So you want to be a chef (avec Zac)

[Tanner Larson]

Tanner wasn’t sure what had possessed him to actually invite Zac over for a cooking lesson. Actually, he did know – Zac had possessed him to do so. Theirs was a strange sort of friendship – antagonistic at times, sometimes downright a pain in the neck for the fire manipulator, but then at other times somewhat exciting in a way Tanner didn’t quite understand. Zac had an ability to make Tanner feel like being a bit more outgoing (he supposed one had to be outgoing when around Zac), and that was something the blonde appreciated, albeit in smaller doses. Regardless, Tanner had grown accustomed to the mimic, so when asked if he could teach him how to make something, the blonde was more or less happy to oblige – on the one condition that Zac help him apply to create of the culinary club. That was probably the first time Tanner had ever negotiated anything, and he was quite happy with the result.

So now here he was, waiting in his room for Zac to arrive. He would be teaching the boy how to make chicken parmesan with spaghetti – actually quite a simple recipe, once you got used to your fingers being coated in egg, and it certainly tasted good. He wasn’t completely sure of the boy’s competence when it came to cooking, but surely he could boil water and throw some dry pasta into the pot, right? They would just have to see. Part of him wondered why Zac was suddenly interested in learning how to cook, anyway; didn’t he usually whine when Tanner and Lindsey went about it? Regardless, he was happy to help a, erm, friend.

It was about six thirty in the evening, and Zac was scheduled to arrive any minute. Tanner was dressed in his typical shirt and shorts – though it was still February, his body produced enough heat to keep him warm, and it would have to dive into the twenties or below for him to feel the need to wear jeans or a sweater. He was in his room, the tv humming in the background as he got out some of his pots and pans from the adjoined kitchen.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Zac doesn’t cook. The teen has made that a fact of life, and had things not turned out different lately, he would’ve preferred that it stayed that way. Spoonfed all his life, he’s never really found the need to learn how to fend for himself. He thinks that cooking is extremely time-consuming and requires so much energy, something he claims he could’ve allotted to something else. (Like put that spare energy into admiring himself, or making himself look better, if that’s even possible – Zac’s words, not mine).

But as they say, love makes people do ‘stupid’ things. (Though considering how mundane and incredibly childish the other things that Zac does, this actually qualifies as the ‘normal’ and ‘mature’ thing to do).

“Hey faaaag! How’s it going?” yelled the boy as he entered the dorm suite, jumping on the couch and making a disgusted face when he saw what was on TV. “Eeeeeck. Seriously? This? Don’t you have anything better to watch?” he groaned, taking his hoodie off and grabbing the remote, absentmindedly surfing through the channels. “You’re so gay you know that?” And nope, the boy has no idea that Tanner apparently is. He just likes teasing him because Zac likes to joke that the kitchen’s a woman’s place. (Yes, he’s hypocritical too. Makes you want to love him even more right? [/sarcasm]).

Settling for what seems to be a rerun of Jersey Shore (he claims that he doesn’t watch the show; makes him lose so much brain cells in one hour, he says), the boy laid down on the couch with head hanging on the edge upside down. “So sexy, what are we making today? If you say omelet I’m going to kill you.” He’s past burning water after all. He does have a tendency to lose track of time and overcook things at times.

ooc:
Sorreh. u.u.
- Jam

[Tanner Larson]

Not long after Tanner had started taking out the pots and pans they would need for their recipe, there was a rather loud noise as Zac entered the room unannounced. "Hey-" he said, but wasn't able to say anything else before Zac greeted him rather brashly. He had gotten used to being called a fag by the brunette every so often; he knew it wasn't meant hatefully but rather in a teasing manner, and Zac was probably the only person he would ever tolerate this from. Their friendship was, after all, very, er, unique (to say the very, very least), so he let these playful jabs slide right off; that wasn't to say, though, that they didn't sometimes bother him, because the kid had a habit of not letting up sometimes, and it was during those more antagonistic moments that Tanner questioned why they were friends at all. But then Zac had his moments, and the blonde knew that if anyone was actually really bullying him, the mimic would be the first to step in and beat the crap out of whoever was doing it.

