Chance Collisions [DISCONTINUED]

8 // Safe Place to Land

Chapter 8

I was in over my head. And as I stared at the overflowing pot of burnt milk on the stove, the never ending beeping of the oven signifying the hopefully not overcooked turkey, and the beginnings of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the sink, I couldn't help but wonder why I always bit more than I could chew. Over-ambition was a horrible habit and I was as guilty as they come.

"Char, the oven isn't too happy that you're ignoring it." Juliette teased from the other room before coming over to lend a helping hand. Of course she got the easy job with table settings and house decorations because of claims to be "a tornado of a disaster in the kitchen." (Which in her defense, isn't far from accuracy. She takes full pride in her inability to cook.)

"When is Bryce coming back from the emergency butter run?" I groaned as I managed to savage anything I could from the white volcanic mess still erupting from the poor pot.

"Something tells me he's purposely avoiding coming home to this."

"Why does no one ever stop me from volunteering to cook at these things?"

"Your ego terrifies us."

"Gee thanks." I pulled out a clean, yet soon to be possibly destroyed, pot from a cabinet and restarting the recipe. I turn my head for one second and the milk decides to betray me. Damn dairy.

"Should've done ice cream sandwiches, but you're way too fancy shamancy and decided to go the creme brûlée route."

"When do I ever settle for anything easy Jules?" I replied, but keeping my focus on the stove because as much as I believed in the "third time's a charm" saying, I'd rather not reach that point. Also, I highly doubted Bryce had anymore pots remaining to sacrifice and even if he did, it would be yet another thing I'd have to wash in the aftermath. Let's just say dishes and I are not the fondest of friends.

"Well maybe you should for once so you don't have to go through this fiasco again." She suggested, circling her fingers around the kitchen war zone as she found a comfortable seat perched on the only untouched spot of the entire counter.

"Now what's the fun in that?"

"I'll never understand the inner workings of your brain Char. It's like you love the chaos as much as you hate it so."

"My life has never been anything but contradictory."

"With you on that." At the sound of her agreeing last words, the slamming of a nearby door was heard and I sighed in relief.

"Honey, I'm home!" A voice dramatically announced and a face appeared a beat later in the entryway of the room.

"Charlotte burned the first batch of milk for the dessert, ruined yet another innocent pot, and almost burned down your house via unsupervised turkey in the oven. And that's what you missed on Glee."

"Ha ha. Very funny." I spoke deadpanned as I turned down the heat on the milk, stirring it occasionally.

"Damn. I missed a good episode. Should've DVR'ed it before heading out to replenish the girl with the essentials for her five course meal." Bryce said, teasing nature present.

"Nothing beats the first holiday special though. Remember when she attempted an edible arrangement? Barely missed chopping her left thumb off." Juliette reminisced with a laugh, her bare feet alternatively clanking against the drawers below her.

"Bloody cantaloupes would have definitely been a crowd pleaser, I bet." The equally annoying other best friend chimed before placing the groceries on a chair pulled up beside the island.