It was not often that Bethany Wyatt participated in cooking events, for multiple reasons. The first and foremost reason was that she simply wasn't a competitive person and she often found them to be quite a hassle. In order for someone to win, others must lose, and for some people, that never settled well with her. Perhaps it was naive of her to think that everyone was a winner if that participated, but that was neither here nor there. She also had little faith in her own skills to feel herself deserving of entering a competition, much less winning one, and she was certain that the very idea of her entering would have caused others to scoff or even offend them, especially if they knew of her non-existent competitive nature.

What encouraged her to overcome this was the drive to help others, and call her an idealistic, but she saw an opportunity to do good work with this event. Not only would the extra food go to the Food Bank for those in need, but maybe she could inspire others to explore different snacks and treats, give healthier but just as tasty alternatives to those who feared giving up their usual delights. It was something she could sympathize with, for as much as she wanted to indulge her own temptations, she knew she had to keep her will strong. This contest and the food she’d make was not for her…

Bethany might not have been the best when it came to cooking, but she knew a few things, and she certainly knew her way around the kitchen. Many times she assisted the sisters and kitchen assistants when preparing meals in the student cafeteria and they were kind enough to allow her free reign. It took her little time to find all of the ingredients the dish called for, and by the time she rolled the baking paper onto the pan, she had a visitor, one that she had not seen in awhile. Golden eyes, monotoned hair, three little black marks on her cheek- Bethany immediately looked down when Gwendolyn came into the cafeteria, acknowledging her arrival with a soft ‘hi’, as the junior approached her.

“Got the trays the sisters asked for,” she said, loud, boisterous, seeking to kill the silence in the room with her voice when her very presence was almost stifling on its own. Bethany often felt claustrophobic around such people, but she continued to wear a kind smile, as the other student set them down on the table next to her. She began the process of dipping the batter onto the sheets, feeling the other girl looming over and threatening to drop her white hair into the mix before grabbing it and throwing it behind her back, much to Bethany’s relief. “So, what you making? Looks like… oatmeal.”

“It is. It’s no-bake oatmeal cookies…” Bethany said softly, praying that perhaps by setting an example, the junior student would follow. Lead by example was one of Bethany’s favorite practices, even if it was a lost form these days. “There’s blueberries, and strawberries, and oats-”

“Well, yeah, it’s oatmeal. Of course it’ll have oats! It looks great! Keep it up!”

And just like that, she was gone, and Bethany could not be any happier. The atmosphere of the room fell back down into a more manageable state for her, and once again Bethany went to scooping up little spoonfuls and setting them down. She didn't mean to act so distant around her and the other students, but she just had a feeling about them, once she could not ignore. Perhaps it was wrong of her to dwell on such things and it was none of her business, but she simply couldn't help herself. After being born and raised in such an environment, how else was Bethany suppose to feel around such troubled students?

Especially ones that had managed to sneak in a bite of her no bake cookies, as there was a single spot left empty, the damp ring chasing away the possibility of her forgetting to fill in the spot in a heartbeat. Bethany gave a huff, not bothering to figure out how or when she stole a peace… instead, she would think of it as a compliment of sorts, and she used that as fuel for her confidence. She didn't care about winning. Even if she did win, she wouldn't be the winner, but instead, those who would enjoy her cookies and hard work.


Word Count: 748