Request by: ArtypawsStudio

Poob was checking through his list for an upcoming party tonight. He was shaking from excitement and nervousness. Will the guest like it? Will this be perfect? Poob scanned through the checklist one last time.

Decorations? Completed.

Activities? Done.

Games? All set up.

Presents for the guest? Check.

There was only one last thing that Poob hasn't prepared yet. It was the food. The mini cupcakes and the cake. Poob started to frown. There was a reason he left the baking for last. It was because he didn't really know how to. He always had a problem with it, no matter how hard he tried. He always needed some help with it. But who should he ask? Everyone was busy recently and Poob didn't really want to interrupt them in whatever they were doing at that point of time. But he just HAD to. He obviously couldn't buy it since he thought that was a sign of not showing care to the party he was preparing. Plus, the bakery was really busy and it couldn't be bought in time. There was really only one person he wanted to ask to help him in baking right now...

Pest.

Sure, he might not know how to bake, but it was a chance to get closer with him and bond with him. Maybe even...confess? Poob hesitated before taking out his ifone. His hands hovered over the keyboard. Should I really do this?... Well, of course I should..! I need someone to help me anyway. With that, he started to text Pest.

Poob: Hey pest!

Pest: ?

That's odd. He replied so fast!

Poob: can you please help me make cupcakes and a cake for my party?

Pest: no.

Poob: why not?

Pest: I'm busy.

Poob: r u sure? You replied quite fast!

Pest: Whatever. I don't want to bake.

Poob: Please!! I'll give you 5 bucks

Pest: no.

Poob sighed. He had to convince him somehow. He needs to. Maybe complimenting Pest will work! Yeah! He stopped to think about something Pest was good at baking. One time, he tried Pest's apple fritters and it tasted delicious. Maybe he should use that.

Poob: you make incredible apple fritters! you can maybe make those instead of the cupcakes? I'm sure my guests will love it! And it'll be all thanks to you

Pest: it's still a no.

Poob frowned at this. It was almost impossible to make him do anything. He was about to give up and placed his ifone down, till a buzz came from it.

Pest: on second thoughts, fine. I'm coming to your apartment right now, if it's where you're at. See you, I guess.

Poob: REALLY? THANK YOU!! I'LL PREPARE THE STUFF

Poob was close to squealing as he sprinted to the kitchen and started to prepare the ingredients. He rummaged through the cabinets and fridge. He laid it out on the counter and waited for Pest to knock. Poob was also constantly checking his ifone for texts from Pest to see if there was anything. Poob was starting to get impatient, tapping his feet on the floor. He crossed his arms and looked around in the kitchen, trying to pass some time.

Knock knock.

Poob jumped. PEST! He ran as quickly as his feet could carry him to the door and opened it. It was Pest, just as expected. Pest was in his usual fit and he entered the apartment.

"Hi Pest! I'm surprised you showed up! I thought you were going to bail on me!"

"..." Pest didn't respond to that. Poob started to get worried at Pest's response, thinking he offended him. It was not less awkward in the kitchen as well. Pest was looking around in the kitchen while Poob just stood there, looking at whatever Pest was doing. Pest kind of got uncomfortable under Poob's stare.

"What are you doing just standing there?" Pest growled, which sent shivers down Poob's spine.

"Sorry..I just zoned out! Let's get to work!" Poob tried to sound excited, but in reality, he wished it wasn't as awkward as it was right now.

"Yeah right." Pest muttered silently.

"Let's make the cake first. I kind of know how to do it. It's a vanilla cake. Do you know how to make it?" Poob asked Pest, to which he shook his head. "That's alright! Here let's start." Poob started to explain the ingredients to Pest, hoping he would understand.

"Here's the Plain flour - compared to cake flour, the flavour of the butter and vanilla comes through better, the crumb is slightly more velvety AND it keeps slightly more moist too. Bonus: no need to hunt down or pay a premium for cake flour! Do not substitute with self raising flour or gluten free flour."

"Eggs - whipped to aerate, these are key to make the cake extraordinarily light and fluffy. You don't get an eggy flavour;"

"Baking powder - not baking soda (bi-carb), it doesn't rise as well. This is our safety net, an extra helping hand to make the cake rise."

"Milk, full fat - just plain cow milk. Low fat works as well but rises marginally less. Do not substitute with non dairy milk or buttermilk;"

"Sugar - best to use caster / superfine sugar if you can because it dissolves better in the eggs. But regular / granulated sugar works just fine too - you may just end up with some little brown spots on the base;"

"Oil - just 1 tablespoon adds a noticeable hint of extra moistness, especially on Day 4, without weighing down the cake in the slightest. Don't be tempted to add more - I tried an extra tablespoon and it didn't rise as well;"

"Vanilla extract - the best you can afford. Imitation will work just fine, but the flavour isn't as pure or real. I use Queen Vanilla Extract. Don't waste your money on vanilla beans or vanilla bean paste - it's not worth it for cakes."

Pest was listening through the whole thing and there was only one thought lingering in his mind.

