The Luna Choosing Game

One of the girls came close to me, peering at my selection. “Huh. I feel like you could have done better,

Piper

She was mocking me, which I would not dignify. “I’m quite proud of this actually.”

“My friendly advice?” she said, smirking at me. I was fully prepared to ignore her, until I saw the large

container in her hand. “Needs more salt.”

I reached, but I was too slow. She had already upturned the container of salt all over my stuffed mushrooms, totally ruining them. She poured the entire container until it was empty, and then dropped it carelessly on the floor..

“Oh, dear. That might have been too much. Sorry!” She giggled as she walked away.

I stared down at my ruined food. There was no saving it. Even if I removed the massive pile of salt from

on top of the mushrooms, the taste surely had already been soaked in.

I would have to discard this batch and try again. However, since I had already used my turn at the ovens,

I now would have to wait until everyone else had finished.

Sighing, I regathered my supplies and started anew. I did as much as I could until I needed to cook. Then

I had to wait.

And I waited. And waited.

Some of the girls, I was starting to wonder, seemed like they had chosen appetizers that took extra– long

to cook, just to mock me. Or maybe the waiting was just getting to me.

I was in the kitchens until late. By the time the others had finished and left, it was well after dark. Finally, the oven beeped at my set temperature and I placed my second batch of stuffed mushrooms within it.

At the very least, this batch didn’t look quite as ugly as the last. I refrained from thinking the sabotage

was a good thing, however.

With the timer set, I sank onto a stool to wait again.

“There you are.

I glanced up. Nicholas walked into the kitchen.

When I saw him, my face flushed, remembering my earlier daydreams about him as my husband. I cleared my throat and turned away.

One of the girls came close to me, peering at my selection “Huh. I feel like you could have done better,

Piper.”

e was mocking me, which I would not dignify. I’m quite proud of this actually.”

She

“My friendly advice?” she said, smirking at me. I was fully prepared to ignore her, until I saw the large container in her hand. “Needs more salt.”

I reached, but I was too slow. She had already upturned the container of salt all over my stuffed mushrooms, totally ruining them. She poured the entire container until it was empty, and then dropped it carelessly on the floor.

“Oh, dear. That might have been too much. Sorry!” She giggled as she walked away.

I stared down at my ruined food. There was no saving it. Even if I removed the massive pile of salt from on top of the mushrooms, the taste surely had already been soaked in.

I would have to discard this batch and try again. However, since I had already used my turn at the ovens, I now would have to wait until everyone else had finished.

Sighing, I regathered my supplies and started anew. I did as much as I could until I needed to cook. Then

I had to wait.

And I waited. And waited.

Some of the girls, I was starting to wonder, seemed like they had chosen appetizers that took extra– long to cook, just to mock me. Or maybe the waiting was just getting to me.

I was in the kitchens until late. By the time the others had finished and left, it was well after dark. Finally, the oven beeped at my set temperature and I placed my second batch of stuffed mushrooms within it.

At the very least, this batch didn’t look quite as ugly as the last. I refrained from thinking the sabotage

was a good thing, however.

With the timer set, I sank onto a stool to wait again.

“There you are.

I glanced up. Nicholas walked into the kitchen,

When I saw him, my face flushed, remembering my earlier daydreams about him as my husband. I cleared my throat and turned away.

hot in Here, offered weakly, as an explanation.

suppose it is.” He came closer. “All the other girls finished some time ago.”

shook my head, “My first batch didn’t turn out right.”

Oh?

Too salty.

I didn’t want to tell him about the sabotage. He might feel the need to do something about it. If he got involved to protect me, it would only end up with more resentment aimed towards me.

We were supposed to be proving to people that we didn’t still care about each other.

Nicholas picked up the empty salt container off the floor. “I don’t suppose this has anything to do with it.”

I looked at it, then at him, but kept my mouth firmly closed.

He stepped closer. “Piper –”

“It was just a joke, Nicholas. I can handle it. Honestly.”

He watched me a moment like he wanted to argue, but then he sighed. “Fine. But if it becomes more

than that, I expect you to come forward.” Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

I

They could threaten my life and I doubted I would tell him, but I appreciated his concern regardless.

He walked to the oven and peeked inside. “It’s against the rules for me to help any candidate with their

challenge.”

That hadn’t stopped him before, in the forest with the boar. I wondered if he would help me now, even saying that, if I only asked.

Fortunately, I didn’t need to find out.

“It only has to cook,” I said. “I’m afraid there’s not much help you could give now, even if you wanted to.”

He nodded. “Good. That eliminates my temptation, then.”

1 lifted a brow. “Does it?”

His eyes held mine a touch too long. I felt drawn to him, a moth to a flame. I stood up from the chair and loined him in front of the oven..

I peeked in for myself. The food looked like it was cooking well.

Piper, 1

I turned to look at him again and he suddenly stopped. I was very close, closer than I had intended to be

Like this, all he would have to do is lean down…

I only had to press up…

“Nicholas,” I said in a breath.

I wanted to kiss him.