The Cookie Concept (on Hold)

2) Epiphanies in the Wafflehouse

2) Epiphanies in the Wafflehouse

As the music plays and the people mingle all I can do is stare at the small crowd in Lee's house and try to work out who all these people are.

I swear I'm not this bad with names but I am certain that I didn't know this many people a year and a half ago.

Zoe seems to already know a couple people here as she waves at a group. I clear my throat so that she remembers that I am still standing next to her.

She shrugs "Well pretty much everyone you remember from high school has gone off my radar besides the occasional Facebook post from the very few people that I didn't delete because I'm interested to see if they go bald. Plus the people you actually like which only includes three people have travelled to the other side of the country or the world in Charlie's case."

I nod, thinking back to all the food Charlie and I ate while in Europe "He seems to like it in France. Eating cheese even though he is now lactose intolerant."

"That leaves 3 people that don't mind being around you, so it would be more of a meet up rather than gathering."

"That still doesn't explain who these strangers are."

"Lees robotic buddies," she says like it'll clear everything up, "He thought the house would look more inviting with more people inside."

Clearly, they have forgotten my great dislike of people "Can we just go back to the part where we are associating lee with robotics? Is it like a robot war phase he is going through?"

"He's studying robotics because I quote 'I want to become the next terminator'. Yeah none of us understands either but they have welcomed him with outstretched metal arms. And surprisingly he is at the top of his class."

I never imagined Lee would be doing something this interesting but I guess that just proves you never know where life is going to take you. Maybe I can convince him to make me a robotic butler that can cook me food. 

My stomach rumbles at the thought of food. Whatever I ate on the plane was unidentifiable with the red sauce on top, for all I know it could have been cardboard. It would be nice to eat some real food, preferably carbs.  

Zoe catches my arm before I can make a run for it, "Wait where are you going? There are people who want to-"

"To the food table, it's calling to me. I've been living off aeroplane food for the past day which has no nutritional value. I'll consider socialising after I've eaten the tray of party pies."

I saunter off in the crowd following the intoxicating smell of lollies and buttery pastry, my mouth waters when I see a mountain of mini quiches  "Home sweet home."

I'm a bit worried about not having a proper plate to put my food on. I doubt a flimsy napkin will be able to hold at least two of everything from this table. 

It's as soon as I stuff three quiches in my mouth that someone startles me from behind

"Relieved to finally be back home?"

Recognising the voice only makes me chew quicker which was a good idea until I started to choke on the dry pastry shell. A cup of water is shoved in my face and I take it, gladly sculling the entire thing.

There is an awkward pause before I answer his previous question "Not really. I just found the table with all the food on it and forgot how much I missed kids party food."

It takes me a second to realise just who is standing in front of me before I freeze up. 

His warm chocolate brown eyes stare down at me as a small smile makes its way onto his face. My eyes can't help but wander over him in curiosity, I linger over the small changes that make him look more mature and out of my league.