we drive each other mad

✑ “Hello? Hellooooo? HELLO?” Chowder’s voiced raised as his hand was waving in front of the girl’s face. She seemed to be spaced out and was kinda creepin’ Chowder out. “Okaaaayy I’m going to assume yes and you’re going to have 3 orders of my super delicious n’ scrumptious won-ton bombs!” He had to move on and take more orders, they were sellin’ hot and he wanted his first day at Mung Daal’s Catering to be great.

“Chowder, we’re almost out of won-ton bombs. You’ll have to go get more ingredients and Truffles will take over orders!” Mung Daal’s head peered out the door, seeing the long line of customers. Perhaps hiring Chowder has been the best thing this year so far! Mung’s eyes focus on the first customer, seeing the too familiar face. Panini. “Ah, Panini! Endive sent you here to try out d e l i c i o u s food, didn’t she? Spy all you want, the truth is in the food!” Stifling a laugh, he knew the uproar of people lining up the street was going to get to Endive’s doorstep one way or another.

Panini continued to stare at the boy, gaping at him as she was utterly taken back by his good looks. Chowder. His name rang in her ears, and her mind wandered the idea of how their names would sound together. Her daydream was cut short by the familiar voice she was taught to hate― Mung Daal. Panini's sparkling wide-eye expression changed to a cold piercing stare as her eyes shifted from Chowder to Mung.

Endive held binoculars against her eyes, she looked at the restaurant across the street from her trying to find the cause for her lack of business. She spotted old man Mung Daal working up a sweat as usual over any little movement, and next to Mung was…Schnitzel. So tall, handsome, and muscular…it was as if God has set his oven to 375° and baked those buns for thirty minutes himself. Mmm yes, this man was the definition of etiquette. Wait, what was I doing? Oh yeah. Next, she spotted Truffles, at the cash register, as usual, checking every bill for authenticity. Yes, even the five-dollar bills. And then she saw her, the long dry dark-haired girl, with linebacker shoulders.  "My God…the old man finally got himself a young apprentice..“ Endive hissed bitterly through her gritted teeth.

”PANINI!!“ Endive called out, causing the young girl to jump. "Go over there and figure out who this apprentice is! It seems Mung Daal’s trying to draw in a crowd using a young girl…pathetic..” She scoffed ironically.

"Yes, Miss Endive! Gladly..." Panini replied, the corner of her lips curving into a malicious smirk. If there was one thing the young apprentice was good at, it was sabotaging the competition. And this was no secret. Endive and Panin were one ruthless pair. How do you think they managed to stay the number one catering company in all of Marzipan City? Not wanting to risk being seen, Panini put on a pair of sunglasses and set off to Mung Daal's.

The crowd was hectic, Panini had never seen anything like it, but she was not intimidated in the slightest. The petite girl pushed through, making her way to the front and ignoring the beautiful smells making her mouth water. "Okay, okay, NEXT ORDER. Are you here for the Won Ton Bombs?" Panini looked up towards the unfamiliar voice coming from the boy who stood in front of her.

Oh. My. God.

Panini's jaw dropped, her glasses sliding down her nose as she saw fireworks going off all around her, the hair on her arms standing up, causing her blinking ten times like an idiot. This was it: the beginning of Panini's downfall. "I-I-I..." The once intimating girl now found herself at a loss for words.

✑ “Ssssstep right up to uh… oh yeah! Mung Daal’s Catering!” Chowder pushes the rather heavy red door. His voice filled with excitement as his first day at his new home. He was finally going to be a chef, a life-long dream of his. He can’t mess this up.

“Okay okay, NEXT ORDER. Are you here for the Won Ton Bombs?” He yelled over the buzzing people who seemed to not pay attention. Mung Daal’s had quite the crowd today and it was all thanks to his idea of making Won Ton Bombs as his first dish with Mung Daal totally doing everything though. Of course, prepare them wrongly and all the customers get diarrhea. Chowder was persistent that this would be his welcoming dish as his start in the company. It seemed with the crowd of people outside the restaurant, it was paying off nicely.

Endive held binoculars against her eyes, she looked at the restaurant across the street from her trying to find the cause for her lack of business. She spotted old man Mung Daal working up a sweat as usual over any little movement, and next to Mung was...Schnitzel. So tall, handsome, and muscular...it was as if God has set his oven to 375° and baked those buns for thirty minutes himself. Mmm yes, this man was the definition of etiquette. Wait, what was I doing? Oh yeah. Next, she spotted Truffles, at the cash register, as usual, checking every bill for authenticity. Yes, even the five-dollar bills. And then she saw her, the long dry dark-haired girl, with linebacker shoulders.  "My God...the old man finally got himself a young apprentice.." Endive hissed bitterly through her gritted teeth.

"PANINI!!" Endive called out, causing the young girl to jump. "Go over there and figure out who this apprentice is! It seems Mung Daal's trying to draw in a crowd using a young girl...pathetic.." She scoffed ironically.

Miss Endive’s nails tapped along the bar’s counter as her eyes rapidly shifted from the clock to the door. It was Sunday afternoon, the churches in the community ended their service, and her restaurant, Endive’s, would usually be flooded with customers waiting out the door by now. But not today. Something wasn’t right. Something was off.  Endive’s nails began to tap more rapidly as the panic set in, she looked outside to where her line of customers should have been and noticed the horror.

“No…” Endive muttered under her breath, her eyes piercing at the building across the street. Her panic grew as she realized what was going on she cried out, “PANINI!! PANINI!!” Endive dramatically began to fan herself at the tragic sight of the line of customers surrounding old man Mung Daals!