"It was just background noise," the boy protested as Zac collapsed onto his couch and changed the channel. He wasn't even sure what it was; probably whatever Scarlett had been watching earlier. And needless to say, Zac's chioce wasn't any better. Jersey Shore... ugh. "And no, we're not making omelettes," he said with a roll of his eyes. "We're making chicken parmesan with spaghetti. So for whatever weird reason you've decided you want to learn how to cook, you're gonna be a pro at this when I'm through with you." He said this with a grin; it was strange how good Zac was at making Tanner feel more outgoing; he suppose that was just the other boy's natural talent. "Now get your sweet ass over here and help me clean this chicken."

Hey, Tanner was shy most of the time, but that didn't mean he was shy all of the time.

[Zachary LaRousse]

While Tanner’s theory wasn’t too far from the truth (right at the ball actually, if you ask me), heaven knows it’d take the biggest miracle the deity up above can muster to get the pompous teen to admit such a fact. Because really, despite the boy’s never-ending claims that everyone around him are just pawns to be used, abused and disposed, he does keep quite a number at a higher regard than most, sometimes even higher than himself. Something his ego just won’t permit. Not at this moment, it won’t.

“Save your gay excuses for someone who cares,” said Zac simply as he gave the blonde a rather greasy wink. He rolled around aimlessly, making all those supposedly funny faces impatient five year-olds do while waiting outside the dentist’s office. He did perk up when Tanner told him what they’ll be making. “Have you been stalking me?” asked the boy as he rolled on his belly, face as curious as ever with a pout rivalling that of a duck’s bill, “Spaghetti with chicken parmesan? Who told you that?” Was Tanner one of Stephen’s prized recruits? The man’s resigned from being a recruiter for a while now, but Stephen’s been known to remain in contact with his ‘kids’ even after they’re out of Hammel. Or was it JD or Robbie? He might’ve let that slip during one of their Thursday night retreats. Then again, he hasn’t seen either of the two interact with the pyrokinetic. Or have they?

Despite being a wee bit leery about the surprising coincidence (he can’t be seen as being sentimental, can he?), he willingly stood up and walked over the kitchen, slapping Tanner’s butt as he sat on the counter and munched on an apple from the fruit bowl. “I asked to be taught how to cook, not how to clean chicken. A chef, not a maid. You do that.” He gave the apple a few more bites before giving it a disgusted face and throwing it to the garbage bin. “So what is up with you lately? Asking anyone to the Valentine’s Day dance? I’ve put in a lot of effort – and money – into it, even if I can’t attend. Stupid admin not letting me go to any other school gathering because of a small prank.” Because being the ‘mastermind’ behind the powerpoint that showed almost everyone in compromising photos during Dr. Neville’s annual sex talk is ‘just a small prank’. “I hear no one has asked Kaitlyn still. Apparently blonde bombshell is waiting for a certain blonde pyrokinetic to ask her out.”

If only he knew.

[Tanner Larson]

For the most part, Tanner simply ignored Zac's strange behavior. He was acting like some little kid - he supposed that wasn't terribly out of the realm of the mimc's normal behavior - and the blonde decided it would be best simply to go about his own business and let the other boy come to his senses. He didn't understand the question, quirking an eyebrow as he got out two places from the cupboard so that they could work together. "What are you talking about?" He asked quizically. "Who told me what?" Chicken parm was just... good. Did he need a reason to suggest it? Honestly, Zac was so weird sometimes.

Upon hearing the boy whine about having to clean chicken, Tanner smirked: ah, yes, this was the Zac he was used to, the Zac who would sit there complaining while he and Lindsey cooked, the Zac who then proceeded to eat everything in sight once it was all ifnished, having done virtually nothing to help them beforehand. the Zac that was somehow charming despite how incurably obnoxious he was at the same time. "What exactly do you want to learn to cook for, anyway?" He answered with a question. "Trying to impress someone? They won't enjoy eating dirty chicken with all the fat still on it, so get to work." This was how he dealt with Zac's... difficult moments. He took one of the chicken breasts, slapping it down gracelessly onto the plate in front of the other boy. "See those white streaks? That's the fat; it doesn't cook well and tastes weird, so cut out those parts," he instructed as he began to do so himself.

