Didn't Even Notice {JJBA Avpol}

CHAPTER EIGHT

    I stood dauntingly in Avdol's kitchen as he pulled a cutting board from a shelf. He casually asked if I could get the bagged vegetables in the fridge. Awkwardly I open his fridge door and pulled out potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, and different verities of peppers. Each bag I stacked on the counter beside him. Act natural, you're just here to cook and invite him.
     "So have you ever cooked or chopped vegetables for this type of thing before?" He asked. Scratching my neck I shook my head.
     "I never spent much time in the kitchen, I only really learned to make soup and pasta. I do know how to cut potatoes though."
     "Well that's good enough for me, wash your hands and we can start."
     Turning the tap on I grabbed the soap and rubbed it between my fingers. The metal sink clanked as I tapped my wrists on them to dry my hands. In the corner of my eye I saw Avdol peeling potatoes. When we made eye contact he handed the peeler and the potato to me.
     "Can you peel these and the carrots for me? I'm gonna start on the peppers."
     We traded places as he washed the peppers. I scrapped the skin off the potatoes and left the scraps on the counter. I asked if he had a compost or trash I could use. He smiled and said don't worry about it. A bowl stood beside Avdol as he started chopping peppers. I gently placed each potato into the bowl and started with the carrots. Their scraps toppled ontop of the potato skins. I placed them in the same bowl. When he chopped the all the peppers and put them into a different bowl, he pulled a skillet out on the gas stove. Lowering his finger one of the stove tops lit, the aura from a week ago also appeared. Pointing it out I saw his eyes widen, he didn't say anything. He changed the topic and asked if I wanted to cut the potatoes because he had to fry peppers. I accepted, picking the knife up. Brushing what I saw off, I took the potatoes and chopped them, I was slow. The oil crackled as we worked.
     Without thinking I summoned Silver Chariot to help cut vegetables. This was the first time using him since we moved. I thought it would speed up the process and it did. I scooped the cubed potatoes and carrots into the bowl. Avdol jumped back accidently hitting the skillet, which sent it to the floor. Silver Chariot disappeared in the sudden fright as I turned towards him. He pointed at me, jaw dangling.
     "You- that aura," He leaned back on his counter, I had no clue on what he was talking about. "You have a stand?!"
     Seconds passed before I understood what we meant. Summoning Silver Chariot I pointed at him behind me.
     "You can see what's behind me?" Our eyes were both wide. He took a deep breath standing up straight and explained he could. That's when he brought out his. The room lit to a warm tone. A large fiery bird sat behind Avdol. He looked extremely threatening.
     "Yours...is a giant fire bird." I shockingly spoke.
     "I thought I was the only one at this college with a power like this," he had the same face Kakyoin had found out about Chariot. Pure excitement. "A stand!"
     "A stand?"
     "It's like my Magician's Red and your... what is the name of your stand?"
     "Oh, uh, this is Silver Chariot. I used him because ironically I'm not good with any other blade that's not Chariot's."
     "Well you saw me light the gas stove with my finger. Speaking of stove..." we both looked at the spilled peppers and oil. "...we should clean this up."
     We paused and shared a laugh before he filled the sink with soapy water. He cleaned the spilled peppers up, taking the vegetable skins, and put them in a compost box. I used a dry kitchen rag to start cleaning the oil off the floor. I announced the floor was still wet and slippery. I guess he didn't hear me when he came over. He quickly lost balance, having no traction on the floor. I grabbed him by the wrists and pulled him out of the small puddle, into the small corner I was standing in. We both stared at eachother but I let go quickly and apologized for holding on. He said it was fine and thanked me for catching him. Was he blushing?
     After the mess was solved we got back on track. I took spare peppers and chopped them with Chariot as he lit the stove top again. I leaned towards him.
     "It's really cool how you can use your finger as a lighter." The compliment slipped out, he snickered. He leaned over and took one of the diced peppers, holding it out in front of me.
     "Well I haven't met anyone before who cuts perfect cubes when dicing."
     I looked away smiling. Kakyoin was right, there was nothing to worry about. It was natural and nice.
