Who: @thexcarrollxtimes ft;Oscar @chaoticmattwhitlock
Where: Birch's BBQ Kitchen
What: Matthew and Oscar meeting briefly before the chaos of prepping for the Hawkins reception kicks in.
Birch had been a twitter all day, fluttering from one thing to the next, trying to make sure everything was perfect. The smoker was still on it's trailer, hooked to the back of Oscar's Jeep, still warm from the sitting phase of the meat, timed to be at perfection just about the time that dinner would be served. She was fussing with the bins of sides that had been loaded into the trunk of her SUV rental, with the uniforms for all of them, with the amount of food, the garnishes; with the blue in the colour of the sky if Oscar let her (he wouldn't). Wilbur, thankfully, had been on his best behaviour, laying in the passenger seat of her doors open car and watching all the commotion. All the guys were about due to arrive, and she'd added her brothers scaring Matthew away to the list of things to be nervous about. "Okay, Wilbur... I think we got everything, Right? We got everthing?" Thank goodness for Oscar double checking everything she'd fuss over just to reassure her things were fine.
Matt had promised Birch he’d help her out — not because he had to, because honestly, he didn’t. But he was starting to really dig her, and spending more time with her didn’t sound like a bad deal at all. Even through a few texts, he could feel how nervous and anxious she was. So after getting dressed, he grabbed a coffee for her on the way, tossing his jacket onto the passenger seat before heading over. ❝ Alright, first things first — let’s get some coffee in you. ❞ He took long strides toward her, finally catching sight of her moving around like some frantic little busy bee. It was kind of adorable.
"Matthew!" A bright and relieved smile breaking out over her face at the sight of him, she gave a little sag of relief as she first took the coffee and then wrapped him up in a hug that accompanied the press of her lips to his cheek. "You sure a sight for sore eyes, Sugar. It really is mighty kind of ya to give up part'a your night for this." Hopefully he wouldn't go on to regret it. **"Oscar is just inside, mt neighbor I told you 'bout. Come say hi." It was bound to be the easiest of the introductions.
His arms wrapped around her smaller frame as he hugged her once the coffee was retrieved in her hand, a small laugh came from him as he dragged his tongue out across his lips. ❝ You know, it does have a better ring to it with the accent. Sexy even. ❞ Matt couldn't help the little grin show on his lips. ❝ Yeah, I remember hearing about him. Can't wait to meet him. ❞ He walked toward the front door to head inside to meet the man officially.
He was loading up the last of the pies in the coolers when Birch and Matt came in from the front of the house. "Perfect timing," he told her with a quick smile. "This is the last one," he added as he closed the cooler.
"oh well that's good news." And it was, her relief was real, despite the hint of nerves at introducing Matthew to the rest of her life. "Oscar, this here's Matthew. Matthew, this is my friend 'n neighbor Oscar."
He held out a hand for Matt to shake. "It's nice to finally put a name to the face I've been seeing in and out of here," he greeted him, giving a firm enough shake and enougg insinuation to convey his protectiveness of Birch.
❝ Yeah, it's great to officially meet Birch's neighbour. It's nice to meet you man. ❞ Matt extended his hand out to shake Oscar's, feeling the grip and giving a firm shake himself. ❝ Feel free to call me, Matt. ❞
Watching them be polite enough with each other, Birch gave a sigh of relief and a nod toward the smoker on it's trailer, still visible through the door behind them. "Big Wilbur looks good out there, y'all did a mighty good job paintin' him."
"Neighbor and best friend," he said with a smile her way. "And same," he added as the handshake dropped. "Grab one of the coolers for me Matt?" he asked, with a nod to the one he didn't grab as he started heading out to load them up. His attention was pulled out to her newly minted smoker. "Thanks. When I first asked Val about painting a pig smoker, I think she thought I was a little crazy," he joked. "But she turned out nice. I'm glad I grabbed those extra cans otherwise his back half would have been a spotted pig," he added with a chuckle.
❝ My bad. ❞ Matt raised his hand sup with a half laugh, but didn't mean anything by it as he nodded about the cooler. ❝ Not a problem. I'll be right back. ❞ Matt went out to grab one of the coolers still out there to bring it back in with ease.
Watching Matthew go, Birch turned to Oscar with a gentle roll of her eyes and barely there tap of her fingers on his arm. "Go easy on 'im, okay? He's gunna have an uphill battle with them brothers a mine when they show up."
"What? You are my best friend, aren't you?" he asked innocently. "Come on Birch," he went on, letting his features relax. "As long as he is treating you alright, I have nothing against the guy." And he didn't. Birch was his friend and he only cared about her well-being and happiness. "The only thing I want to know from him is that he has good intentions. And his last name," he added playfully as he loaded up the cooler into her SUV.
