Private Sweeet, A New Friend

"Alright," the teacher called from the front of the room. Set up so half the room was kitchen, it was a funny little room. "This lab, you will focus on the aspects of a good plate on the fly. Because we're doing our dessert unit, today's task is to create a sweet treat for me. Extra kudos go to the team that incorporates unusual ingredients well. Surprise me, and remember it's formative, so get creative and have fun!"

Things like this were exactly what Nix loved about the course - freedom to try and experiment with food. It wasn't without its dull moments, sure, but stuff like this excited him. The class began to disperse toward the kitchens, grouping up, and Nix claimed the one near the end.

Hmm, what to make...? He couldn't always go for cookies. He'd have to get creative. Maybe...?

He grabbed the flour and began to measure it out.

@AppleSpice

Obviously he couldn't do cookies. They were way too normal for this lab, and plus there were only a few that he'd tried and liked the proportions of. Mom used to make 'em way better - better quality mix-ins, probably, and a recipe all her own - but he ran a close second. And his favourites, the peanut-salt studded ones, were banned because of nuts. Bullshit.

On the flipside, there was one recipe from home he was dying to try. Mom always used to make this banana-bread that was just like, packed with coffee and sweet flavours. It tasted amazing... and it reminded him of home. It'd be a challenge to plate and everything, but....

He grinned as he spooned the flour out. After this, two bananas -

"What'cha makin'?"

He turned round and nearly clocked her with the measuring cup. Flour spilled from it onto the counter, though he was pretty sure none fell on them, thankfully. His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he let out a yelp. "Ah, sorry!"

She was tall, man - taller than him. Only by about an inch, but still! She'd been peering over his shoulder. Suddenly awkward, he scratched the back of his head. "Ahaha, sorry. Kinda surprised me there. Uh, is there anything you want?"

Okay, so she might've startled him, but man, her teeth...! Kinda looked like a Cheshire Cat, actually. The rest of her looked kind of catty, too, if you looked at it in that way. Probably. Honestly, he'd seen weirder. He smiled and stepped aside. "Hell yeah. You can definitely join me - I could use some extra hands. Come lean on the counter here. I've got something for the competition."
His weight shifted to allow her to lean up against the counter and read the little paper of notes he'd been taking. Measurements, proportions... plating. He was still stuck on that one.
"It's a banana bread my mom used to make back at the cafe. Caramel macchiato banana bread. It was the best, man. Mom makes it better, though. Only thing I haven't figured out is how to plate it so it looks good." As he spoke, he got quieter and quieter. This was not, in fact, because he didn't want the competition to hear, but rather, he was going to go get the bananas needed.

"Okay, bananas..." He walked over to the shelf and took a look at the bananas. Good news? Bananas. There were a bunch (haha) just sitting there, untouched. Bad news? They were green. Hard to the touch. Well, there went their chances of making good banana bread. Okay, he thought to himself, new plan. Banana bread is boring anyway... crap.

He ran back over to where the girl was excitedly jabbering on. Reminded him of...himself, somehow.

"Ooh, or powdered sugar! We could make cool designs with powdered sugar?"

"Hey, um - " It hit him that he didn't actually know her name yet. "So, uh, about the bananas for banana bread... i miiiight have forgotten to check if they were ripe. They're uh, green. Like, candle-wax green." Nervous laugh.

"Well, I - pff - I knew that," he sputtered, "I just didn't think. We can totally make cookies out of this!"

By the grin on her face, he knew she'd have something wacky in store. Cookies were also a little on the plain side, though - maybe do something cool with the presentation? Or maybe they could go the simple route. Simple and clean and -

Before he went too far down Worrywart Lane, the girl - who he still didn't have a name for - suggested paprika. In cookies. It was weird. So weird it just might work. Paprika and cinnamon did go together, anyway. His own grin returned and he gave her a mock-salute. "Aye aye, cap'n." Brown sugar... cinnamon... paprika.

"By the by, didn't get your name. I'm Nix."