31 Blackened Cajun Chicken

When I walk in, I'm tackled by Donner and Blizen. Immediately, I give them the attention they deserve.

"Oh my goodness, my babies are here! How are my most precious prince and princess today? Have you been good little puppies?

"Donner, Blitzen off."

They immediately climb off of me and sit beside me. I feel disappointed, but I know I need to have a firmer hand with them if I'm going to be their dogmother. I look up to see Will sitting on a recliner reading a book. Wearing a sweater with jeans and gold frame glasses he looks relaxed.

"Hello, Will," I say nervously

"Don't you mean 'Hello, Brainless Idiot?"

"Hey, I only wrote brainless."

"Then what was the rest of that about?"

"The rest was … decorative."

"Decorative?"

"Yes, like art."

"Like art?"

"Exactly. Your beautiful face was my canvas."

"Flattery won't get you anywhere."

"It was worth a shot."

"Why did you do it?" He says while crossing his arms.

"I saw an opportunity and I took it."

"Well, we both know that. The question is why did you take that opportunity?"

"I don't know. Why did you steal my milkshake?"

He chuckles when he hears this.

"You don't mean to tell me that this is about that milkshake the other day."

"What? No. No way. What even? Why would it be about something so petty and small like a milkshake?"

He starts walking towards me with a gleam in his eye. I back away until I hit a wall and he continues to close in on me. He put his hands on the wall boxing me in. He leans down until we're eye to eye our faces almost touching. Looking me dead in the eye, he whispers with a smirk.

"This is about the kisses we gave each other isn't it?"

"You! You! They were indirect kisses; it doesn't even count! That's not even a real kiss! And furthermore I didn't kiss you. You're the one who kissed me!"

"But Astra, I thought you said they didn't even count?"

" You dirty bourgeoisie! Get out of my way, I have to make dinner!"

I push his arm out of the way and head to the kitchen with his booming laughter as my background noise. Rifling through the ingredients, I know just what I'm going to make. Dad's infamous blackened cajun chicken. It's enough to make a grown man cry. How dare he think he can give me any kisses, even if they are indirect. Grabbing the spices, I start to mix them with a devilish grin. I hum "In the Hall of the Mountain King" while doing so. To make the seasoning extra special, I add extra cayenne pepper. I want his face to be redder than a firetruck. While I saute the chicken, I can't help but smile. It smells like heaven but tastes like the burning fires of hell. I make a side of fettuccine alfredo, but if all goes according to plan even that shouldn't help. I make myself a basic chicken breast to compliment the alfredo and serve up our plates with glee.

"Will, dinner's ready!" I say in a singing voice.

"Why are you so happy?"

"Who isn't happy when there's food?"

"Why does our food look different?"

"Oh, I'm on a bland diet."

"You ate pancakes the other day."

"I just started today."

He stands there and looks at me for a moment. I don't think he's going to buy it.

"You don't need to go on a diet. You're beautiful just the way you are."

Stunned by what he says, I don't know what to say. Standing there in silence, I almost feel guilty for what I'm about to do. Almost.

We sit down and start to eat. The moment has finally come. This time I will get my revenge for sure. I've never seen a person who could handle this heat before.

"Wow! This is amazing! "

What? Surely, he's talking about the pasta. Looking over the only thing he's touched so far is the chicken. Drinking it with a glass of water it should spread the burning, but his face doesn't even turn red. Wretched man has foiled my plans again, and this time without even trying.

"It's a family recipe."

"I definitely want to have this again. Could you make it for lunch this week?"

Did I mix the spices wrong? I'm positive that I added extra cayenne. Did I confuse it with paprika?

"Of course. You just say when."

"How about tomorrow?"

"Oh, I needed to talk to you about tomorrow. I'm going to be gone for a couple hours every Tuesday."

"What happens on Tuesdays?"

"I see a therapist once a week on Tuesday afternoons."

"Okay. Thank you for letting me know."

"Please don't tell anyone. I don't want people to think I'm insane."

"It takes a lot of courage to do what you're doing, Astra. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Thank you, Will."

Blitzen comes up to me while we talk and lays his head on my lap. Petting him gives me comfort.

"It's been a long time since I told someone my story. Maybe one day I'll share it with you."

"And if you do I would love to listen to it."

I want to change the subject before he asks what landed me in therapy and then I remember.

"I have something for you."

"For me?"

"Close your eyes."

As he does so I grab the yellow rose I left by the door and hold it out for him to take.

"Okay. Now open."

When he opens his eyes he looks surprised.

It's a beautiful flower for a beautiful flower!

"I told you flattery would get you nowhere."

"And I told you that it was worth a shot."

Still holding it, my arm grows tired. "If you don't want it I guess I'll just have to throw it away."

It was a stupid idea anyways. As I'm about to turn around, he reaches to grab the flower and he grabs my hand instead.