She stared at him incredulously, her coffee tinted eyes sizing up her nemesis. Tiana has always been competitive, loving a good challenge when she sees it, but this man wasn't anything that seemed up to any standards. He was tall and awkward limbed. His eyes seemed dazed, fingers fumbling everywhere, and a timid voice. Nothing at all like the famous chef she'd heard about.
Tiana rolled her eyes and shook her head, staring at her own kitchen station. She has prepared for years to perfect her cooking for the Chefs Tournament. It only happened once every year and this time it was taking place in New Orleans. You bet your biscuits that Tiana signed up in a heartbeat. The prize was fifteen thousand dollars. She wanted every bit of it to bring herself even closer to her dream of opening up her own restaurant. She could hear the silverware clinking, guests chatting, jazz music pouring out from every polished window.
She was almost there.
"So I hear he's French." Lottie's southern drawl gushed in Tiana's ear. The girl cringed as her best friend leaned against her station, staring at the man across from her.
"Could you be any more obvious," Tiana sighed, "Lottie,-"
"Oh Tia, aren't you a little curious." Lottie stared her friend down, twirling a sunshine-colored lock around her manicured finger.
"About?"
"Look at him!" Lottie exclaimed, "Goofy face, awkward, and he's muttering to himself. He's supposed to be this grand chef!"
Tiana's shoulders slumped as she turned to rest her back against her station, "Don't remind me…," she whispered, looking back at him, "I thought professionals weren't allowed?"
"They aren't, Tia, that's the thing!"
"Huh?"
"He's a rookie." Lottie hushed. "I looked him up. He's some discovered hotshot."
"But he's Gustav's son."
"Ah ha! Recently discovered son!" Lottie took Tiana's hands in hers, gripping them tightly. "They say that even he didn't know! He started out as a garbage boy!"
Garbage boy, huh? Tiana peeked back at the man named Linguini. He caught her eye and nervously waved. If he's all that and a bag of chips, why is he so-
"Off-putting, isn't he?" Tiana jumped, turning to find herself face to face with a petite woman with a sharp look in her blue eyes.
"I uh-,"
"Colette Taku," the woman introduced herself and leaned to the side to glare at Linguini, "unfortunately I arrived with him."
Tia glanced over at her best friend who shrugged.
"I'm Tiana," the girl muttered cautiously.
"I know. I've researched all of today's competitors," Colette's French accent was heavy and she had this discomforted look on her face. "I'm his trainer."
"If you're his trainer why does it look like this is the last place you want him to be?" Lottie quipped.
"He's different from others and I just want to see how good he really is." Colette explained, "He's never been against other top chefs."
"Should I be worried?" Tiana asked, glancing over at Linguini again. He kept looking over, looking back at the ground, holding his hat and mumbling.
"Don't judge a book by its cover," Colette grumbled. "I did," with that she turned around and walked off, leaving Tiana bewildered.
"Well, that was nice." Lottie huffed, crossing her arms.
"He doesn't seem like a threat," Tiana whispered, turning to her friend. "If anything, she does. Why isn't she in the competition?"
"Maybe she's the professional?"
Tiana jutted out her bottom lip thoughtfully. "That gives him the upper hand if she's his trainer."
Lottie quickly placed herself in front of her, griping Tiana's arms with a force that shouldn't have been so rough. Tiana winced as Lottie shook her violently back and forth, "That doesn't mean anything, Tia! You are the best cook in New Orleans. You are going to kick his French ass to the curb!"
"Lottie… nails!"
"Oh!" Lottie let go and Tiana rubbed her arms.
"Jesus Lottie, you've indented my skin!"
"Sorry!"
Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please get to your stations, the contest is about to begin.
Lottie squealed and gave Tiana a hug, "Good luck, Tia!"
Tiana swallowed her nerves and felt a heat ignite in her core. She was going to win this, even if it was the last thing she was going to do. She felt her hair on end and could hardly hear the whistle. She could do this. She was Tiana. She was going to do this.
Defeated. That's how Tiana felt as she fumbled with her keys on her front porch. It was past midnight and she still felt fuzzy from the drinks she had with Lottie after the contest.
