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Stephanie Lauter was a lot of things.
Feisty, for one, as she’d been called in the past. Strong-willed, something Steph liked to think of herself as. Sarcastic. A bit rude. Clever. Beautiful, according to a lot of people (it only mattered to her when Pete said it, though). The survivor of an encounter with eldritch deities. A murderer, on a technicality. An orphan, on another technicality.
A good baker? That she was not.
Stephanie coughed as she pulled the tray out of the oven, smoke quickly filling up the kitchen. She waved a hand over her face, attempting to clear some of it. Steph dropped the tray onto the countertop and stared down at it, her eyebrows furrowing.
From her spot at one of the tall stools behind the kitchen counter, Grace Chasity narrowed her eyes at the concoction. “It looks burnt.”
Steph glared up at Grace. “I know it does.”
“You’re really bad at this.” Grace continued, a twinge of smugness in her voice.
Steph groaned. “What’s your deal, Chastity? Are you, like, trying to get a rise out of me for fucking shits and giggles ? Or do you actually have something substantial that you want to contribute to the conversation?”
Grace said nothing for a long moment, just stared down at her fingers. “You and Pete sound more like each other every day,” she murmured, then shook out her short, wavy hair. “Anyways, I was going to offer my help, since I’m actually quite good at baking, but you’re too stubborn for your own good.”
Of everything that had conspired during Steph’s senior year, somehow Grace Chasity becoming her closest friend was the most surprising event of all.
At the end of the day, Steph was pretty sure their friendship depended solely on their trauma-bond. Her, Pete, and Grace had gone through so much and experienced so many things, that the idea of trying to go back to normal and pretend that they didn’t care for each other was impossible.
Steph and Pete had never made their relationship public knowledge. But between coffee dates and Instagram posts, the student body had been able to put the pieces together. They’d had a couple weird interactions, but everyone seemed to be pretty normal about it. Steph found that the closer that high schoolers got to graduation, the less they seemed to care about all the other people in their life. And then there was Grace, padding along behind them like a lost puppy. They were all kind of lost puppies, in a way. What does one do with their life once they learn that there are eldritch beings out to get you?
Kiss Peter Spankoffski, Steph thought ruefully to herself. A lot. And make him brownies, apparently.
“Fine,” Steph spat out at Grace. “ Help me .”
A smile stretched across Grace’s face. “Well, we’re gonna need a lot more batter. Thankfully, I should have another box of brownie mix in the pantry.” She hopped off of the stool and walked over to the pantry, opening it up wide.
Today, Steph was visiting Grace’s house so she could bake her surprise for Pete. While moving in with her boyfriend after her father’s death was, ultimately, very good for her mentally, it did pose a few issues. Like if she ever wanted to surprise him. So, she’d announced that morning that she was hanging out with Grace, and rushed out the front door before Pete could ask why he wasn’t invited.
“What’s with all the commotion, anyway?” Grace asked, placing another box of brownie mix down on the counter. “Pete’s birthday isn’t coming up, right?”
Steph shook her head. “No. I’m just doing this because…well…maybe I wanna do something nice for my boyfriend, I dunno.” She turned her head, cheeks burning. “He loves chocolate…and he’s always poking around for snacks cause of his low blood sugar…”
“Okay, okay, jeez, if you keep going I’m gonna start hearing about your sex life.” Grace said, making a face. Steph made a face back.
Fucked a ghost, and still such a prude.
Steph liked Grace, though, which was a really weird feeling. There was a certain grit and wry sense of humor about her that she’d developed after everything went down, and an odd sense of melancholy about her. Like she didn’t quite know what to do with herself.
Steph began working on her second batch of brownies, with Grace giving vague directions, and occasionally stealing the mixing spoon from Steph. She also gave Steph the correct temperature to set the oven to, so that this time the treats wouldn’t burn. Once attempt number two was safely in the oven, Steph hopped onto the counter and pulled out her phone, a soft grin forming on her face as she realized that Pete had texted her. From her spot at the stool, Grace’s eyes stayed put on Steph.
“He texted you, didn’t he?” Grace asked matter-of-factly. “Don’t spill the secret.”
Steph glared at her. “Of course I won’t.” She whipped her head away from Grace, her eyes locking back onto her phone screen.
Grace seemingly wasn’t done, though. She was silent for a few more seconds, before clearing her throat and speaking again. “What’s it like?”
Steph blinked. “What’s what like?”
“Being in love.”
Grace’s question startled Steph. Her fingers froze mid-sentence, and she fully turned her body to face Grace. “Wha…huh?” Steph said weakly, unable to get anything more intelligent out. Grace’s question had caught her off guard, utterly perplexed her.
Grace immediately seemed to realize that her question had confused Steph, and she turned her head down. “Forget it. Sorry. That was random of me.”
“No, no. I was just…ah. Why…do you want to know?” Steph asked, trying to grasp at something that she could build a meaningful conversation onto.
