving for five was certainly a task the brunette was prepared for, but it helped to have all hands on deck. that was precisely why cora had been in charge of the decorations and evie was at he store right now, braving the holiday mass to buy cranberry sauce. they all had their part to contribute.

     slowly, she stirred the gravy with a large spoon. the consistency was perfect and all there was left to do was taste. ladling a bit onto the spoon, mari held it up to newt’s lips with a nervous smile. “ mind tasting it ? and promise me you’ll tell me if it’s bad. ” there was still an hour until meal time. if she had to remake the gravy, she would certainly remake the gravy. “ blow first. i don’t want it to burn you… ”

    newt supposed this had to be the loosest definition of ‘ chef’s assistant ’ in history, his biggest contribution to the meal had been mashing the potatoes and chopping carrots. not that he minded, it had been nice to spend the time with mari. there had not been a thanksgiving in a while that he had enjoyed. it usually consisted of going home and having microwave turkey meals. the football would play in the background at his family sat in silence around the kitchen table, though the background noise was never enough to distract them from the empty fourth chair. it was good to think this year would be different, a small smile on his lips as he watched mari work her magic in the kitchen.

      “ i promise ” he chuckled, the goofy smile on his lips only growing. there was no way it was going to be bad, mari was the best cook newt knew. she also was asking the person who had once eaten ( and enjoyed ) raw ramen as a snack, so perhaps he was not the best critic. he blew gently on the sauce, head nodding soon after the liquid had passed his lips.

     roxy was the queen of finding herself in predicaments — but never one quite like this. 

     it’s not like she’d planned for things to go this way. when cora invited her to a little soiree to welcome her brother to the states, the blonde had expected a couple of hours of casual fun, food, and drinks. she liked the people the redhead surrounded herself with well enough, even if she kept herself distant by habit. ( if they asked, she was a “peer” from musical theatre class.) 

     what she hadn’t been expecting ? the familiar face that approached when cora called him over to introduce the two.

     meet casper, she had said. roxy could have laughed at the irony. oh, she’d already met casper, alright. in fact, they had done more than just meet. the memories fluttered through her brain easily enough. the blonde never forgot a face, after all. especially one that had been up close and watching her intently as she danced. 

     she really did have terrible luck, didn’t she ? 

          “ it’s nice to meet you, casper. ” she spoke in her typical smoky lilt, stretching out a manicured hand towards him. 

      how cliché. the scorned rich boy blowing off steam at a strip club. he had been a disappointment in other areas of the role, there had to be some way for him to uphold his stereotype. not that he’d ever gotten in much trouble for it in the past. nothing more than a slap on the wrist. the most he had expected was a disapproving look from cynthia. but this --- this was not something he had expected. 

      “ uh --- it’s nice to meet you too. ” he cleared his throat, feeling a heat creeping up his neck. he probably could have been a little smoother, but acting had always been cora’s department. besides, it was difficult not to get flushed, their introduction leading his mind back to the night they first had met. 

        who could really blame him really. she was pretty.