A NEW Beginning - Book 1

Chapter 14 - The One With A Tonne of Characters

We pulled up to the curb and got out of the car. Lance grabbed his guitar from the back seat, and we all made our way into the house.

I stopped in my tracks as we made our way past the kitchen, while Lance and Pidge continued on to the lounge to greet Adam and Lex.

I hadn't really noticed or cared at the time, but Shiro had never been much of a cook. I had been much younger, and after the upbringing I had, I didn't really care where my food came from, or what I ate, as long as I got fed. We ate at the Cafeteria a lot, and when we were at Shiro's, Adam had always been happy to cook, or we found some form of take-out we could fill up on. I always assumed it was because Shiro was tired and couldn't be bothered.

It wasn't until Shiro almost burnt his new house down, less than a week after they had moved in, that I realised just how bad of a cook he was.

After several attempts to teach him, all of which ended in disaster, and the last one ending in a trip to the emergency room, Curtis had banned him from the kitchen.

That's why I had been so surprised to see him standing there, unsupervised, tonight.

"I thought Curtis said he was cooking?" I asked, a fake grimace across my face.

"He is..." Shiro replied, staring intensely at what was cooking in two large pots, not looking up, "I just have to keep an eye on this, and make sure it doesn't catch fire." he breathed, "And if Curtis isn't back by the time the timer goes off, I have to flip them, and put the timer on again."

"Well, good luck with that, Shiro," I laughed, and begin to walk away.

All of a sudden, a shrill beeping came from the counter.

"Keith?!" Shiro called me back in a nervous panic.

"You've got this!" I said, walking closer to have a better look, "obviously Curtis trusted you."

"You're right!" he gulped, picking up the tongs.

"Do you know what one was put on first?" I asked, "start with that one first."

"Okay!" he said and began turning.

***

"Well done Takashi." Curtis chuckled, coming up, and placing his chin on Shiro's shoulder, "I knew you could do it, and see! Not a single burnt limb!"

"Very funny!" Shiro huffed and handed him the tongs. "I'm going to go say hi to the others!"

"Before you go, can I have a word with you both?" I asked quietly.

"Keith?" Shiro asked, full of concern, "What's wrong?"

"Oh, no..." I replied, "It's not that something's wrong," I said raising my hands in front of me. "It's more. I don't know if I should be asking this. I don't know if it's the right thing. I completely understand if you say no." I stopped. "Actually, it's all good. Never mind" I said and tried to walk around Shiro.

"Keith," Shiro said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "I don't know what's going on, but you should know by now, we are both pretty easy going people."

I nodded and looked at the ground.

"You never know if you don't ask." Shiro prodded.

"Well." I started, looking up, "I know everyone's coming back for your wedding, and this whole trip is about you both, and that's fine. You both deserve it, so much!" I said looking between the two.

"Okay?" Shiro questioned.

"But seeing as everyone's coming in a week early, I was wondering if maybe you wouldn't mind if I steal everyone for a night? It's Lance's Birthday in a few weeks and I was hoping to get everyone together while we had the chance? Like I said, it's okay if you say no!"

Curtis chortled, "That was a whole lot of DRAMA for a whole lot of nothing Keith."

"I thought you were pulling out on us or something," Shiro said, ruffling my hair. "As long as you don't do it the day of, or the night before, you have best man duties remember," he said, gently prodding my chest, "You can have all the days or nights you want"

"Oh, okay! Thank you!" I smiled. 

"Can I go say hi now?" Shiro asked.

"Yeah, but don't say anything. I don't want Lance to know."

"Okay." Shiro laughed and walked out of the kitchen.

***

"Do you need a hand?" I asked, turning to Curtis.

"If you can peel and cut the carrots, that would be great," he replied. "Nice and chunky."
We worked in silence for a few minutes, me working with the carrots, and him scrubbing small potatoes and putting them in two large trays.

"You got everything under control for the big day?" I asked. "I know your family isn't getting in until closer to, so if you need a hand with anything?" I offered.

"I think I'm all under control," he replied, "It's just the last minute things we've got to do now." he nodded to himself, "Everyone's arriving over the next couple of weeks, Shiro's got the last few suit fittings, and I've got to make sure my sisters' dresses and everything fit, but they aren't arriving until next Thursday."