Thanksgiving day had dawned with eerie quiet and the smell of dozens of various dishes and desserts cooking filled the air with their tantalizing aroma. Turkeys roasting and yams broiling, pumpkin and pecan pies melded their scents into one hunger inducing bouquet.
In one small apartment, there was little more than homemade pumpkin muffins baking in the oven. Careful to check often, making sure they hadn’t burned, a girl by the name of (Y/N) peeked at the rising orange treats. Aside from these, she had made herself a small dinner to celebrate thanksgiving. Chicken instead of turkey, mac and cheese, stuffing, green beans, and so on- but in portions small enough for just two or three people. Or, one person with leftovers.
Though she was spending her holiday alone, she was doing all that she could to keep the holiday spirit alive. She had recently moved away from her family for a new job offer that held a lot of promise- though starting life anew so close to the holidays was proving to be more than a little lonely.
Slipping an oven mitt onto her hand, she pulled the oven door open and a wave of heat washed through the kitchen, bringing with it the scent of nutmeg and cinnamon. She lay the muffins on the counter and helped herself to one as her mouth began to water. Her eyes rolled back and she moaned softly from the delicate sweetness and buttery texture of the muffin. Placing the remainder into a large basket she smiled softly to herself as she prepared to meet her neighbours for the first time. Maybe she’d come across a lovely elderly couple that would invite her inside and tell her stories of their childhood. If anything, she merely wanted to offer the baked goods as a gesture of good will, and maybe just to see someone smile outside of a TV screen.
Making sure to shut off the stove top as she left, she rapped her knuckles lightly on the door of the apartment nearest her own. No response. Sighing slightly, though not entirely disheartened quite yet, she made her way to the next door, knocking softly. Again, no response. Pursing her lips she meandered her way down the hall, knocking on each door in turn. Each one with no response- until she arrived at the last apartment along the narrow hallway. Almost entirely dejected and lonely, she gave one final attempt, knocking against the peeling wood of the apartment door. No one answered for a moment, and she started to make her way back down the hallway when the door opened slowly, stopping her in her tracks.
She beamed brightly, hugging the basket of muffins tightly to her chest when she locked gazes with a rather adorable, though perhaps slightly disheveled man that stood before her dressed in his pajamas. Her smile faltered slightly as her heart raced, the young man looking her over quizzically, one brow raised as his gaze settled on the basket of muffins.
“Hello?”
“Oh! Hi, sorry I wasn’t expecting anyone to answer- nobody else seems to be home- I uh, I’m sorry if I disturbed you-”
He shook his head smiling softly,
“Not at all actually, I was just doing a bit of reading. Tom Sawyer, I read it every year around this time… My name is Spencer by the way. Can I help you with anything? Did you need to borrow some eggs or sugar or something?” His brow furrowed in confusion as his head tilted slightly to the side, reminding her of a brown eyed puppy.
“Oh no! I actually wanted to bring you these.” She stammered as she held out the basket of muffins, blushing slightly as he observed the pile of sweets.
“That’s a lot of muffins. Did you have guests cancel or something?”
“No, actually I’m alone today and I’m new to the area so I just wanted to introduce myself and I thought this might be a good way to do it.” She lowered the basket, eyes cast downward as she blushed lightly.
“No not at all. Giving food is one of the most common gestures of good will, especially sweets. I’m actually spending the day alone as well, so if it makes you feel any better- I appreciate it.” He smiled brightly, his eyes seemed to twinkle as they scrunched up and he held out his hand to take a muffin.
Offering him a half smile, she again held out the basket, allowing him to take one, watching as he peeled the paper away.
“You know… I made some dinner at my apartment and it’s a little too much for one person. I mean if you didn’t want to spend Thanksgiving day alone- of course you don’t have to, I mean I’m a total stranger after all-” She rambled, growing sense of embarrassment overwhelming her as she hid her face behind her hand.
“I wouldn’t mind, I don’t have much else to do after all- er, what was your name…?” Spencer questioned, narrowing his eyes in thought as he wondered if he had perhaps forgotten.
“Oh, God, sorry- It’s (Y/N).” She smiled shyly and Spencer stepped out of his apartment, chewing his first bite of muffin.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you- these are really delicious, by the way, and still just a little warm.”
“Thanks! It was my grandma’s old recipe actually.” She explained as she led him back to her own apartment where the scent of food cooking came wafting through the cracks.
Opening the door, she led him inside, apologizing profusely for all the boxes that still lay scattered all across the apartment.
“I haven’t had much time to unpack.” She bit her nail, placing the basket of muffins on her table and making her way to the kitchen to prepare their food plates.
“If you like, I could help you get unpacked later.” Spencer offered, standing beside her and helping himself to the macaroni.
“You don’t have to do that.” (Y/N) murmured, though couldn’t hide the smile forming on her lips as she carved into the small chicken.
“It’s no trouble, really. I know it took me a long time to make friends in the area, and it can become more than a little depressing.”
She nodded though said nothing as she seated herself at the table, waiting to begin her meal until Spencer had sat down as well.
During their small, shared thanksgiving meal (Y/N) had observed quite a bit about Spencer as he carried on through the night with a slew of facts and information that she found both humorous and intriguing. He asked her about her family and why she had moved to the area and listened with interest as she told him.
He helped her to do the dishes and put the food away, and once everything had been neatly stacked in the fridge, they seated themselves aside one another on her corduroy couch with full and content bellies.
(Y/N) yawned as she stretched her arms over her head. “Man, that chicken has me so sleepy.” She giggled, rubbing her eyes as a Christmas movie began to play on the TV, the jingling of bells ringing through the apartment.
“Actually chicken does have more l-tryptophan than turkey does- but that’s not the reason you get sleepy and lethargic after a thanksgiving meal. It’s mostly just due to ingesting large quantities of food in one sitting, primarily carbohydrates like pasta, bread, and fruit.” He nodded knowledgeably as he took another bite of a muffin with a yawn and a sly wink.
(Y/N) giggled softly as she cozied herself into the couch, tuning into the movie that played softly on the flickering screen until a gentle sleep took her. In her slumber she leaned over against Spencer’s shoulder, arms wrapping around him as she snuggled into him with a contented smile.
Spencer stiffened slightly at first- unsure what to do or how to react, but gradually his shoulders relaxed, a gentle smile on his face as he rested his hand tenderly atop her head, and before long, he himself drifted off into sleep.
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