Chapter 11

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I hadn't been able to fall asleep all night, I guess past Parker had started me out with a rough sleep schedule, not to mention the current events that affected it.

While I hadn't slept, I also hadn't moved. I stayed up in the tree-house for hours, most of the time spent zoned out and lost in thought.

Somewhere out in the grass a boy was walking, he had walked out from under me. He walked right into the kitchen.

It was probably Frypan cooking breakfast. He must get tired of waking up super early and doing it all by himself.

I decided to ask him if he needed any help, and stood up, giving my legs a minute to wake up. All over my body a few prickles were felt, like needles, but within two minutes they were gone.

I made my way down the ladders and to the ground before walking towards the kitchen area. When I reached the doors I pushed one open, having to squint as the light blinded me.

My eyes had been adjusted to the dark, not the light. I shut the door behind me, one eye still closed, and followed the sound of clattering pans.

"Frypan?" I asked, walking closer to the counter as my vision adjusted. The boy popped up from behind the cupboard as I jumped, startled. "My gosh."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He apologized and took out a few frying pans. I smiled a little, that was his name, or nickname. I didn't know if it was his real name or not.

"I was just wondering if you wanted any help?" I put my hands on the counter and leaned on them slightly, watching him place three frying pans on two stove tops, one on one, and two on the other. "I'm Parker by the way."

"I know who you are, and, uhh," He thought about it, he seemed very protective of his kitchen and it's equipment. "Sure, but let me show you exactly how to do it. And wash your hands first."

I grinned and lifted up the hinged counter hatch, then going over to where he was. I watched him grab 3 boxes out of the fridge and place them on the counter.

I went to the sink and rinsed my hands, using the bar of soap that was sitting there. I hadn't even thought about washing my hands, I guess I forgot that was a thing until reminded, like a lot of my memories.

"I'm making scrambled eggs, everyone will probably end up getting half an egg once they're scrambled," He smiled to himself and opened a box of eggs. Inside each box were 12 eggs. "So basically turn the stove on, then to scramble you just pop an egg in and use a spatula to separate it into pieces. After you do that you can take the pepper and add a little bit, then mix."

He cracked an egg on the side of the pan and dropped it in, then did five more. I watched him closely and noted his movement.

"Okay, I think I got it." I nodded and grabbed an egg, walking over to another frying pan at another stove-top. I turned on the stove and cracked the egg, letting the yolk and egg white spill into the pan.

I put 5 more in one pan, then cracked 6 into the pan beside the one I just did. I grabbed a spatula and separated them like Frypan had, mixing in some pepper as well.

He came over and watched me after setting up the basic layout of the trays and finishing his 12 eggs. He grinned and leaned over my shoulder.

"Who knew you had a thing for cooking." He was being nice, but scrambling eggs didn't seem that hard. I laughed and felt a little more accomplished anyways, at least I was doing something.

I finished one pan, and walked it over, dumping a small portion onto each tray. Once that pan was emptied, I did the other one.

Frypan had done his pan two times, so he'd done one full box. I went back over to my pans and cracked 6 more in each, scrambling them, then adding pepper.

By the time I finished and filled all the trays up with egg, Frypan had filled each of them a cup of water and toasted them each a half piece of bread.

"Okay, can you get the silverware and I'll make the bacon?" He asked, grabbing some meat out of the freezer. I nodded and went over to beside the sink, where they were all in a little pile.

I took a handful of forks and placed one at each tray, then went back and grabbed some more. I got the spoons next, then I did the napkins.

My mouth started to water as the smell of what Frypan called bacon wafted through the air from the frying pans.

"That smells delicious, Frypan." I smiled as he put a little on each tray. I didn't know exactly how many trays there were, or how he knew if someone didn't want to go to breakfast that day. "What do you do with the trays left after?" I asked. There weren't any trays left over when Thomas and I cleaned up, or at least we didn't see any.

"That's dinner." He laughed and turned off the stoves, putting the pans in the sink. He grabbed a sponge and handed it to me, smiling. "You know how to wash a pan?"

"That I know how to do." I laughed and scrubbed the pans, finishing pretty quickly. I pulled the pans out of the sink and set them to dry, then faced Frypan. "What now?"

He looked around and smiled, then out the window. "We finished earlier because I had your help, so, if you want you can go back to bed." He offered.

"I think I'll just sit down, I didn't sleep any last night, I don't know if I can." I confessed and walked over to the table I sat at yesterday and sat in my spot.

"Yeah, last night was rough." Frypan sighed, and put the empty boxes on a back counter in a section. I guess they would use them again when they got more eggs.

"Yeah. Thanks for letting me help you." I thanked, receiving a small smile from Frypan. I leaned down and rested my head on my arm, which was on the table. My other arm was stretched out, and my face was angled so I could just barely see the window.

It was getting lighter outside, the boys would be coming in soon for breakfast. I don't know if everyone will pretend last night didn't happen, or if things will feel off.

I felt my eyelids grow heavier as I let out a yawn. This time when I let my eyelids close I didn't see Ben. I saw nothing.

I felt my grip on reality fade as my mind slowly slipped into consciousness, finally giving in all the way, trying to redeem the hours of sleep I lost.

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