'So what is up with you lately?' Perhaps Tanner misunderstood the question, but had Zac sensed that he wasn't quite feeling himself these days? He had stopped by the LGBT center just a few days before, which had been a, erm... interesting experience, but it hadn't particularly helped, at least not immediately. "What do you mean?" He asked nervously. He didn't want Zac knowing he was feeling a bit blue, and the boy's mention of the Valentine's Day dance didn't do anything to quell his nerves. "Uh... I wasn't planning on going," he admitted, cheeks turning a bright shade of pink as Zac mentioned someone named Kaitlyn. He vaguely recognized her name and attributes, but was sure they'd never met.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Despite looking genuinely at a loss at Zac’s hasty accusations, the mimic still wasn’t convinced that Tanner knew nothing about the significance of the food in his (emotional) life. Tanner was, after all, among those that he kept rather close, and while he has nothing against him knowing about his weakness for the dish, he just wants to know what Tanner knows about him. (If that even makes sense). Keeping an ‘inventory’, he says. “Oh come on. Your cute blonde face might’ve worked on me before, but ever since the summer of ’09, I’ve trained myself to be immune to it,” replied Zac, playfully leaning forward and scowling at Tanner, almost rubbing their noses together, “So now spill it. Who told you that only chicken parm can get me out of my misery after a break-up? Was it JD? Robbie? Ann? Stephen? Or that nasty telepath Maria? If it was Maria, let me tell you, she says a lot of weird things while in bed so you shouldn’t believe her. Ever.” He could still remember the time when she told him, in full detail, that his growls remind her of the family of bears she and her grandfather hunted and skinned when she was younger. Needless to say Zac couldn’t get it up for the next few days or so.

But it seems like Tanner wasn’t budging one bit about making him clean the chicken, so Zac promptly jumped down from the counter, gave the blonde one last glare and begun working on the said piece of meat. “If I tell you I’d have to kill you,” he said simply, making another childish ‘phhhbt’ sound with his tongue, “You’re not going to make me clean all of these, are you?”

“What do I mean? Well I’m asking you how’s life been, do I really need to go into specifics?” asked Zac. Apparently now was his turn to be confused at the other boy’s inquiries. “Is it wrong for a friend of ask you how you’ve been now? Let me guess, PMS coming early for you? I hear a bucket of ice cream and a couple of chick flicks help. I have a few in my room, want to borrow it?” His face dropped when Tanner told him he wasn’t planning on going. “Wait why? Don’t tell me you couldn’t score a date because dude, you have a line-up of girls just waiting for you to ask them out. Not as long as mine, but still long enough.”

[Tanner Larson]

Tanner remained completely stone-faced as Zac leaned way in, their faces practically meeting, as he interrogated him as to why he had chosen chicken parmesan as the dish he would teach Zac how to make. "Thank you," he said, still completely serious, in response to the remark about his "cute" face, "but I still have no idea what you're talking about." With that, he closed the space between them, allowing his forehead to ram gently into Zac's - a gesture that was probably more painful for him than for Zac, but the intent was there.

The headbutt having been completed, he went to his cleaning, running his scissors around the gross, stretchy white parts, in order to cut the fat out. "You're not doing all of it, just that piece," he said, referring to the piece he had plopped down onto a plate in front of the mimic. "And I'm doing this piece. And that's all there is. And then we'll cover it in breadcrumbs, fry it, cover it in sauce and cheese, and throw it in the oven. See? It's easy." He smiled triumphantly; yes, he would teach Zac how to cook. Not as well as he could, but well, who could? "So why exactly is chicken parmesan significant to you?" He asked, unaware of whether this was a touchy subject. With regards to why he wanted to learn how to cook: well, he was fairly confident that, knowing Zac, the truth would be revealed soon enough. He wasn't exactly a great secret keeper, anyway.

And then there was the subject of how Tanner was doing. This was a subject Tanner would have preferred for them not to have broached, but there was no avoiding it, especially with Zac, so he forged ahead. "I'm fine, geez," he said, eyebrows furrowing a bit in response to Zac's over-the-top reaction to his question. This was a lie, though, and he immediately felt bad about it - he just wasn't the type to normally do that - but he just wasn't sure he felt comfortable telling the mimic the truth, which made him feel even worse. And it didn't help that Zac was now telling him about all the girls who would want to go with him to the dance. He knew he never told him he was gay, but was Zac that much of an oblivious dolt? "I'm not interested," he said simply, putting the matter to rest - he was done with that conversation now regardless of what Zac said at this point - and cracking a few eggs into a shallow bowl now that he was done cleaning his chicken.

