The scent of something delicious pulled me toward the boys' house. They’d offered to make my favorite food – how could I possibly refuse?
Inside, Garroth and I settled at the kitchen table while Laurance disappeared into the flurry of cooking. "So, (Y/N)," Garroth began, leaning forward slightly, "I don't think I've ever asked… where are you from?" It was a simple question, clearly meant to fill the silence.
“Phoenix Drop!” I replied brightly.
Garroth’s eyes widened with surprise. “Really? Did you go to Phoenix Drop High?” He leaned closer, his face alarmingly close to mine.
A blush crept onto my cheeks. “Y-yes, I did,” I stammered, feeling flustered by his proximity.
Garroth abruptly pulled back, settling into his chair. “Really? I wonder why I never noticed you before." He paused, then asked, "How old are you, exactly?”
Before I could answer, Laurance strode back into the room and smacked Garroth on the back of the head with a resounding thwack. “Laurance! What the—that hurt!” Garroth exclaimed, rubbing his head.
Laurance glared at him. “You should know better than to ask a lady her age,” he scolded, his voice sharp.
Garroth huffed, crossing his arms. “Whatever. Get back to the kitchen.” He mumbled, and Laurance sighed, turning back to his cooking.
The silence that followed felt heavy. Neither of us knew what to say. Thankfully, Laurance emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray laden with food. He placed it on the table, exchanging glances between Garroth and me before digging in. I followed suit, eager to taste his creation.
“Wow! Laurance, this is amazing!” I exclaimed between bites of the delicious meal.
“In fact, Laurance is going to be cooking for the Fourth of July party in a couple days,” Garroth added, prompting Laurance to speak.
“Actually, now that you mention it,” Laurance turned to me, “you should come to the party, (Y/N)! It’ll help you get along with everyone, and it's really awesome.”
I considered it for a moment, then offered them a warm smile. “I’d love to go.”
The food was gone quickly, and we sat in comfortable silence for a moment.