Smoked

Before both eyes opened, my nose perked up, smelling something burning. Huh?

The white ceiling above was the first thing I saw. Dazed sensations rushed through me as I shifted upright on our couch.

A blanket of light through the living room windows hinted it'd become past noon. Small tables with glass decorations couldn't stop sparkling as I tried thinking. Wait, I took a nap, right? After Pinto left? How many hours has it been?

Though the thought was cut short. I could see faint tufts of smoke wafting from the kitchen, and heard a girl's confused murmurs.

"Hey, hey!" I ran over to investigate.

Huddled over a stove, Glint was wearing stylish clothes as she tried desperately to calm a flaming pan.

"Ah! Water! Water!" she yelled.

"No! Not water!" I dived into our pantry and flung everything out, until finding tubs of baking soda. "Give me space!"

Glint moved aside as I raced towards the stove and dumped powder on the fire. Brown smoke turned white until the oil flames bubbled then fizzled into nothing.

"Urghh . . ." I said, gripping my face.

"I-I'm so sorry!" Glint behind me said. "I just wanted to cook something for us! But I'm not very good at cooking . . ."

I didn't even say anything. If I looked at her I'd probably look annoyed, though I wasn't mad, just stressed.

A fire alarm went off. After cancelling it and opening windows for ventilation, I spotted a dark-green bottle on the kitchen counter—our prime suspect.

"You used extra virgin olive oil," I told Glint. "It has a low smoke point, so it'll burn or smoke easily if you're not careful."

"Smoke point?"

"Well, don't worry about it. We have another problem now."

From the stove I grabbed the charred remains of my stainless-steel pan. Though salvageable, it'd become melded with black remains of whatever Glint was cooking. Scrubbing it clean would take painstaking effort.

"Ummm, I don't mind washing it off," Glint said.

"No, I'll handle this later. But next time use our teflon pan." I pointed towards a cabinet full of pots. "Teflon isn't healthy, but it's easier for beginners to use than stainless steel or cast iron."

She meekly nodded and glanced at the tiled floor.

Geez. Glint probably thinks I'm gonna kick her out now. Gotta liven things. "What were you cooking anyway?"

"Just some eggs . . ."

"Eggs? With olive oil?"

"I-Is that wrong?"

"Wrong?" I looked back at the charred pan full of white powder. "Not really. It's just that most people prefer oils with neutral flavors. Olive oil is kinda pungent for eggs."

"Sorry, I don't really know much . . . I just grabbed the first bottle I found that seemed like cooking oil."

"Look." I opened our fridge and pointed towards a glass jar. "That's clarified butter. It won't burn or smoke easily, so use this instead next time you try cooking."

She nodded again. "Okay."

While Glint sat down at our table, I washed my hands then doused the burnt pan in warm, soapy water. It'd need to soak overnight before ascertaining fire damage. Though we still needed some grub.

"Are you hungry?" I asked Glint.

"Mmm, maybe a little?" But her stomach growled louder than her voice. She blushed.

"Haha, don't worry," I said while putting on an apron. "You've only eaten leftovers until now, so I'll make us something fresh."

"Thanks! Anything works."

I opened our fridge and searched for ingredients of anything she might like. Fajitas? Omelettes? Casserole? Preferably something not messy since there's enough messes already.

Though the process of wanting to impress her wasn't lost on me. I fired up our stove to preheat a cast-iron pan, then I began taking out pepper shakers, lemons, and bundles of parsley. Digging through our fridge again let me find salmon fillets I'd left thawing overnight; they were meant for dinner but would now be lunch.

"Do you mind waiting like thirty minutes?" I told Glint. Pots clanged as I searched for my favorite. "Cooking all this is gonna take time."

"No rush," she said from the table. "I'm here if you need help."

Please no.

And the preparations began. Glint and I didn't talk much while I worked, but it wasn't awkward, almost like she wanted me to concentrate on something I enjoyed doing.

Seasoning and searing—pink fillets sizzling in my pan slowly turned a shade of honey, shimmering with olive oil. I worked the spatula while a pot on another burner boiled rice. No effort or time went to waste.

A pinch of smoked paprika was the finishing touch. Aromas blasted up my nose as I scooped golden-brown fillets out onto a plate for me, and another for Glint. White rice got added; then I gave her dish special treatment by sprinkling extra shreds of parsley, before sliding in lemon wedges I'd sliced ahead of time.

"Here you go." I served Glint her steaming plate.

"Oh! This smells amazing!"

"Probably tastes amazing too," I chuckled. "Just let it cool a bit first."

"K'!"

I took off my apron and straightened my tie, before bringing water glasses and more utensils over. Every now and then I'd catch Glint sneaking a glance at me. But I couldn't tell if it was curiosity or something else.

"Thank you," she said as I sat across from her. "You're doing so much for me even if I'm just mooching here."

"Don't mention it. I was gonna cook anyway."

"Mm. I'll take my first bite now then, hehe."

The moment of truth. I watched her finesse a fork and knife until she brought the first slice to her lips. It wasn't until she opened her mouth just enough to show brilliant white teeth, that the fork cruised all the way inside.

Slow, cute chewing. She was savoring my cooking more than I was savoring her response.

"What do you think?" I said.

"Mmm! How is this so good?" She forked another slice into her mouth. "Like, are you an actual chef?"

"Haha, no. I've always kinda just liked making stuff." Plus I needed to get better so Fate doesn't starve to death . . .

But watching Glint eat was more filling than the actual plate of food in front of me. I'd barely touched my dish, still transfixed on this mysterious girl from another world gobbling rice. Even seeing her squeezing another lemon, made me wish I could somehow see her enjoy what else this Earth could offer.

Soon, both our plates were cleared. We hadn't talked much but I could tell something was on her mind.

She put her fork down. "Oh, I forgot to ask, but how did the BOPO report go?"

"Pretty good all things considered. I don't have a personal mirror anymore though, so I'll need to use our Home Mirror now."

"Can't you just buy another?"

Buy . . . "Not possible. Even the cheapest mirrors cost at least $1,000."

"Huh? In my world, you could buy a decently big one for like $50."

"Sounds like my kinda world, haha."

Glint took one last sip of water before carrying her plates to our sink. "Well, there's still a lot I wanna learn. That's why I want to ask you a favo—"

"Ah!" I looked at my watch. "I still gotta feed Monkey Dee!"

"M-Monkey Dee?"

"Yeah! Our horse! Usually Fate takes care of him, but she's always visiting her boyfriend now."

"Oh." Dishes banged together as Glint began rinsing them with soapy water. "I don't mind helping after I finish washing these."

There wasn't need for assistance; though I guessed this was something she was curious about. "Okay, sure. You'll probably have to change shoes before stepping out though."

"Hmm? Why?"

From my seat I pointed towards our patio door. It being transparent showed everything needed. "Because it's the Mojave Desert out there."