He sighed, gazing down into the bowl which now had three cracked eggs in it, three golden eyes looking back up at him, piercing his soul as though commanding him to tell reveal himself. "Uh, the truth is I'm not doing so well," he said with a frown. He felt weird saying it just like that, just putting that on the table for Zac to do with it what he would. But he just didn't have the willingness to elaborate any further, so instead he took a silver fork and whisked those golden eyes into oblivion.

[Zachary LaRousse]

“And is that supposed to be a head-butt huh? I am not impressed,” Zac huffed as Tanner moved away, crossing his arms while his eyes are still locked into that disbelieving and unimpressed stare he’s been giving the blonde for a good five or so minutes now. He gave the boy a few more minutes to react to his supposedly menacing glare, but after realizing that Tanner won’t be responding anytime soon (the blonde seemed so focused on getting him to make that chicken parm), the mimic finally gave up, jumping down from the counter and washing his hands to begin working on the chicken. “You’re never going to fend anyone off with such a pussy move you know that. Maybe you should come to town with me sometime. I hear there’s a gym that teaches self-defence or something.” Not that Zac had personally tried to have basic self-defence training. He says his powers give him enough to work with already.

Zac merely smirked when Tanner detailed how they’re going to prepare the chicken; it sounded easy, so easy, that the mimic felt a little bit more intimidated and nervous than he should’ve. The kitchen was the one place he knew Tanner held the upperhand, and that things that come easy for the blonde usually don’t come as well for the Asian. And with Valentine’s Day coming up, well, he wants to be able to make the dish as perfect as he can. “It’s my comfort food you see,” Zac answered as he begun taking the fat off the chicken, “Was the food my ward’s boyfriend served to me when that bitch Julia broke my heart when I was twelve.” No need to hide the fact that he’s been dumped too rom Tanner. Not like the boy’d spread trash about him right? “He made the same thing for me four breakups after. So it became some sort of a tradition for me, if that even makes sense.” Because despite the huge ego, Zac is a huge softie. Just look under his bed and you’d see the four/five stuffed animals he has. “Cedric told me afterwards that it was the only thing Stephen knew how to make. That bastard.”

He’d tasted a number of chicken parms in his life, but so far none has measured up to Stephen’s recipe. Seems the man’s really perfected it with all those times Zac’s demanded it from him.

It goes without saying that Tanner’s got the boy completely confused. He knew Tanner was lying with his ‘I’m fine’ response, but when he said that he’s not interested, well, it got Zac thinking. What could he possibly have meant by that? “Not interested? Who are you kidding? You’re a teenage boy! Hormones run our system until we’re in our late thirties and then we’ll realize how we’ve been wasting our lives getting drunk in one-night stands!” That was a fact of life and Zac refuses to believe that anyone’s an exception to that rule. Not even Eli the so-called ‘asexual’ librarian.

And then the confession came. Zac casually slung an arm over Tanner’s shoulder, holding the boy close. “See. That’s what I’m talking about,” he said with a grin, “I mean, I get you. I haven’t been laid since…December. Or was it November? I don’t remember. Only thing I know for sure is that it’s been too long.” He gave Tanner a haughty wink before grabbing his phone from his pocket, right hand quickly typing up a message to heaven knows who. “Lucky for you, I have a few numbers stored in my phone just for times like these. You’ll love Kyla. She has this little trick she does that, oh what am I saying, I’ll let you just experience it for yourself.”

And with that, Zac says he just proved to everyone that he’s the best friend a guy could ever have.

[/justify][/font]

[Tanner Larson]

Suffice it to say, that little move had left a lot to be desired. Tanner lifted up a hand and rubbed it against his forehead, wondering if it was going to bruise. He did bruise easily. Hell, he was a wimp sometimes. But he'd never had those toughening experiences most guys went through during their formative years, since he'd always been pretty sheltered, a problem that was mostly self-inflicted. Needless to say, he was a bit of a weakling, even though his body was certainly trim (high metabolism, he supposed), so the headbutt was nothing to be intimidated by. "Self-defense classes?" He asked skeptically, looking up at Zac and ignoring the strange look he was getting. "I don't know..." Actually, it wasn't a terrible idea, and the rational, logical part of Tanner was trying to tell the rest of him that it would be good to know how to react to some of those more intense situations. After all, he would soon be living out on his own, and even in a place like Pilot Ridge there were... undesirables. Still, he just couldn't see himself in a place like that. Learning how to kick muggers in the crotch while screaming "I DON'T KNOW YOU," and all that.

