one more chapter after this i think...
also, sorry about any typos in this one, im very tired, but i had to write it tonight... so sorry in advance.
enjoy!
By the time Ned had come up with a successful recipe with the help of Olive, it was already three in the afternoon. First Ned and Olive had tried the berries raw, witch was not too terrible, but to win they would need to cook something with them. And four failed attempts later, Ned was finally pleased with on of them.
"Alright then, Olive? Will you grab on of the big sauté pans, and the sugar? I'm going to top and tail these." Ned ordered lovingly. Olive loved in charge Ned! She nodded and got to work.
Only two hours, forty minutes and seventeen seconds later Ned and Olive were on their way to the judges table in the near by banquet hall with their Gooseberry creation.
"The Pie Hole?" Ned questioned as he came to face one of the men who were working there, this particular one was wearing a blue and white stripped shirt, and was quite round.
"Oh yes, you won at the comfort foods cook off, am I right?" He asked shaking Ned's hand as he nodded.
"Yes sir, I'm Ned, and this is my… friend and partner Olive." Ned introduced Olive as he pulled her towards them.
"Hiya…" she said looking at the round man, but thinking about the pie man.
"Pie hole, that would be um, table two, Good luck you two." He concluded as he was waved to from over Ned's shoulder.
"Well, lets go!" Olive chirped making her way onwards, wheeling her mini fridge along behind her.
***
"Are you ready to go Olive? We can't be late!"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm ready." Olive said opening the door from which Ned had called through. Once the door had opened fully and he could see olive completely Ned stood still, totally amazed.
Olive shut the door behind her and stood still as well, letting Ned observe. She was wearing a dark purple dress with her usual low cut neckline, her hair was pulled into a twist, and two beautiful silver and purple chandelier earrings framed her neck and face perfectly.
Ned snapped out of it when olive took another step towards him, and reached up to his neck.
"I take it you don't know how to tie a bow tie?" Olive asked as she began to tie it for him.
"It's not like I wear a tuxedo every day Olive."
"Too bad" she said as she finished, and stood back to observe him. "You look good in this monkey suit our yours."
Ned chuckled and took olive's arm, "c'mon lets get going." He said picking up both of their coats on the way out the door.
***
At this very moment the girl named Chuck, who was not dead, was very bored, and somewhat lonely. She thought that maybe when Ned came home all of her feelings for him would return, and things would go back to normal. Chuck thought that maybe when she saw Ned again things would be perfect again.
But she couldn't wait, and she knew that tonight was the judging. It was only six o'clock and if she left now, she could make it there by eight thirty at the latest. Chuck needed to know if her lack of love for Ned was temporary or not.
So Chuck got changed, got in her car, and got on her way.
She arrived just in time for the winner's announcement. While she listened she scanned the hall from the doorway for the familiar shape of Ned.
"We would like to welcome you to the first annual all foods food-off!" Boomed a man's voice from the loudspeaker as Olive and Ned arrived in the hall. "We hope all that are attending tonight have had a pleasant experience here at the food-off, and we would like to take a moment to gloat, that our cook off had very little sabotage, which is always good, and no murder plots, unlike a certain other recent cooking event." The crowd of people laughed and clapped.
Olive and Ned made their way to the side of the room where Ned had seen their new friend Anthony. But they stopped short when the announcer spoke again.
" And now, before you all drink to much, we would like to announce our winners." A loud cheer went up from the crowd, including Olive who held onto Ned's hand tighter and squealed loudly.
"First off, Honorable mention goes to Wok and Roll Chinese food establishment!" The announcer said loudly over the crowd, and the owners of the restaurant made it up to the stage to claim their ribbons.
Chuck still could not find Ned and Olive in the sea of people; she was beginning to get frustrated.
"Now, for out third place winners! Pizza 3.1459! Not only is their name adorable, but their food, is more that fantastic!"
Olive and Ned cheered for their new friend Anthony as he too made his way up to the stage to receive a fair sized bronze trophy.
Ned squeezed Olive's hand tighter when she looked at him nervously, "This is it…" he said quietly to her. She nodded.
The announcers voice boomed again, " Second place, will go to!" he paused dramatically. " Peter Jemkin's Pancake eatery!"
Olive and Ned exchanged nervous glances while the room went silent in anticipation for the wining team.
Chuck still stood scanning the huge hall for Ned.
"And first place! The winners of the first annual Food-off are…" another anxious and dramatic pause.
"The Pie Hole!" The announcer yelled, excitedly! Olive jumped and screamed alerting Chuck to her position at the side of Ned. The two-team members ran up to the stage together holding hands while Chuck watched them. They both stood still while they were each given a sash (not unlike a beauty queen's sash) and one large golden trophy.
Chuck watched patiently until Ned pulled Olive into him in front of the entire crowd and kissed her. It was then that Chuck knew that her lack of love for Ned was not temporary. She felt nothing but happy for him at that moment, finally he had gotten what he wanted, a woman that he could love fully, and felt comfortable enough with olive to kiss her in front of the large room of people.
Chuck turned and walked out the door. Outside she found an employee who pointed her towards Olive and Ned's cabin. As she walked she dug in her purse for a pen and paper.