Before she had made it to the final round, her versus Linguini, she couldn't describe the feeling of defeat. Not until she witnessed a man seemingly work clumsier and sloppier than her, and somehow make the best meal she's ever tasted. She started out great, working at a nice steady pace. She had made a simple cake, roast chicken, and even fancy ass scotch eggs. The final challenge was Gumbo. No one could do gumbo better than she, and Tiana was confident that this contest was in the bag. She had everything in the pot, and she had glanced over at linguini for a split second. He was leaning way too forward into his pot, throwing spices over his shoulder and every other second grabbing two spices and putting them at the sides of his head like he was having some sort of break down.
How he won, she had no idea. She got to taste some of his gumbo and her mouth shivered. It was like music. Whatever he was doing, it was fantastic, and, screw her pride, she was rightfully defeated. Yet somehow she still felt cheated.
Tiana threw herself on the bed, not bothering to change her clothes. She was just about to close her eyes when a loud knock came at the door.
"TIANA"
The woman groaned and threw her pillow over her head.
"TIAAANA"
Lottie's little fist began pounding at the door and Tiana scowled.
"Lottie, please!" She threw her legs out of bed and dragged her body from her blissful mattress. "Can't a girl mourn in peace!?"
She swung her door open, hitting her friend off her porch and into the bushes, hearing the strangest scream to ever come out of that girl's mouth. Only, it wasn't Lottie. Lottie was standing to the side, wide-eyed and red in the face.
"Oh my god Tia-"
"It's okay!" Lottie number two spoke from the ground. He yelped as he tried to pull himself out from the bushes.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Tiana offered a hand and yanked him back up. Linguine was way too tall and way too awkward, fumbling as he tried to regain his balance.
"No no its okay" he stuttered, "I- you, I'm pretty fine. I had uh, more painful things happen." He stood, rubbing his arms and shaking the thorns from his culinary uniform. He smelled of spices and sweat, something sweet and salty that Tiana could appreciate but still hate at the same time. How did he win?! How could she lose? Where did he practice to be able to create such a wonderful, spicy gumbo?
"He caught me on my way home, Tia. Said he really wanted to talk to you." Lottie explained as Linguini was still rambling away.
The man brushed himself off and stepped back. Tiana and Lottie watched as he got himself together, clearing his throat. Tiana didn't know why, but something that's been bothering her also popped up in her head. And since she was never going to see this man again, she thought why not.
"You don't have a French accent." She stated, crossing her arms.
"What? Oh the accent, well I mean I'm French… ish I guess. I wasn't raised there I lived in the states before I moved to um, ya know France."
"I see."
"Ya, no, it's really nice there." Linguini smiled then as if he forgot something, he began rummaging through his pockets. "Oh um, well, you were such a great uh person and I tasted your gumbo. I loved it. So did my trainer. But the reason I'm here was to give you this." He pulled out an envelope from his pants pocket and handed it to Tiana. "Here, you deserve this more than me."
She looked at Lottie who shrugged. Cautiously taking the envelope in her hand she took a peek inside. It took her a few seconds to comprehend and collect herself before shaking her head.
"No… no, I can't."She tried returning the check but the linguini held up his hands in refusal.
"Look I only signed up for the chance to go against other chefs; I was never in it for the money. I don't need it. You can have it. "
Tiana protested, "I didn't earn this."
"You did in every other way. It was great going up against you. Your gumbo was full of flavors I couldn't dream of recreating."
"You did so well I-"
"Take it. Honest, you deserve every penny."
He stood defiantly sweet. Tiana pursed her lips before lowering her arm and began fiddling with the envelope.
"Thank you." She smiled, a sense of relief washing over her. "Thank you very much."
"No problem. And hey if you're ever in France don't be afraid to drop by my restaurant. I'll cook you up something special."
Tiana bit her lip and grinned so wide her cheeks hurt. Lottie gripped her shoulders, silently sharing her best friend's excitement.
"In a year or so, I invite you to do the same."
"You have a restaurant?"
Gripping the money in one hand, Tiana nodded, about ready to squeal in delight.
"I will now."