Tanner listened intently, sympathetically, as Zac told him about how he used to have chicken parmesan as some sort of post-relationship food therapy. That was interesting, although it would be just too unlike Tanner to let it go without an awkward refrain. "A tradition of being dumped?" He asked innocently, and the question (of course) came out sounding a lot more obnoxious than he had intended. "I mean... ya know..." That wasn't entirely helpful. The blonde shrugged his shoulders. "That's nice, though... of him to make you that." Awkwardness, thy name is Tanner Larson. He didn't try to be, though: he was just socially awkward by nature. But Zac was his friend, and he did care about him. "Well if you learn how to make it, then you can cheer yourself up," he finished with a smile, before getting back to work.

And then Zac was going off about hormones. Honestly, this was one of those times when he wondered how they were possibly friends: they just had so little in common. At any rate, the idea of a one night stand repulsed the pyro. Did he really need to hit it and quit it - or, rather, be hit and quit? (He wasn't totally... sure what he was, having never had those experiences before.) He liked to think it didn't make him a totally hopeless romantic to think it nice to get to know someone before doing that with them. A real emotional connection - now that was sexy. If only he had the capability of formulating that with someone...

The arm around his shoulders was somewhat comforting - somewhat - but the words that then spewed out of the mimic's mouth derailed any of that. He really thought this was about sex? Was he that oblivious, or was Tanner just that enigmatic? Either way, he had clearly been misunderstood. But how could he tell the other boy that wasn't what he meant without accidentally spilling out the fact that he wasn't even remotely interested in girls? He knew Zac wasn't anti-gay or anything (despite all the slurs he used, though in a playful manner), he just... wasn't so comfortable saying it out loud to anyone. Or out loud to himself, for that matter. It wasn't until the boy was reaching for his phone that the blonde realized this wasn't going to good places. "No, that's not what I meant," he said quickly, desperately. "Please don't..." How could he stop Zac from texting every god-forsaken girl on this campus to see who wanted to fuck him? Now he was panicking, as he was apt to do in high-pressure situations. This wouldn't end well, it just wouldn't. He'd be in some bedroom explaining through tears to some random chick that he was gay and didn't know what to do about it. That was just an awful prospect, and one that Tanner would do literally anything to avoid. Zac was already typing, and Tanner was breathing quickly and heavily, and before he knew what he was doing, the blonde was slapping his hand down on the other boy's phone. "PLEASE, I don't want... a girl." Oops. He'd meant to say he didn't want Kyla, but he hadn't really been able to control what came out of his mouth due to his nerves. Well, now it was out there, and he took a step away from Zac feeling like a horrible fool, eyes drifting down to the ground as his cheeks turned a bright shade of red. This was... almost as horrible as that other option.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Tanner’s skepticism was promptly ignored by the pompous teen. If anything, Zac happily took it as a go-signal for his just slightly crazy plan. (Because learning how to defend yourself does have its perks). “It’s settled then,” said Zac with a smirk, “We’re going to look for that gym and sign up for classes. JD says he works there part time so it shouldn’t be too hard to find, I think.” Not really sure if his best friend still works there though (since he’s been slightly shut off the speedster’s life ever since that blonde canary came into play), but it’s still worth a shot. “Don’t worry about paying for it, I got it covered.” One of the little perks that come with being close buddies with the brat. Don’t mistake his supposed generosity as a sign that he really has a heart though; heaven knows it’s just his excuse to show off some more. Why else would he attend those boring charity functions if not for the assurance that he’d have his face plastered in some newspaper or magazine as one of the richest and most charitable young man on the planet?

