Come Running [Season 1 Completed]

Chapter 17

Carrie definitely caught his attention and he stood rooted, taking in her features one by one, obliviously impeding them from entering.
"Done staring? We have a cooking contest to commence." Chloe broke the silence and Jayla giggled.
"M-m... y-yeah. Come in ladies." He stuttered. Carrie suppressed a giggle.
Kaiden emerged from the kitchen.
"Hey"
"Kaiden." Jayla greeted and went on to introduce her friends
"My best friends, Chloe and Carrie, who's also my cousin."
"Oooh...cousins. Are all Carlson girls this drop dead gorgeous?" Kevin pointed out with unfeigned awe.
"Ahem..." Chloe let out.
"Right... you're really pretty too Chloe." He added a bit embarrassed by his evident drool.
They all laughed.
"Nice to meet you ladies. I'm Kaiden and this's my buddy Kevin. Let's check out the kitchen."
Kaiden ushered them. Kevin and Chloe stayed behind.

"Can I speak to you for a minute."
When she didn't respond but stood still, he went on.
"Have we met? You seem very familiar." He quizzed
"Yeah. Lakewood's latest alumni. Your class graduated a year or two ago? You were present at my graduation ceremony."
"Three... three and a half years actually. Must have probably seen you there."
"Right."
"Funny how we finally get to know each other after being in the same high school though at different years." Kevin quipped.
"Er... no. I enrolled into Lakewood for my senior year."
"Oh... then I must have really been popular in school for you to know all about me."
"You two are the talk of Boston."
"You don't say... good things I hope." Kevin feigned ignorance.
"Erm... I think we should join the others."
"Wait. Chloe, I know what you think about us and I don't blame you but Kaiden would never treat her like just any other girl."
"Well he better not because I don't care if he's her knight or not, if he breaks her heart, I'll break him!"
"Whoa.... knight!?"

The kitchen was furnished and two stations were fashioned. All cooking equipment neatly placed.
"You had all of this put in place?" Carrie posed.
"I figured why not set the moods too." Kaiden responded.
"Well then get ready to be blown away by my amazing chicken fried steak." Jayla voiced
"Bring it on."

Carrie tittered, amused at their cockiness. Seeing them like this was really cute.
Chloe and Kevin emerged.
"Set the ball rolling people." Chloe voiced.
"Yeah." Carrie asserted
"Before that ladies, we're lacking something." Kevin stated as he grabbed some board tags and pinned them to each station, writing with a marker the names of the two contenders.
"Knight!?" Kaiden queried, perplexed.
"That's what your delicate desert petal calls you." Kevin went all mushy. Jayla was completely mortified. Chloe and Carrie couldn't help but laugh. Kaiden chuckled.
"Are we going to begin this or not?"Jayla questioned as she gave Chloe the death stare. It read: I'm so gonna kill you!
It was a total death warrant.

The contest commenced.
The sizzling sound of the seasoned flour coated beefsteak pan frying filled the ambience. Chopping and dicing and slicing did too.
After 45min, they both presented five plates each of yummy chicken fried steak.

Jayla went first.
"I've made chicken fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans toppings. Bon appetite." She asserted as she took a seat at the table with them and munched on the meal.

They put their plates away and Kaiden served them his dish.
"Folks, the main deal is finally here! You have the once in a lifetime privilege of tasting world ranked number one best chicken fried steak with fried okra, white gravy, hash browns and green beans toppings. It's from the very best, you're gonna lick your plates clean."
"Oh you're so humble." Jayla uttered sarcastically.
"I try." Kaiden winked.
They dined. And then the ladies cleared the table.
They made popcorn and all five got comfortable in the living area.
"No offense Jayla but Kaiden's steak was AmAzIng." Kevin disclosed
"I know, man." Kaiden uttered.
"Aww... bromance is in the air." Carrie stated all sentimental.
"I think I'm going to puke." Chloe retorted.
"You're such a bad liar Kevin." Jayla added.
"I think Jayla's dish totally nailed it." Chloe opined.
"So I guess it's a tie but we're down to one more person. Carrie, what do you say?" Kaiden quizzed.
"Erm... I don't know. I think I liked both." Carrie replied addled.
"Oh c'mon Carrie. Can't believe you'll choose your 15min crush over your best friends." Chloe uttered coldly.
"She does have a right to either pick or remain neutral, you know." Kaiden voiced
"I wasn't talking to you!" Chloe replied sharply.
"Are you always this high strung?" Kevin commented repulsed.

Jayla and Carrie stood at the center of the crossfire, completely bewildered. Kaiden could only sigh as both Kevin and Chloe fumed.

What's this all about!?