Panini burst through the swinging doors, splatters of frosting covering her apron and rosy cheeks. She stands at attention to her mentor, "Yes, Miss Endive!"

"No..." Endive muttered under her breath, her eyes piercing at the building across the street. Her panic grew as she realized what was going on she cried out, "PANINI!! PANINI!!" Endive dramatically began to fan herself at the tragic sight of the line of customers surrounding old man Mung Daals!

“I understand you need something to think about later when you’re bored and alone, but must you stare at me whilst I’m trying to enjoy my ice cream?”

“If I stare at you any longer I won’t be able to sleep.”

Ed took a step back from the girl as soon as he saw the hand. He was surprised when Shima stopped herself. The bruised face card propbably worked, he thought to himself.

“Dirtiest prince, somehow that turned me on, Shima.” He winked at the girl, knowing that will get on her nerve. “Can I walk you to your room, clean teen?”

Shima did her absolute best to not cringe at Edmond’s wink. Instead the princess kept a straight face as she brought her hand that held the shape of a gun mouth opened.

 “Seriously, Ed— with all the places you’ve stuck your dick, I’m surprised it hasn’t fallen off.” Shima rolled her eyes, just as she started to walk away she heard the boy’s offer. “Walk me to my room?” She was dumbfounded that Ed would ask such a ridiculous question. He clearly knew the answer was no. No— the answer was never.  Letting out a sarcastic laugh she replied, “What for?! So your perverted ass could sneak into my room for a panty raid?!”

“Yeah I noticed that too. I was supposed to be back in time for the new week of classes but they blocked it. I guess people are still on edge.” Calista shrugged, she had been confused when it had first happened until a guard had tried to explain bits and pieces.

“Well...” Shima looked around at the lifeless Institute, “...it’s not like you won’t be able to catch up on classes. I doubt the professors would actually expect the students to honor the due dates after something this traumatic happened.” 

“Unless they’re Dr. Morrison.” She snickered. “I heard he solved four unsolved mathematics problems in one week just because it was his idea of coping with his prom date dumping him for the Captain of the Frisbee Team.”

“Wouldn’t have an attitude if maybe you didn’t joke about people dying around here. Shoulda checked out what was happening here before making jokes. Just saying. Welcome back I guess.”

“Seriously, Hank?” Shima scoffed, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. “Do you expect me to research the topic of every joke I make to make sure I’m not,” she changed the pitch of her voice to that of a toddlers, “huwting yow feewings?” 

“I heard it was something much worse, honestly I don’t know too much,” Calista answered, pulling her bag over her shoulder. She had gone home because her grandfather was sick and had been blocked from coming back until everything was sorted– so now. She knew that it was bad but honestly Calista couldn’t imagine what it was.

“It must have been...the security was so strict this time around...” Shima said, furrowing her eyebrows as she recalled the amount of inspections her and her staff had to go through. “I was getting suspicious on why they were inspecting me but then I noticed they did it to one of the German kids too.”

“Countess Crawley? No, she’s alive… I think.” Fabian shrugged. “Hi.”

“Oh good! I’m happy to see RI has invested in some bellhop boys!” Shima chirped, watching the boys confused expression. “Oh right,” she handed over a few crisp euros, “my bags are in the back.”

“I wish I was, but I’m not.” She said. The maids’ quarters were away from everyone else so when the attack happen they weren’t much affected – but then again this wouldn’t be the first time the place she was staying at was infiltrated. “But it’s over now, everything’s back to normal – well, as much as normal it can be.”

“Yeah...normal...” Shima said, looking at her surroundings and sensing the tension in the air. The carefree environment that RI once held was long gone. The place was almost unrecognizable. “No one was seriously hurt...right?”

“Actually… The institute was attacked.” He said simply, thinking it was still a sensitive subject. “But anyway, how’s the cleanest princess I know?” He teased then wrapped an arm around the girl’s shoulder to spite her more. Then silently prayed he won’t get slapped because that would hurt a lot with his bruised face and all.

“Eek!” Shima jumped back, raising her arm up to slap the disrespectful prince she despised so much. “Don’t touch—” She snapped, locking eyes with him, she took notice of the bruising on his face. Her eyes softened reflecting sympathy for Edmond’s wounds. Her once tense arm relaxed, becoming gentle as her long slim finger reached for the prince’s face. 

What are you doing?! Her eyes widened realizing how close she was to Edmond, her demeanor became cold again as she took a step back and crossed her arms. 

“I was doing just fine before the dirtiest prince I know showed up.”

“Terrorist attacks, actually.”

“No need for the attitude, Hank. I’ve got my own.” Shima muttered, her mouth pressing into a straight line as she looked down and away from the prince. 

Descending from the steps of the marble staircase, Esme looked at the new arrival. Shima. “I wish she did, but no. It’s been quiet after the hostage situation.” She shrugged, standing in front of the girl. “Nice to see you again, Shima.” Smiling a bit evilly, Esme was always happy to see her minions.

Shima did not attempt to hide the admiration that reflected in her own brown doe eyes as they trailed the Duchess, descending from the staircase. How could she not put the women who transformed her uni-brow into two separate eyebrows on a pedestal?

“Not at all, there was a breach in security here and a group of terrorists came in.” She answered the princess, “There are some who’re currently in the infirmary getting taken care of.”

“Oh shit...you’re kidding...” A sudden feeling of disorientation hit Shima as she processed the words the unfamiliar girl said. The safe haven image she once had of The Royal Institute had become tainted by the news.