“Are you implying what I think you’re implying?” asked Zac with a mischievous smirk on his face. “They were fools to have turned me down. And besides, I’ve learned a lot since then.” A whole lot. He’s managed to channel his brattiness into boundless confidence, and while it didn’t win him too many friends – a lot of people got annoyed with him early on – it did help him score more. So really, he has no regrets. Childish as ever, he promptly threw the chicken fat he just removed towards Tanner and shouted, “Tell that to anyone and I swear I’ll destroy you.” The laughter that followed should tell the blonde that ‘destroy’ in this case is just as simple as embarrass you to death. And in Zac’s case, that’s more of making a fool out of himself than making a fool out of Tanner, so he’s safe from all harm basically.

Heaven knows when it comes to his friends, all of Zac’s threats are empty threats. He can’t say the same for those he finds repulsive though.

The pompous teen simply chuckled at the thought of him making his own chicken parm. “That’s crazy. Utterly ridiculous,” said the boy as he waved the idea off, “It just wouldn’t be the same you know. I’m sad and I’m the one making my own food? What a terrible friend you are Tanner, terrible terrible friend. Go die in a ditch or something.” Thinking that he’s done with the chicken, he promptly put it in front of the pyrokinetic and went on to sitting on the counter again, after washing his hands of course. “Maybe you should be the one making me some if ever that happens eh? Stephen’s suddenly busy with all his recruiting cases lately, Robbie could barely cook rice and JD’s such a grouch when I ask him to make me stuff.” Just another reason for Zac to stick near Tanner almost all the time. Sorry Tanner.

Zac was so focused on texting Kyla (who, he clarifies, isn’t a Hammel student but a college sophomore he met three weeks ago; yes, meeting her would involve sneaking out with Tanner apparently) that he didn’t notice the blonde’s discomfort until his phone was rudely slapped from his hand and fell on the floor.

He doesn’t know what he should be shocked about more though, the fact that this was probably the first time he saw Tanner so driven that he actually seemed like he’d be able to kill him, or that Tanner was gay. Then he remembered how the boy’s always been and, well, felt stupid that he didn’t realize the second fact by himself.

“I’d love to say that I’ve always known dude, but really, I didn’t,” shrugged Zac as he bent down and grabbed his phone. After making sure his phone’s still good and erasing what would’ve been a disastrous text message, he went back to Tanner, slinging an arm around his shoulders with a sly smirk on his face. “So, was I right that you’ve had hots for me ever since we met then?” he teased, giving Tanner’s butt a playful slap, “Don’t feel bad. Everyone does. And if you’re wondering, I’ve got guy contacts too. I tell you, Kyla’s tongue is nothing compared to Brett’s.”

Acting like nothing really drastic ever happened. One of Zac’s lovely specialties.

[Tanner Larson]

Tanner supposed it was his fault for leaving any wiggle room: really, he had no interest in going to a self-defense class, even if he could see the value. He should have been more precise, because he should have known by then that Zac would always find a way to make something happen if there was even a slight possibility. But while he definitely didn't want to go to this, he also knew by now that, sometimes, there was just no saying "no" to Zac. And so with a sigh that was perhaps a bit melodramatic, he relented. "Fine," he said simply. He had no idea who JD was. "Jesus, do you know everyone in this state?" He asked with a bit of a laugh. Really, it sometimes seemed like Zac was the most popular, well-known kid at Hammel (even if that meant making a few enemies along the way) - just another reason why it was so strange that they had become friends.

Regarding Zac's past relationships - which he really knew very little about - Tanner's lips were definitely sealed. He knew the mimic was joking when he said he would "destroy" him, but he certainly wouldn't put it past him to try something - like to destroy his reputation or something. But unfortunately for the Asian, when it came to Tanner's reputation, there was simply nothing to destroy. "Me, making your post-breakup dinners? You're dreaming," he said with a laugh as he tossed the cleaned chicken into the egg mixture, using one hand to make sure the chicken was fully covered while keeping his other hand clean (the hand he would later use to swipe Zac's phone away in a moment of very passionate discomfort). "Trust me, once you learn to cook for yourself, you're gonna be wondering how you ever managed without. And this is super easy, so pay attention.." Actually, he kind of liked the idea of him teaching Zac how to cook, now that he thought about it. It was for the same reason he liked tutoring Robbie (well, there were other reasons for that, but he didn't need to think about those things right now); he liked knowing that he was the smart one and demonstrating that to others. That wasn't sociopathic, right?

