Almost

Chapter Three

Tam woke to the sound of soft snoring.

She looked around, confused, but then saw what stirred her from a deep slumber.

Kaz was slumped over the other side of the couch, mouth open, snoring away. Some drool was dribbling out of his mouth.

"Wake up Sleepy head." Tam giggled, poking him in the shoulder.

"Mmm awake." Kaz mumbled.

"No you're not."

He only grunted in response.

Tam punched him in the arm.

"Ow," Kaz whined. "Stop it."

"No. It's already 800. Get up. Or I'll make you."

With a few protesting grunts, he managed to sit up. "It's really 800?"

Tam rolled her eyes. "Yes. And don't act all surprised. You could sleep through almost anything."

Kaz gave a yawn and a stretch. "It's just weird. I haven't slept too well in a long time. Not since-"

He paused. Then started again. "You got anything to make pancakes with?"

"What?"

Kaz looked at her, tilting his head a little. "Ya know. Pancakes. The food."

"Yes I know what a pancake is." Tam snaped. "Just surprised you want to make pancakes."

He rolled his eyes. "Well I do you, Miss I-know-everything-about-everyone-always."

Tam turned away from Kaz to hide her smile. "I do have a waffle iron. But I'm not so sure about the supplies."

"Waffles will do I guess."

"What do you have against waffles?"

"I dunno. Pancakes are just better."

"What do you mean pancakes 'are just better'?"

The couple continued their bickering all throughout the waffle-making process. They did run into a snag- only a few deliciously delectable of the mouth-watering waffles could be made.

"It should be fine." Kaz said, remeasuring the ingredients. "We only need a tiny amount. We can pick up some fruit if we get hungry."

Kaz was right.

"Where did you learn to cook?" Tam asked, mouth- full of waffle.

"My mother taught me. Then immediately regretted it."

"Why?" Tam snickered. "Did you blow up the kitchen?"

"No. I just... really liked it."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Sorta morphed into one. My dad didn't want me to get any ideas on not becoming a senator."

Tam swallowed. "Man. Sorry."

"It's fine." He assured her. "Rebeling because my Pops didn't want me to cook sounds pretty dumb."

"Imagine joining the Resistance because of that."

Kaz chuckled. "So what about you? Do you cook?"

"Not really." Tam dipped one of her waffle strips into her syrup. "I try to avoid it. Not a lot of pleasant memories with that stuff."

"Now I'm the one that's sorry."

"You shouldn't be. Not your fault. And I don't want pity."

Kaz sighed. "Yeager said that you were a run away."

"I am."

"Do you miss them?"

Tam looked down at her now empty plate. "Sometimes... ya. But they weren't really good people. My dad was a racer. My mum was just there for kicks... and I just sorta came along."

"If it makes you feel better, I sometimes feel my parents never really loved me as much as I think parents should love their kids."

Tam let out a forced laugh. "Look at all the wonderful things we have in common."

Kaz let a sad smile cross his face. "Yep."

Quiet.

"I was planning to talk to Doza today about the Aeos thing." Kaz said, breaking the silence. "Would you... like to come?"

"I suppose- If you wouldn't mind the company."

"Splendid!" Kaz said, clapping his hands together (no doubt trying to lighten the mood), "let's go get some'ore food!"