PHONE SWAP | drew starkey

18: MR. WHITE CLAW

Me | 6:42pm
I swear it's fate that you're coming back today because you know what
Me | 6:42pm
MARIANNE IS MAKING GOULASH TOMORROW
Me | 6:43pm
surprisingly unrelated to you coming back but hey!!

Drew | 6:45pm
no way!
Drew | 6:45pm
Does she make good goulash?

Me | 6:46pm
I'd be able to tell if she ever made it before lmao
Me | 6:46pm
it's her first time
Me | 6:47pm
but she's a pretty good cook overall so!! I wouldn't expect like a masterpiece or whatever but a decent meal???
Me | 6:47pm
f yeah

Drew | 6:48pm
I'm inviting myself over
Drew | 6:50pm
what time should I come by?

Me | 6:57pm
if you think for one (1) second that this wasn't an invitation
Me | 6:57pm
you are terribly wrong, mr. white claw man

Drew | 7:01pm
ok but WHEN SHOULD I COME OVER

Me | 7:02pm
oh right

Drew | 7:05pm
???

Me | 7:05pm
Marianne says goulash will be around 6 but you can come over at like 4 or 5 so we can catch up!!
Me | 7:06pm
I still need to show you the album!! I developed some photos I took since we hung out

Drew | 7:07pm
4 sounds great, can't wait!!
Drew | 7:07pm
I'll make sure to bring some White Claw
Drew | 7:07pm
What does Marianne drink?

Me | 7:08pm
Vodka
Me | 7:08pm
Tequilla
Me | 7:09pm
jk you don't have to bring anything, we have enough alcohol in the fridge

Drew | 7:10pm
Still bringing beer

Me | 7:10pm
And good vibes

Drew | 7:10pm
And good vibes, of course

Me | 7:10pm
Gonna be good 😄

◇

The bell rings shortly past four o'clock, and Addie buzzes their guest in with a smile on her face. Marianne peeks from the kitchen, leaning over the corner, strands of her hair falling from underneath the headband-bun combo she's sporting for the cooking.

  'Is it the celebrity judge?'

  'Sure is a judge,' Addie says, unlocking the door. 'Not so sure he'd like the celebrity title.'

  The door opens and reveals a smiling Drew, in his usual attire – a simple grey tee with a Queen logo on it, black jeans, and a baseball cap. Greetings are exchanged, and then Drew's taking his shoes off as Addie warns him that maybe Marianne might be a bit much today. There's a casual whiff of cologne that Addie catches – it's similar to Holden's minty one, but simpler.

  'You ready to munch on some British-French-American-Hungarian goulash?'

  He raises an eyebrow. 'Is anyone ever ready for that?'

  'Nope. But Marianne has just called you the celebrity judge of her nonexistent cooking show, so you've got no choice but to be ready.'

  'Fair,' he says, just as Marianne shouts from the kitchen, 'I'll have my cooking show soon!'

  The self-proclaimed chef pops out of the kitchen, wielding a spatula covered in a dark red, thick liquid. Her red-and-white apron is tied haphazardly around her waist; both the apron and the sweatpants have already become victims to her cooking, and the bun seems to be getting looser by the minute. Marianne flashes the two a massive grin, one finger pointed at Drew.