     I moved the peppers to the side as I minced the garlic and onion. Lifting and tilting the board I pushed them into the hot skillet. The aromatics smelt divine. Avdol soon turned off the stove and pulled out a crockpot. He also opened his fridge, pulling out a bag of cubed lamb cuts out of the fridge. They were sitting in marinade. Gently placing the bag in the crock pot he pulled out stew broth.
     "I was planning on making another batch so I already have the broth and meat ready."
     He added both broth and meat to the crockpot as he plugged it in. Taking the hot skillet he used his hands to push the ingredients in. I winced in pain.
     "Didn't that skillet just come off the stove?"
     "Magician's Red boosted my skin's immunity to fire and hot surfaces. This feels lukewarm."
     "Oh, I still get cut easily with Silver Chariot. Do you want the potatoes and carrots?"
     "Yes please, thank you."
     With that I handed him the bowl. All the ingredients were added in. He covered the top and turned it on.
     "You'll have to come back tomorrow for it to be done, you get the best results if it sits overnight."
     "Since were done should I go or?"
     "I don't mind if you stay for a bit longer, it's only seven."
     "Seven? Now that you say that, it is getting darker outside. I didn't even notice," I paused then looked to him. "I didn't just come here to cook."
    "What do you mean?" He asked.
    "Well there's this thing I've been meaning to ask..." my body faced his. I saw his reaction change, blush dusting his cheeks. "...There's this party tomorrow- and I was wondering if maybe, I don't know, you wanted to go with me?"
     The lump in my throat made me swallow nervously. He excitedly nodded.
     "It sounds great, who's driving?"
     "Well Kakyoin has his license, I don't know about you or Jotaro so I'd say him."
     "Alright, when are you coming to pick me up?"
     I blanked, I didn't expect to get this far.
     "Seven or eight...? If that's alright with you?"
     "Seven sounds nice."
     We agreed on that time. I stayed and talked for a while with him before leaving for the night. When I left his dorm I felt a surge of excitement, then I also remembered that he was a stand user. Using the newfound energy I raced back upstairs and threw the door open.
     "Kakyoin you won't fucking believe what I saw," I yelled out to him. "We're not the only stand users here!!"
     I heard a couple seconds of thumping before he bashed his door down.
     "Did I hear you right?"
    "Avdol fucking saw Chariot when I was cutting vegetables for him!! His stand's name is Magician's Red!"
     Kakyoin clapped his hands before summoning his Heirophant Green. He signed to him, Heirophant seemed pleased. They signed back at eachother for a while before Kakyoin looked back at me.
     "I thought it was just us with these powers!! What did his look like?"
     I explained that his stand looked like a giant flaming chicken and that he summon a small flame with his finger. He asked more questions about what went on and I answered.
     "So what did he say about the invite?"
    "I'm picking him up at seven, you're driving?"
     "Yeah, I'm also taking the job of being sober if you or anyone else get wasted," he turned his head towards our room doors. "We should choose an outfit for tomorrow."
     "You're more fashion forward than I am, I don't even know how to dress for a party."
     Kakyoin backed up to his room and invited me in. I followed him in, peering over his shoulder as he dug through his closet. Soon he threw a shirt and a pair of jeans at me. The shirt had a red floral design and the jeans were a plain light gray.
     "The red on the shirt will compliment your earrings and bring out your eyes," he dug further for an outfit of his own. "As an art major I proudly recognize good colour combos. Try it on before the party, if it doesn't suit you I have at least four other outfits."
     "I know I said you were fashion forward but I didn't know you were this forward."
     "I have a lot of free time." He smiled.
     Letting out a low chuckle I left his room, entered mine, and gently set down the clothing. My thoughts trailed off, as I thought about earlier. I was still amazed that Avdol was a stand user. Someone like me.
     Reliving the event in my mind also made me remember how I caught him. When I let go it looked almost like he was blushing. Was he and why? I didn't answer my own question, I started thinking of what he would wear tomorrow. What would he think about my outfit? What would others think? There were too many questions I was asking myself to even answer, I felt excited.