I'm moving into my dorm so, of course, I had to update this story first.

Hungry Like the Wolf: Part Seven

Wolf has to help Winter carry all the milkshakes to his car. She wasn't exaggerating when she said she ordered all of them. They both had to go back inside when they put the first trays in the back seats, securing them with random stuff in Wolf's car so they wouldn't fall over. They used up all the cup holders in the front and back, and even the seatbelts. Winter even holds a tray in her lap since the boxes of buns and doughnut holes are sturdy and won't make a sticky mess if they spill.

Aces, he'll be so peeved if his nice leather seats are a sticky mess. He'll have to drive incredibly slow but at least he has the time. It's not like Scarlet's closing shift is happening any time soon.

Any outsider would assume Winter was making a video about tasting all the milkshakes at The Rampion and ranking them as if The Rampion sponsored her. Wolf wouldn't be surprised if someone had already made that video.

Winter happily sips one of the milkshakes on her lap. Her shoulders bounce as she grins. It must've been a good one.

"So, why the milkshakes?" Wolf asks.

"I ate a ghost pepper earlier and went through all the ice cream at home," Winter explains as if it's a normal, everyday occurrence. "The burn is still simmering on my tongue and I wasn't sure which flavour would work best so I just got them all to find out."

Wolf nods as if he was listening to a normal, everyday occurrence. Winter's said weirder things before. "I don't really think the flavour would matter."

Winter shrugs. "We'll see."

She sips another one and nods. Wolf guesses that she was all right with that one but it didn't rock her world.

"Aces, why would you eat a ghost pepper?" Wolf asks.

Winter puts her bare forearm against his. "You're brown like me. Well, not exactly like me but still."

He completely understands. He'd do the same thing now that he thinks about it. "You're right. We should have a high spice tolerance."

Winter sighs, sipping the third one. No reaction. It's either boring or bland, probably both. "I'm letting my ancestors down."

Wolf scoffs. "Join the club."

"Want this milkshake? I don't like it."

Wolf takes it, unsure if it would be worth it since Winter doesn't like it. But it's a free milkshake and she ate a ghost pepper earlier so her tastebuds are whack while trying to recover. He tries to read the side of the cup for the flavour but there isn't one there. He pops off the lid and the scent doesn't give any hints nor does the colour (a light brown resembling caramel).

Wolf takes a sip. It sits on his tongue for a bit before nodding. He'll drink this whole thing in one go if given the chance.

-o-

By the time Wolf returns to the Rampion with his free milkshake, Cress and Thorne are at the front register with Scarlet paying for their date. Wolf stands beside them and puts his half-drunken milkshake on the counter.

"Winter gave this to me and it tastes great but I can't determine the flavour," Wolf states.

He opens his hand to offer them a taste. Scarlet goes first and nods, licking her lips as she turns around to look at the menu behind her. Thorne sips and his face sours despite the milkshake not being acidic at all. Cress takes her turn and swishes it around her mouth for a bit before taking another sip.

"Tastes like a salt shaker," Thorne says, shuddering. "I should know. I almost ate one when I was a baby."

"You mean last week?" Wolf jokes

"Shut your spades."

"I'm getting a cake-y flavour," Cress says, standing on her tiptoes to look at the menu above them.

"Mmm, salt cake," Thorne says, wrapping his arm over Cress's shoulders.

"Pretzel cheesecake?" Scarlet guesses.

"That's so confusing but I love it," Wolf says, "I'm ordering another one, babe."

"Is pretzel cheesecake a thing?" Cress asks rhetorically. "Because it sounds like something a chef created by leftover ingredients and a blender."

"Don't expose The Rampion's secrets," Scarlet scolds sarcastically. Then she smiles like a waitress on the clock. "I'll get your milkshake right away and you two have a great night."

-o-

Right before the twins and Cinder were steaming bowls of mac and cheese. After a stressful hour of nearly blowing up the kitchen with boiling water, contributions to the swear jar, and two chip bags, they each had a bowl of cheap orange noodles and questionable bright cheese. Either way, it smelled good and they were still hungry despite the chips.

"Am I supposed to like this?" Skylar asks, pointing at it with her form.

"Eat it," Kai orders. "It's good for you."

He doesn't feel bad about lying straight through his teeth. The house has no lying jar or else he would lie about putting his univs in it. Besides, he didn't slave over a stove and nearly risked his life and Mallory's kitchen for the twins not to eat the food he prepared.

"There are no veggies," Quinn points out. There are no colours in their bowls aside from an unnatural shade of orange.

"Exactly."

Kai smiles once the twins start scarfing down their food. Cinder gets them all glasses of water from the fridge and puts them down in front of their bowls. They mumble their thanks through full mouths which make her smile.

"Told you it was their favourite," Kai tells her proudly.

"Besides, I ate a whole bag of chips while waiting," Cinder states. "We've passed the healthy point. But you could make a potato argument."

Kai eats his portion of mac and cheese straight from the bowl and with the same wooden spoon that he used for cooking.

"How did you already start eating that? It's flaming hot!"

Kai looks at the pot where fresh steam floats out and into his face. "I did that Asian technique where you eat and let your esophagus burn. I'm disappointing my ancestors."

Cinder nods. "This dish is disappointing them. Should've made instant ramen. You know, if you eat slower, you'll get full faster but if you eat fast, you'll get nauseous."

Kai doesn't say anything nor do the twins slow down. He wouldn't be surprised if they weren't listening to them at all. In fact, instead of licking her fingers, Quinn tries to put her whole hand in her mouth but Kai stops her and puts a napkin in her fist. Skylar wipes her hands on his apron.

Cinder takes another bite of macaroni and smiles at the sight. If she's lucky, that could be her future many years from now.