✿⋆·˚❀˚·⋆✿ The Thread that bind Us ✿⋆·˚❀˚·⋆✿

Cookies and Chaos

Noah White stood at the grand entrance of Risa Anders' house, his eyes wide with disbelief. What lay before him was not just a house, but a Mansion, complete with soaring turrets and intricately carved stonework. The gate swung open with a creak, revealing a pair of gatekeepers who nodded respectfully as he and Risa passed through.
Noah followed her inside, his sneakers echoing against the marbled floor. The living room was immense, with plush couches and a chandelier that sparkled like a thousand stars overhead.
"Wow, Risa, you really live here?" he asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "Do you have a throne room too?"
Risa laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Only for very special guests." She gestured towards a sumptuous couch. "Sit! Make yourself comfortable."
He stood awkwardly in the center, feeling out of place as he traced the patterns of the Persian rug with his eyes.
"Sit, sit!" Risa urged, gesturing to a couch that looked like it cost more than Noah's entire wardrobe.
 He hesitated, glancing around like a deer caught in headlights. "Uh, are you sure? I mean, this looks... expensive."
"Please," Risa rolled her eyes, plopping onto the couch with a laugh. "It's just furniture. Now, cookies! I'll be right back. You stay here."
Noah nodded, watching her disappear into the kitchen. He shifted awkwardly on the couch, feeling less like a guest and more like an intruder in a royal court. 

A few moments later, a couple of servants approached him, their expressions neutral but polite. "Would you like something to drink, sir?" 
"No, thank you," Noah replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He wasn't used to this kind of service. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Risa was from a mafia family, and this was her home. It was all so sophisticated and expensive.

Half an hour ticked by, and Noah found himself tapping his fingers against the couch, glancing at the oversized clock on the wall. "How long does it take to bake cookies?" he muttered to himself, a hint of worry creeping in. 

***

In the kitchen, Risa was struggling. "I swear this is the last time I try to bake!" She huffed, tossing her phone onto the counter. The screen displayed a brightly colored cookie recipe video, which she had been following without much success. 
A few moments later, she dumped half a bag of flour into the bowl, sending a cloud of white powder into the air. "Ugh!" she groaned, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, smearing flour across her cheek.

 Noah, feeling curious, decided it was time to check on her. He reached the kitchen door, and as it swung open, he burst into laughter. Risa stood amidst a cloud of flour, her hair a chaotic mess, with smudges of dough on her cheeks. She looked like a baking tornado had swept through the room. Her two cats, Muffin and Cocoa, perched on the windowsill, watching her with amused expressions.
"Don't you know how to bake cookies?" Noah asked, trying to suppress his laughter but failing miserably. 
Risa looked up, her brow furrowed in frustration. "I can't believe I'm struggling with something as simple as cookies!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. "I just wanted to make something nice for you!"
Noah's laughter softened as he saw the disappointment etched on her face. "Hey, it's okay," he said gently. "Let me help you."
Noah grabbed an apron from the rack and tossed it over her head. "Here, wash your face first. You look like you lost a battle against a bag of flour."
He pulled out his phone and snapped a quick picture of her, grinning ear to ear. 
"Ugh, Noah!" she groaned, half-laughing, half-mortified. "Delete that!"
He shook his head, still chuckling. "Nope. It's too good."

Once Risa wiped her face clean, Noah stepped up to the counter, surveying the ingredients strewn about. "Alright, let me show you how it's done."
Risa leaned against the counter, her earlier frustration gradually melting away as she watched him work. Noah moved with a quiet confidence, measuring flour and sugar, cracking eggs with precision. The way he focused on each task captivated her.
"You're really good at this," she remarked, watching him with admiration.
"Yeah, I've baked a few times," Noah replied, stirring the mixture vigorously. "But only when I was trying to impress someone." He shot her a sidelong glance.
Risa raised an eyebrow. "Is that your way of saying you're trying to impress me?"
 "Maybe," he admitted, a hint of mischief in his voice. "Or maybe I just don't want to see you covered in flour again."
She laughed, a bright sound that filled the kitchen.

Soon, the cookie dough was ready, and Noah scooped it onto the baking sheet with a flourish. "Now we just wait," he said, wiping his hands on the apron. 
"You know, you're surprisingly good at this."
"Thanks," he replied, his tone light. "But it's mostly just common sense. I mean, if I can make cookies, anyone can."
Risa rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her gaze was unmistakable. "You really have no idea how much I appreciate this, do you?"
Noah shrugged. "I thought it would be fun, but seeing you like this? Covered in flour and laughing? I think I'm the one who's grateful."
Just then, the timer on the oven dinged, causing both of them to jump. Noah rushed over, pulling the oven door open. A wave of warm, sweet aroma enveloped them, and he pulled out the tray of cookies, golden and perfectly baked. Risa's eyes lit up, and she practically bounced on her toes. "They smell incredible!"
He placed the cookies on a cooling rack, and they both leaned in closer, inhaling the delicious scent. "Alright, let's see how they taste." Noah grabbed one, and Risa followed suit, both of them taking a bite at the same time.
"Mmm!" Risa exclaimed, her eyes widening. "These are the best cookies in the world!"
Noah chuckled, enjoying the moment. 

Outside, the sun dipped low in the sky, casting warm hues through the kitchen window.
"Hey," Noah said, a thought striking him. "What happens when your friends find out you're hanging out with the 'bookworm'? They might not be too happy."
"I don't care," Risa replied, her voice firm. "I like spending time with you. You make me laugh, and that's rare."
"Really?" Noah's heart raced a little faster.
"Yeah," she said softly, her gaze steady. 

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the other room, causing both of them to jump. Risa's smile faltered. "What was that?"
"I don't know, but it sounded like trouble," Noah replied, his brow furrowing.