Fifth Floor Common Room - Monday Evening

[boywonder03]

Tim had blown up a papaya, defended the cafeteria from redecorating Vikings and had generally had a pretty interesting day, not even considering who his P.E. teacher was. He just wanted to relax for a bit without worrying about the space-time continuum, so he microwaved a meal he'd found in the freezer and turned the TV on to a NASA special on

Comments

[wantstocheer]

Claire was actually looking for Tim when she headed up to the fifth floor so she was happy to see him in the common room.

"So, you haven't been scared off yet," she joked as she came in the room and headed to the fridge for a soda. "That's a good sign."

[boywonder03]

"I don't scare easily," Tim said. He poked at his TV dinner. "Are these things supposed to taste like soggy plastic?"

[wantstocheer]

"Um. I'm not sure," Claire said. "I don't usually eat them."

She walked over and peered down at the meal. "What's it supposed to be?"

[boywonder03]

"Turkey and green beans," Tim said. "What do you usually eat around here?"

[wantstocheer]

"... that doesn't look like turkey and green beans," Claire said. "I usually just cook something or grab takeout. Do you want me to make you real food?"

[boywonder03]

"You don't have to go out of your way or anything," Tim said, giving her hopeful eyes. In other words, yes, please, but I don't want to be all rude about it.

[wantstocheer]

Claire recognized that look and chuckled. "What kind of big sister would I be if I didn't make sure you were properly fed?"

She wandered over to the fridge and cabinets to see what options she had.

"Hmm, how do you feel about spaghetti?"

[boywonder03]

"I'm very pro-spaghetti," Tim said. "Do you want me to help?"

[wantstocheer]

"You don't have to," she said, taking a drink of her soda and putting it down so she could grab a large pot. "But if you want to watch, it's super easy to make."

[boywonder03]

"Sure," Tim said. "I don't really know how to cook much. At all."

[wantstocheer]

"My mom's been teaching me since I was young," Claire said. "Who does the cooking for you at home?"

She filled the big pot with water and grabbed the salt shaker, adding a dash to the water before setting it on the stove to boil.

[boywonder03]

"Mostly the housekeeper, Mrs. Mac," Tim said. He followed her into the kitchen to watch. "My dad's girlfriend, Dana, cooks for us sometimes."

[wantstocheer]

Claire nodded. "So it's just you and your dad?"

She didn't want to ask outright where his mom was in case it was a touchy subject.

[boywonder03]

"Yeah," Tim said. "My mom died a couple of years ago. Why do you add the salt?"

[wantstocheer]

"Oh, I'm sorry," Claire said. She knew what it felt like to lose a parent. Multiple times over in fact.

"I... am not really sure," she admitted. "But my mom always does."

[boywonder03]

"Sounds like a good reason," Tim said.