((Cue sudden emotional change that comes with having three conversations at once XD))

For a moment, Tanner had absolutely no idea where this was going to go. Was Zac going to brush it off with a gay joke and move on? Was he going to flip out about it (not that Zac ever seemed to have a problem with gay people, but the blonde was just paranoid like that)? Was he going to be angry that he'd been lying to him (by omission) all this time? This could have gone in so many different directions, but as it would turn out, Zac was pretty disinterested. Tanner wasn't sure if he should feel relieved or foolish for assuming it was a big deal. But to someone who had never really come out to anyone before, it really was. The arm around his shoulders... well, it meant more than he would admit. Zac was a good friend, really, even if neither of them would ever say so out loud. If he was a different type of person, he would be shedding tears of joy now, but that just wasn't his style. The spank sent him rigid, eyes widening abruptly; well, he supposed there was a first time for everything. "Me, having the hots for you?" He asked, unable to resist the urge to laugh. "Now I know you're dreaming. But now I know how you feel about me, and I have to say, I'm flattered." Yes, this was the outgoing side of Tanner that usually only came out after spending enough time with Zac or one of his other more rambunctious friends. It had taken a long, long time for this part of him to develop, too.

The blonde rolled his eyes as Zac mentioned his "guy contacts." "I don't want Kyla, I don't want Brett, I don't want any of your little sex minions," he said as he placed the pieces of chicken into a plate of breadcrumbs and tossed them around. "My God, how do you even know all of these people? You're such a little nymph."

[Zachary LaRousse]

Zac gave the blonde a smug grin when he finally agreed. Guess Tanner’s learned by now that the mimic always gets his way. It’s just a simple fact of life, adds the pompous teen. “Do you have some workout gear hidden in your closet then? ‘Cause if you need some I can lend you.” They’re roughly the same size, weren’t they? “Or we can go out during the weekend and find some for you. My wardrobe’s due for an update anyway.” Never mind that a new shipment of some clothes fresh from the runway just arrived in his caretaker’s house just last night. “Maybe we can even stop by the underwear shop that opened last December. You know, get your game up and all that. Because heaven knows you’re picking no one up with those hideous boxers you like wearing.” Without so much as batting an eyelash, Zac promptly grabbed Tanner’s waistband and pulled it slightly, before releasing it and letting it lash at the poor blonde’s waist. “See? Boring,” he said with a wink and a loud chuckle.

“Oh darling, you hurt me,” replied Zac at the mention of knowing most anyone in the state, “I don’t know everyone in the state. Everyone in the world however, knows me.” Zac would like to think of himself as some kind of a celebrity. After all, he is among the so-called richest teens in the world (at least according to some business magazine). Aside from some high profile parties he attends annually, he also did some endorsements over the past few years, his face appearing on a few magazine covers and spreads. It’s nothing much, but it was enough to catapult the boy’s already humongous ego into blasphemous proportions (if the use of that adjective even makes sense).

The boy became silent for a bit and tried to imagine making a meal for himself. For some reason, it just doesn’t fit. It’s just odd and completely unnatural. “Nope. No wondering for me. I’m rather satisfied being served you know,” said the boy with a smug grin, shrugging his shoulders and leaning down on the counter. He did not forget the reason why he bugged Tanner in the first place though, as his eyes continually looked down and observed what the blond was doing to the chicken. Hopefully tapping onto an elephant’s memory on the night would allow him to remember the steps the blonde took into making his comfort food.

-becausehavingthreedifferentconversationsallatonceisfun!-

“Oh puh-lease. You just wish you can get some of these,” snorted Zac, his arms going up from his chest down to his legs, shaking his hips as he laughed, “But unfortunately, you can’t. Not everyone can take me, if you know what I mean.” Another haughty wink as the boy copied the blond and threw his cleaned chicken breast to the egg mixture, making quite the splash as he might’ve thrown it a little too strongly. “You’re going to need lots and lots of practice, trust me.”

He did give Tanner his disbelieving glare when the boy told him that he doesn’t want Brett too. “What is wrong with you dude? I told you, until you get enough experience, I’m off limits!” Not that he knows if the boy’s been getting around or not. It’s just that he has that vibe that screams inexperience around him. Then again, Tanner’s always been like that, hasn’t he? “How come you don’t know anyone? Come on dude, you’re eighteen. Unless of course…” His smile turned into a smirk as he methodically turned from his phone to the blonde, his eyes just screaming of mischief.

