Starfire Ascension

Chapter 14 - The Mall

Cyrus awoke the next morning hearing  Kimberly and Holly trudging down the stairs, as he slowly started to wake up on the couch. He looked up to see them heading into the kitchen. He got up and entered the bathroom to do his morning routine. Cyrus had moved all his bathroom stuff downstairs. He took a nice hot shower feeling his muscles relax in the hot jetstreams as the steam filled the room. After turning the fan on to draw the moisture out of the room he dried off and then got dressed and ready. After he was ready he looked in the mirror to make sure he looked respectable. Cyrus was satisfied with his hair and the scent of the cologne he was wearing.

Feeling more prepared for the day now he stepped out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. He saw Kimberly and Holly standing by the counter drinking their coffee. Kimberly was bright-eyed and awake, Holly looked half-awake and almost, but not really, grumpy. "Good morning lovely ladies," He said jovially. Holly half smiled then returned to her coffee, Kimberly grinned obliquely at her after sipping her own coffee. "Someone's not a morning person are they?" she said in a teasing tone. Holly said, "Blegh," sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth in protest as she pointed to the side of the coffee mug. The mug read: "Shhhh...No talking yet." Kimberly laughed. Holly's hair was suspended in arcing static halos above her head, the morning light turning her rich brown hair auburn.

Cyrus kissed Holly on the cheek with a smile, then he hugged Kimberley as she smiled wide. Even half-awake Holly did not miss an opportunity to smirk at the couple. Cyrus then stepped around the girls and into the kitchen. He washed his hands at the sink, and then he pre-heated the oven to three hundred and fifty degrees. He cracked a dozen eggs into the bowl and added some fresh basil, garlic salt, and cracked black pepper. Cyrus whisked it up. Next, he started to chop portabella mushrooms, diced ham, green onions, and spinach with a practiced hand. Then he tossed them all into the mixing bowl with the eggs as he folded them in. He poured the mixture into a nine by thirteen inch greased tempered glass deep dish. Lastly, he placed it in the oven and set the timer. In the meantime, he sliced the tomatoes into thin rounds, prepared some asparagus spears, and placed them in separate bowls. Next, he grated pepper jack cheese into another bowl. After fifteen minutes Cyrus removed the baking deep-dish placing it on a cutting board. He skillfully placed the tomatoes and asparagus spears on top of the egg mixture. Then he poured the freshly grated pepper jack cheese across the top of the egg mixture that had now started to solidify. He returned the pan to the oven and closed it back up. Turning back to the girls he smiled. Kimberly was eyeing him with a rouge grin. "Your cute and you can cook. I just might have to keep you, Mr. White," she said her eyes taking the opportunity to look him up and down before as she raised her eyebrows with a grin. Cyrus smiled back at her with a wink.

When the timer rang Cyrus put on the oven mitts he had set out, pulled the crustless quiche deep-dish out, and put it on a cutting board that had potholders placed on it to let it cool. After turning the oven off he garnished the top of the quiche with small fresh oregano sprigs. The edges of the egg mixture had now turned a golden brown. Cyrus looked up to see his mom walk into the kitchen. She saw the quiche and said, "Cyrus sweetheart you made breakfast!?" "Yeah I was really hungry and I knew you guys would be up soon too." She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. "Not a bad move Mr. Ladies man," she said with a grin. "Sheesh, can't a guy make breakfast without ulterior motives?" Cyrus said, then he winked at mom. The girls all laughed. Cyrus took the plates from the cupboard and started cutting the quiche and dishing it out with a serving spatula. They sat down at the table and started eating when Cyrus realized a huge loophole in their plans for the day.

"Kimberley, how are we going to get to the mall?" he asked. Kimberley whipped her hair back away from the coffee she had poised in front of her face. "If your mom and dad can drop me off at my house we can take my truck." Cyrus was confused for a minute. "Don't you have to be eighteen to drive without an adult?" Holly looked at Cyrus in disbelief and started to form the letter L on her forehead. His eyes now snapped back to Kimberley. "You're older than me?" Cyrus asked softly with incredulity looking back at Kimberley. She grinned in candid amusement. "We've got a winner," said Holly mockingly with slow clapping, her mouth open in a wide smile of entertained satisfaction. "I guess I just never thought to ask," he said. Then Cyrus shook his head, "Not that I would ask your age though," he said now looking sheepishly at her. She grinned. "So what kind of car do you drive?" he asked steering away from that burning trainwreck. "Oh, you'll see," she said. A deviant smile crept across her narrow jawline, her perfect white teeth forming a flawless line. Now Cyrus's interest was officially piqued. They cleaned up breakfast after everyone had finished. As per usual Holly was last. Somehow even Tony who had arrived at the table last managed to finish before her.