PIE

Shinji heard the doorbell ring and put down his homework. As he left his room, he saw that Asuka was intranced in conversation with someone over the phone. From the German she was using, he could tell that it was probably someone back in here native country. She hardly spared him a glance as he passed.

When he answered the door he found Misato and Rei waiting on the other side.

"Misato? Rei?" Shinji said. "Um...Hey. What's up."

"Not much," Misato responded. Shinji noticed a tuberware in Rei's hands.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Pie," said Rei.

Shinji's heart began to race. His breathing increased. Rei had made pie again. She didn't make it very often, but when she did it was heaven. He remembered the last time he'd had some. It was like a drug. So good. The pie of all pies. It never lasted long enough. It tasted so good you didn't even want to swallow it. His mouth began to water.

When Shinji came back to his sences, herelised that they had proceeded to the kitchen. He quickly followed.

When he got there, he found that Asuka had beat him.

"Did someone say pie?" she asked eagerly.

"Yes," said Misato. "Rei made apple pie. She's dicided to bring yours to you." She turned her attention to Rei. "Why don't you ever eat any of it Rei?"

She responded quietly, "I want others to enjoy it." A little color had come to her cheeks.

Misato giggled.

Shinji and Asuka could barely restrain themselves. Rei was just holding it. When was she going to let them have it?

Some how a fork and saucer had apeared in Shinji and Asuka'a hands. Some time, during the eternity between the time Rei had arrived and now they must have gotten them.

Rei held out the tuberware, opened it, and Shinji and Asuka looked in at-one piece. One.

They stopped. And looked at each other. Who should get it?

Asuka said, "It's mine."

"No way," Shinji said back. "Go back to your phone call. It sounded like something important."

"My childhood friends can wait. This is pie!"

"Where'd the other piece go?" He asked Rei.

But Misato responded for her. "I ate it."

"What!" they replied in uinison. Ther gazes were so intense that Misato thought she would catch fire.

"Well I like pie too!" She snapped.

Rei spoke, "One for Katsuragi. One for Ikari. One for Kaji. One for Sohryu. One for Ikari...I must have miscounted."She counted each one on a finger.

"No...You didn't," Misato said. "That...That was my second."

Rei looked annoyed.

Shinji asked, "So who gets it?"

"Obviously me," Asuka steppedin. "I'm a much better pilot."

"Well in case you forgot, we aren't piloting."

"Well I'm a better person!"

"No, you're not!"

Asuka was getting mad. Not a good thing "Well if you let me have it, I'll..." She calmed. "I'll be your girlfriend, Shinji. And I'll show you things muchbetter than pie." She batted her eyelids.

Shinji seemed to really consider it. Then, "Nah. Pie is better. It tastes better, smells better. And doesn't have such a big mouth."

"What!" She was shocked. "You're comparing me to pie!"

"No," He said. "I'm comparing pie to you."

"Okay!" Misato intervened. "We'll decide with competition." Misato recapped the tuberware, put it in the fridge, and joined them all at the table. "Look at me!" Shinji and Asuka tore thier gazes away from the fridge. So close.

"You two should decide on a way to settle this." She waited. "What are you both good at?"

"Swimming," Asuka said.

"Running," Shinji said.

"Okay," said Misato. "You two should compete with each other in what you're good at in order to see who gets it."

They thought about it. They were sure they could beat each other. And what was there to lose? But then again, Rei's pie.

"I'll do it," they said in unison. I sure look on there face.

"Good," misato said. "Rei and I will just wait here."

"C'mon, Shinji!" Asuka growled, pulling Shinji out of his chair by his shirt. "I gotta hurry up and beat you."

"Wait," he choked. "Where are we going?"

"To the pool."

And with that, Auka and Shinji were out the door.