Her friend didn’t move her head, actively refusing to make eye contact with Steph. “I…I’ve never been in love before, you know? Sorry. I’ve just been thinking a lot. About how…I always had this idea in my head that my first time was going to be special, and pure, and perfect , and it would happen once I found my perfect husband to love forever. But…M-Max was none of those things. Obviously. And I don’t regret what I did, cause without what I did more people would have died, but…”
Grace finally looked up at Steph, and she could see the tears welling in the corners of her eyes. “I guess I just don’t know what to think anymore.” she whispered.
Steph felt her stomach churn, and she felt the odd desire to reach over and give Grace a hug. “What about Jason? He goes to your church, right? He seemed pretty okay.”
Grace let out a short, barking laugh. “Let’s just say that was never going to work out long-term.”
“Well, okay then.” Steph shifted her weight, anxious to do something with her body as she contemplated what to say to Grace. “Love…it’s complicated. Really fucking complicated. Pete and I have been going to the same schools for sixteen years, and it wasn’t until right now that I finally unstuck my head from my ass and realized that he existed. If you’d told me a year ago that I would’ve willingly gone to homecoming with Peter Spankoffski , I probably would’ve laughed in your face and asked you if you’d been to the mental hospital recently.” Steph laughed, but it was a weak one. “But I did, and I want to spend as much time as I possibly can with him. That’s love, to me. Having a person that you feel like is always going to bring out the best in you. They don’t have to be perfect, but the feeling you get when they’re around you…that’s as close to perfect as I think I’ll ever get in this sad, sorry life. Someone who makes you laugh, who respects you, who doesn’t see you as a washed-up nepo baby who peaked in high school. Who encourages you to pursue those silly dreams of yours from childhood. Someone who, in the circumstance, would willingly die for you.”
Someone with the softest hair I’ve ever felt on a guy.
Someone who tastes like chocolate every time we kiss.
Someone who is somehow the nerdiest dork and the hottest person I’ve ever met at the same time.
Someone who is going to absolutely grow into an even better version of himself once he gets to college.
Someone who refuses to give up on me, ever.
“You know,” Grace began slowly. “I’m starting to think that you and Pete are the diversion from the norm, and not the standard for high school relationships.”
Steph shrugs. “He was gonna take a bullet for me. What else could a girl want?”
The smallest of smiles stretched across Grace’s face. “I guess I understand that. My first crush was Jesus Christ of Nazareth, after all.”
Annnd just like that. Moment ruined.
-
Pete loved the brownies.
When Steph had left the Chasity residence to return home, Grace had insisted that she wanted to tag along (even though she did not have a car and therefore Steph had no idea how she was getting back to her place). Grace lingered a bit behind Steph in the Spankoffski kitchen, watching as Pete chatted amiably with Steph.
“I had no idea you knew how to bake, Steph!” Pete exclaimed, wiping a few chocolate crumbs from his face. “Every time you’ve tried to help with dinner, you’ve almost set the kitchen on fire.”
Steph’s cheeks reddened. “I had some help.” She gestured towards Grace, who gave a little wave.
“She never shuts up about you when you’re not there,” Grace said matter-of-factly. “Just so you’re aware. It’s sickening.”
Steph turned around and glared at Grace. “That is not fair . You were the one actively prodding me for details on my relationship!”
Grace batted her eyelashes comically, and let her voice come out in a sickly sweet drawl. “ Ooh , I’m Stephanie Lauter, and I looooove my boyfriend soooo much, he’s sooooo hot and I have to tell everyone I see that I’m nerdsexual and so incredibly down bad -“
“Listen here you little shit -“ Steph began, turning away from Pete to snap at Grace, before she felt a hand on her wrist. Steph turned her face to look back at Pete, who was staring back at her with an expression that immediately made her stomach flip over on itself.
“Uh. What was that about me being hot?” he said softly, a red blush creeping up from his neck to his cheeks, and all Steph could think of was how much she wanted to kiss him.
So she did.
“You know you are.” She murmured in his ear before crashing her lips against his. Yep. He did taste like chocolate. Pete let out a sound of surprise that immediately turned to pleasure, bringing his hand up to cup it around Steph’s face.
“Leave room for Jesus .” Grace said offhandedly, a disgusted tone to her voice. Steph paused for a moment, turning backwards to look at her best friend.
“Grace, of the three of us, only one of us is a virgin, and it’s sure as hell not you.” Steph said, a wicked grin on her face. Grace scowled.
“You have a point. I suppose.” Grace said, crossing her arms.
Steph turned back to look at Pete, who was giving her an odd look. “You’ve…”
She blinked, then began laughing. “You’re such a child , Petey.”
“I’m sorry!” he blurted. “I just never considered it!”
A sly grin formed on Steph’s face. “C’mon, Pete. Let’s ditch Chastity and go upstairs.” She pressed another kiss to the side of his face, dangerously close to his neck.
Pete stared at her with a dazed expression. “Okay…”
“Fine by me. All my personal boundaries have been ignored.” Grace said snippily, walking away towards the exit and slamming the door behind her. Steph knew she wasn’t actually mad, though, and that their earlier conversation had been meaningful to her.
Steph turned to Pete. “Is your brother home?”
Wordless, Pete shook his head. Steph’s grin widened.
“Good.”