“…Please don’t tell me you’re a virgin. Because while I suggest more experience, I do make exceptions for desperate first timers,” laughed Zac as his hands playfully snaked around Tanner’s waist. All jokes are half-meant, aren’t they?

[Tanner Larson]

Tanner scoffed as Zac launched into a tirade of self-promotion. Tanner just wasn't attracted to Zac, so his hip shaking and whatnot had absolutely no effect on him whatsoever. "Yeah, you can be hard to take..." he agreed facetiously with a roll of his eyes. He ignored the other boy's suggestion that he would need practice: after all, Mason had told him exactly the opposite, and he cared a lot more about what he had to say than the mimic. And with their date only a few days away, he was starting to get antsy and excited. But the Asian didn't need to know that; he would just tease him, or something. He wasn't sure how he was going to ask to borrow his cologne and help him spruce up without divulging the reason he needed the help, though. Ah, well: he would simply cross that bridge when he came to it and hope to benefit of looking great for Mason outweighed the humiliation that came with Zac knowing anything personal about him.

Tanner tried his best to hide the blush that developed rather quickly on his face as Zac raised the possibility that he was a virgin. He was, and he tried not to be ashamed of it, but it was moments like these that gave the blonde such low self-esteem that he had to go running to the LGBT Center in the first place. Moments like this made it hard to be friends with the other boy: he knew he meant it only in jest, but it was still obnoxious and it stil hurt a little. And so he busied himself with the chicken until feeling the other male's arms wrap loosely around his waist, which caused him to stop what he was doing. "I'll have you know I'm not desperate," he said, squirming out of the other's grasp. "I just happen to have a date on Friday." That was a statement he regretted immediately. Why did he always feel pressured to impress Zac? Why couldn't he just let well enough alone and let Zac brag about being more sexual than him without a word? In short, why he was he such an idiot sometimes? But he couldn't take the words back now that they'd been spoken, so he just went back to his chicken. "Now, once you dip the chicken in the egg mixture, you put it in the breadcrumbs - I put extra grated cheese in mine - and make sure it's fully covered, and then shake off the excess. The breading makes it crispy on the outside." Was it obvious that he was trying to change the subject as quickly as possible. "Now we're gonna fry the chicken. Wanna see something cool?" He lifted a finger and suddenly one of the oven hobs lit on fire. "Pretty cool, huh? Zac?"

This was just humiliating.

[Zachary LaRousse]

Zac was all set to rub it into Tanner’s face that he’s got all the game in the world and the pyrokinetic would gain a thing or two asking him for advice on how to get laid when the blonde suddenly dropped the bomb. It totally threw the mimic off the trail, making it one of the few moments that the pompous teen was rendered speechless. His grip on the other boy’s waist loosened and he unconsciously took a step back, eyes wide and blinking slowly while his face was held in what seems like a permanent-O expression. It never crossed the boy’s mind to doubt the authenticity of Tanner’s claims; for one, given their exchange earlier, he’s fairly sure the blonde wasn’t one to joke about these things. And besides, he’s convinced that the boy’s a very bad liar, and a lie this big would be pretty hard to maintain.

Plus, there’s this sudden detour back to their chicken that, well, told Zac that it was all true and Tanner would rather not talk about it again. Heaven knows it only made the Asian teen prod some more.

“Nice try buddy, but nope. I’m not letting you off the hook just yet.” Impressive as Tanner may think his little trick was, Zac’s seen a number of pyrokinetics light up more than a stove in his years in Hammel. (His old roommate Justin once set his clothes on fun. Thank god he had the insight to tap into a rhino – limited invulnerability – then quickly jumped into a tub). He did however, follow what Tanner did with his chicken and threw it to the pan soon after to be fried before jumping on the couch once again and giving Tanner an impish grin. “Is it someone from school? Someone I know? Jacob? Taylor?” said Zac, not hiding the excitement from his voice, “You do have some lube and condoms right? If you need it, I think I still have a few stashed in my room.”

“So are you going to spill or would I need to force you? I’m pretty sure it won’t take much for me to get the information out of you.”