What Measures a Heart, ch. 1
#1 of What Measures a Heart
So, I decided to upload this short story just in time for the holidays. I wrote it a while back, but never posted it until now.
Chapter 1 - The Party is On
"Levi! Are you done with the cookies yet?"
The high-pitched, squeal-like question caused the college-aged, scarlet-colored dragon to sigh. He glanced over his muscular shoulder at his tan-scaled younger adoptive sister with a smile as her puppy-like, sparkling red eyes met his hazel ones, the former gazing at him with anticipation.
Giving a thumbs up to his sister with the right hand and opening the oven door with his left, the scarlet dragon known as Levi kindly gave the answer the young dragonette long to hear with his semi-baritone voice, "Yes, Kassandra. They're ready. Don't eat too many at once, okay?"
Upon pulling the twelve soft, brown gingersnaps from the oven, Levi poked the middle of the fifth cookie to the center.
"Still a bit undercooked...," Levi sighed, placing the cookies back inside the appliance with a regretful, "Sorry Kass. It looks like we still have about five minutes to go."
With a frown and a whine, Kassandra exited the kitchen.
Slightly over two minutes later, the phone began to ring, causing Levi to be torn between answering and watching the nearly-done gingersnaps. He was interrupted by a piping, "I got it!" from his sister, who was now carrying the phone to him.
"When did you.... never mind , give it here sis," Levi requested in a slightly annoyed tone.
With a grin, Kassandra handed the phone to her older brother.
Although he would have said the word "hello", Levi was greeted by the trademark phrase of his green-furred, blue-feathered-eyed best friend, Eric, "Wassap, homeschooler broski'!?"
The griffon had an upbeat, tenor surfer-style voice.
"Ugh... what is it, Eric?" Levi groaned, glancing at the cooking dough.
As per usual, Eric began to go on one of his tangents, "Yo' man! Your mom gave ya' permission to come to Erica's party tonight, right? Ya' gotta' come to it! The _Branders_are even goin'!"
"Yes, Eric. I have. Mother Is watching Kassandra tonight and they told me since I'm over eighteen I can stay as late as I want or stay over as _long as I don't drink _," Levi informed in a joyous tone, albeit become slightly insistent upon the last seven words.
This caused Eric's tone to become casual and sarcastic, "Wha---t? Oh, I k_n----ow_ you always wanted to drink!"
"I kno w! That's so---- horrible, isn't it?" Levi replied in the same tone.
The two laughed after this. They had made a blood-oath never to drink at a party at the age of twelve. They always did all in their power to keep others from doing so as well, both at school and at any party they attended.
Realizing the his concoction would be finished by this time, Levi give a hasty, "One sec, Eric!" as he placed the phone on the blue counter next to the oven, opening it at the same time.
Once again, Levi pulled the cookies from the oven, placing his claw on the same one he had before.
"Wow... Eric, you're a blessing from the pastry gods," Levi snickered, closing the oven once more.
Ignoring the squeal from Kassandra, Levi picked up the phone once more, with a chuckling, "Well, _she's_happy."
"Dude, you should be a chef with that righteous talent you got!"
The suggestion caused Levi to roll his eyes, "Yes, but I need to go to school for that, remember?"
A clang of metal was heard through the phone, followed by a loud, "ERIC! GET IN HERE!"
"Let me guess..."
"Yep... my sis' found another spider."
After another bout of laughter, Levi said the words he was eager to since the week prior, "Well, I need to pack up my GameDrake 3D so I can trade DigiBeasts with Belle the others."
"You still goin' after that cheerleader, man? Sorry to say, she may play DigiBeasts Land Day like you do, but she likes muscular bad boys," Eric reminded Levi in a friendly yet dissuading tone.
It was true, Meribella always liked the coarse, mischievous and rugged males, but she never slept with them. This was why Levi always felt he had a chance with her.
'Maybe he's right... but... she's so pretty and smart...,' Levi thought to himself.
"Anyway, go get ready, bro. The party starts at 9:00 PM sharp!"