"If he knows that much, why ask me to be here?"

"Huh? Oh. It's because I usually always mess up and I need someone to check for me!" Poob explained. Shoot! Did Pest say that out loud? Poob started to do whatever he needed to do to make the cake, with Pest looking after him.

Poob started to make the butter cream as he let the cake cook. Once it was done, he began to spread it out on the cake. Pest could notice some things he did wrongly from afar, but didn't bother enough to tell him.

Guess what. Poob was making these mistakes on purpose. He just wanted to see if Pest could try to correct him, but his point was proven wrong, to his disappointment. Poob corrected the mistakes, knowing that Pest didnt bother to tell him about it. Being his optimistic self however, he started to reassure himself.

It's alright. Pest probably didn't notice it.

Poob continued baking in silence. His heart was still wrenching in sorrow, but what did he expect? Pest had antisocial personality disorder. Of course he'll be like that. Poob had to be more understanding. Even if it meant pushing his own feelings away.

...........time skip........

"I'm done!" Poob heaved a sigh of relief. He had finally accomplished what he wanted. He admired his creation, lifting his chin high in pride. Poob plastered a smile on his face as Pest came next to him and stared at the cake, not saying anything. Poob's smile started to fade away as time passed.

"Pest, you can start baking your apple fritters now! I think I have the ingredients needed." Pest didn't respond to that and just started to get to work. Poob just stood beside him, watching in awe. He slowly shifted away from Pest, worried he might have intruded his personal space.

While watching Pest bake, Poob wanted to start a conversation with him. It wasn't very exciting if they just watched each other. It doesn't really count as bonding. ( Lots of dialogue ahead I'm too lazy to write)

"Hey Pest. How was your day today?"

"Why?"

"Oh I just wanted to know."

"It was alright."

"That's good!.."

"..."

"How did you learn how to make apple fritters?"

"I tried making it when I was hungry one time."

"Ah I see... Do you-"

"I can tell you're trying to start a conversation with me. Stop asking me questions. They make my mind tingle."

"Oh...Sorry." Poob kept quiet for a few seconds. Why am I acting like this? I'm usually so energetic!! GRRRR!!! I'M SO CONFUSEDDD :( I want to talk to him but I can't. This sucks. The only Thing I can think about is about my feelings for this bastard!! I'M GOING INSANE!!

"You're acting weird." Pest pointed out. Poob snapped out of his thoughts and focused on Pest. He forced a smile and looked back to whatever Pest was doing.

"Sorry, I had something on my mind! Anyway..." "Urm..." Poob hesitated. He wanted to let it out of his chest, but he was too nervous.

"You know how Bive and Split has feelings for eachother?"

"Yes?"

"And how Mark still likes Wallter..?"

"Yeah..?"

"Well..." Poob inhaled and exhaled. His stomach dropped. He felt as if he was on a rollercoaster. Should he do this? Did he want to do this? This may affect everything Poob has tried to do to bond with Pest over the months. This feeling of anxiousness started to wash over Poob. Gosh, this was so hard.

"There's a person that has feelings like that for you too.. and they're waiting to get with a person like you.."

His heart was screaming: I AM THAT GUY!! Poob was trembling a bit and he tried to calm himself down but failed. He exhaled once more before continuing.

"And...that person is me." Poob muttered. He looked at Pest, who showed no signs of shock or reaction. Poob looked at his hands and they were trembling.

"Okay." Pest said. Even though it was just one word, that one word pierced through his heart. Okay? Did that mean nothing to him? Poob stared at him, waiting for him to explain, but never got it. Poob bit his bottom lip to prevent himself from tearing up.

"Okay? Is that all..?"

"Yeah, what did you expect?"

"Huh..?"

"..."

"Excuse me for a second." He said before dashing to his room. He closed the door shut and jumped on his bed. He covered his face with a pillow and screamed in it. From the anxiousness and anger. He didn't get the response he wanted. He laid on the bed on his stomach, sobbing slightly while having the pillow still stuffed in his face. He was a bit disappointed. Heck, he was SO disappointed. Pest's response hurt him in some way he didn't know how to describe. Dry ass. But Poob can't blame him. He had a personality disorder. He was about to let out another scream but..

Knock knock.

Poob jolted up from his bed and opened his bedroom door. Pest stood outside and he gestured Poob over to the kitchen. Poob followed.

"I made the apple fritters." Pest pointed.

"Wow! They look amazing!!" Poob clapped as he stared at the snacks in awe. Pest knew that Poob was trying to hide his feelings but he didn't give a damn. He exited the apartment and slammed the door shut, leaving Poob alone. Poob sighed and took a bite of the apple fritters.

Yum.

(OMG I HATE THIS I HAD WRITERS BLOCK AND ITS SO SHORT I'M SCREAMING. I HAVE A FEELING I MISCHARACTERIZED THEM SO LIKE IN THE FUTURE I WILL WRITE ANOTHER PARTY BEETLE ONESHOT TO MAKE UP FOR THIS)