Kalee's POV

I really did not want to do this, but I knew I had to. Everett had asked me on a date, well, a 'fake date' to appease the media. The Elite were only a few more eliminations away, and if Everett and I didn't go on a date, they would start to wonder why I was still around.

I knew why I wanted to be here, and I suspected Everett does too, but he's been generous enough to keep me around this long, despite a blooming romance clearly not in our future.

Everett had told me to wear somewhat casual clothes, so I had decided on black dress pants, and the least fancy dress shirt in my closet. I tied my hair up into a ponytail, and didn't bother with excessive makeup- only a little blush- before heading downstairs to where Everett said to meet.

I finally found the spot and waited about five minutes before Everett rounded a corner, spotting me. He was wearing a dress shirt, which the top two buttons were not fastened, and casual khaki pants. I guess they wouldn't let him wear completely casual either.

"Hello Lady Kalee," Everett greeted, "I hope your day is going well?"

"It is, thank you." I replied.

Everett pushed open a door next to us, and leaned down next to me to whisper, "Just pretend like you're having a good time, and we can both be on our way."

I nodded, and entered the room before us. The kitchen. I looked around and realized there were camera-men waiting to take pictures of our date. I threw on a fake smile, and let Everett lead me over to a counter, where there were supplies laid out.

"I've never cooked before," I told Everett under my breath.

"It's okay, just go with it until the camera-men leave." He replied, opening one of the cook books. Well, baking recipes book.

Not long into the 'date' the camera crew left, and we were alone. Everett and I loosed a breath of relief at the same time.

"Okay, neither of us want to be here, so let's just bake the damned cookies and go," Everett said, looking at a sugar cookie recipe.

"Why are you so rude?" I asked sharply, then realized maybe I shouldn't talk to the only person keeping me here like that.

Everett looked at me, as though in shock I had noticed his rude behavior. "I was under the impression you didn't like me, so I was just trying to relieve you of my presence."

"Did it ever occur to you it's because you act so mean that I don't like you?" I asked rhetorically, "Yeah, didn't think so."

Everett was silent for a moment, "I don't know, I guess it's just easier than letting people know how I really feel?"

I nodded slowly, "I understand that, when I was younger, I used to hide my emotions too. But it kind of backfired on me, so, now I tell the people I trust the most."

The two of us stood in silence for a moment, before Everett cleared his throat, smirking, "Now, are we going to make some damn cookies or what?"

Everett was betting the cookies would be horrible, I was betting they'd be good, but neither of us could know until they came out of the oven. Everett had just told a joke, and it was actually pretty funny.

"Okay Kalee, I'm going to consider this our introduction interview, since our initial interview wasn't very eventful." Everett said. I chuckled, and nodded. "Why do you like reading so much?"

I sat, contemplating how I wanted to explain it. "I guess, I just find books to be a safe place. You know, they never judge you, they always have a new world to dive into if you need to get away from your own world, and they also provide a great vocabulary."

Everett snorted at the last part, but then he nodded, "I guess I just never understood how people can love reading, I've tried to ask Cal, but I didn't get it then either."

I smirked, "Not everyone does, that's the beauty of finding someone else who loves the same things you do."

Everett looked at me thoughtfully, "You're pretty wise, you know that?"

I shrugged, "I guess my inner 'teacher' is making an appearance."

Everett raised a brow, "That's what you'd want to be? A teacher?"

I nodded, smiling fondly, "Yeah, I'd like to help kids who don't think they'd succeed in school, or who don't like it."

Everett smirked, "Kids like me?"

I snorted, "I'd like to prevent kids from becoming you." I shot.

"Ooh, that's hurtful." Everett said, placing a hand over his heart.

I scoffed, "Yeah, right." Before I could think twice about it I was grabbing a handful of flour, and throwing it at Everett.

Everett's eyes widened, as he looked down at his now flour-covered outfit. I gasped, and laughed at Everett's shocked expression. Everett scowled, then picked up a handful of flour himself, and threw it at me.

Before I could dive off the counter, I was hit by the cloud of flour, and my dress shirt was covered in flour.

"Oh, now look what you've done, you've ruined the only casual-ish shirt I have." I scolded Everett.

He smirked, "You started it."

"I didn't realize what I was doing!" I countered.

"No excuse." Everett said, clicking his tongue.

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever."

The timer for the cookies went off, and Everett took the pan out of the oven. The cookies smelled good, but our bet was resting on the taste, not the smell. After the cookies cooled, we frosted them, heavily. I shuddered just looking at the cookies, there was no way I'd not throw up after eating all of these cookies.

Finally the cookies were ready to be eaten. We both grabbed one, and faced each other, taking the first bite of the cookies.

They. Were. Awful.

Everett and I both spit out the bite of cookie. I gagged at the taste in my mouth. I shook my head, "Everett, did you put salt in instead of sugar?"

Everett shrugged, "They both look the same!"

"You didn't taste both containers before putting them in the mix?" I asked, as though it would have been obvious to him.

"No." Everett said, chuckling. He tossed the cookies in the trash, then looked at me questioningly. "Up for another try?" I smiled in response, already keeping the salt away from his reach.

I carried a platter of cookies with me down the hallway. I found a familiar door, and knocked on it, waiting patiently until it opened. Cal's brows rose as he took in the cookies.

I shrugged, "It turns out your brother isn't so bad at baking when he's not using too much salt. Don't worry, I made sure he didn't poison them or anything."

Cal smiled, and stepped aside, letting me into the room.

Hello everyone! I felt like writing this morning, and I had this little bonding idea between Ev and Kalee. This is kind of how I imagine one of their 'dates' going, since they don't like each other romantically. But this is kind of how I imagine their transition from uneasy tolerance, to kind-of-friendly interactions. Hope you enjoyed it!