Embrace the Darkness Chpt 8

Chapter 8?!?!? Wow... this is getting REALLY good...

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  As I walked back into the house, the smell of burnt food and the sounds of the fire alarm greeted my ears. Sighing, I ran to the kitchen. Wadi and Doyle were frantically pouring water.... on an oil fire. Smacking my forehead, I ran to get pool towels.
  "STOP USING WATER ON AN OIL FIRE DOYLE!!!!!" I yelled, and put it out. The alarm faded, and Doyle looked kind of burned on his left arm. "Tsa, that'll hurt for a few days. Leave it alone, and go put that sunburn stuff on it. It'll go away soon." I waved my hand, and pushed Doyle out of the kitchen.
  "Zak, you know stuff about the art of cooking??" Wadi tilted her head, and I blushed slightly. "My mom taught me a few things so I wouldn't starve once I was old enough to move out." *sigh* "If you want, I'll make dinner." I offered, looking down at my feet in embarrassment.
  I felt her gently grab my chin, and pull my face up. My face heated up, and she smiled at me. "Sure Zak. Surprise us!" She laughed, and walked out. Doyle walked back in, took one look at my beet red face, back at Wadi's exiting figure, and immediately yelled, "Zak, were you kissing?!?"
  "WHAT?!?" I yelled, and the idea made me blush even harder. The room tilted a little, and I had to grip the island counter to steady myself. "No!" I stammered. Doyle shrugged, and walked over. "Seems like you were. You're redder than your dad when I tell a joke about him! And that's when he's angry!" Doyle laughed, and took the apron off the hook, and tied it around me.
  "Hold on.... Did you set that fire on PURPOSE?!? Just to get ME to cook???!!!!" I blew up in his face. Doyle grinned sheepishly, and backed up. "Of course not... I just needed a little help!" He ran out of the room before I could smack that idiot.
  "Grrrr...." I fumed, picking up ingredients. My first option, due to the abundance of carrots and vegetables and steak (which mysteriously ended up on MY side of the fridge!) was to make a vegetable soup with a medium rare steak. I began cooking, and a fantastic smell of cooking meat and salty veggies waded through the house.
  "Three... two.... one...." I counted on my fingers, and once I got to zero, heard tromping feet. The sky grew even darker than before, so I turned on the kitchen light. Darn daylight-savings time...
  "Zak, what's that smell!?!" Doyle was the last to walk in, after Francis, Ulraj, and Wadi. "Steak and veggie soup. Sit down, and I'll finish it up." I jestured to the bar-like island counter on the other side of my workspace. In no time, all the seats were full.
  "Whatever happened to Nik?" I asked, cutting the last of the vegetables at precise speeds. "We gave him some money, and dropped him off at his house. He asked for you to call him, and gave us his number. You oughta call him back after dinner." Doyle confirmed my idea, and i sighed with relief. Throwing the veggies and spices into the pot without looking, I spun around and shook the pans with the steak quickly. I glanced up, to see everyone mesmerized by my movements.
  "Zak, how on earth do you cook so easily?!?" Francis looked amazed, and I smirked. "My mom told me I was a natural cook. Unlike some people..." I glared at Doyle, and he glanced away to avoid my look. Spinning back around, I turned off the stoves and pulled out the bowls and plates and threw them on the counter. Enjoying their amazed looks, I set their food down, and pulled out my own plate.
  "Dig in!" I smiled, and cut some steak. I glanced up at Wadi, who stopped chewing, and smiled like she was in heaven. "Mmmmm... *gulp* Zak! This is amazing!!!" She gasped, and the guys nodded their heads with their mouths full.
  "That's my boy!" I felt a hand mess up my hair, and I glanced up. My mom was smiling, and gave me a thumbs up. "Wha... When didja get home??" I looked at the door, where Dad was leaning against the wall, obviously cringing. I set down my fork, and passed my parents some food. I leaned against the inner counter, and chewed without tasting my food. My mom had always told me that her cooking would always be better than mine, even when I was 11. I was nervous, and I think I probably added too many spices.
  "Zak! This is amazing!" Mom gasped. Dad didn't talk, he shoved mouthful after mouthful in. Everyone looked happy and full by the time their plates were empty.
  "Movie time! And I get to pick, since I'm royalty." Ulraj jumped up, and ran to the living room. Francis followed, and so did mom and dad. Wadi was the only one left.
  "Hmm... This is becoming a habit, huh?" She grinned at me, and handed me the cleaned plates. "Yep." I looked down at the dishwasher, slightly feeling my face warm up. *CONTROL YOURSELF ZAK, IT'S JUST WADI!!* After a minute, I heard her sigh. Glancing up, I saw her leaning on the counter, her head in her hands. I dropped the towel on the counter, and walked to her side. "What's up?"
  "Well, I kind of can't get over the fact that you..." She glances at the doorway, "Got almost kidnapped by Munya!" I sigh, and hug her. Her embrace tightened, and I sighed. "Wadi, that was over 2 hours ago. Paris is long gone, and so is Munya." I looked down (I am a TINY bit taller than her) at her and smiled. She smiled softly at me, and broke apart from my hug. "Thanks Zak. Let's go see what Ulraj the King picked out for a movie." Wadi began to walk towards the door, but hesitated. She then ran over, and kissed me on the cheek, and ran out.
  My face grew hot, and I rose my hand up. The place where she kissed me tingled. I walked lopsidedly out the door, along the dark hallway, and into the living room. Mom and Dad took one look at my flushed face, and began to laugh.
  I ran to my room, and flung myself onto my bed. This was going to be a long week... *hehehe*