P.O.V: Logan, First Person
Timeline: Present Day

"Here's my recipe book," Patton said, pulling out a thin metal spiral notebook from one of the lower cabinets.

I kept my surprise to a minimum. I thought he did all of this from memory, since he makes them so often.  How many directions were there.

Patton flipped towards the back of the book and I was surprised to see almost all the pages filled with Patton's dark messy handwriting and colorful highlights.  It almost looked like my notes.

Patton stopped when he reached a page with a folded corner. He set the book on the counter and started gathering ingredients.

Delayed, I started to do the same, but the recipe Patton was using didn't have them at many ingredients to begin with.

Together we worked in collective silence - Patton preheating the oven while I gathered the bowls and heart cookie cutter.

"Hey, the peanut butter cookies are low too - do you think that we should make some of them too?"

I shrugged. "We're already here - why not?"

Patton went back to the notebook and pulled out a blank sheet of paper. I watched as he copied the chocolate chip cookie recipe: ingredients, directions, etc. While he re-wrote the directions, I started on making the cookies, cracking the eggs into a small bowl.

By the time all the ingredients were ready to fix together, Patton had finished copying and leaned the papers up against the wall. I handed the mixing bowl over to him, and started scooping the peanut butter into the mixing bowl, which was significantly harder than I would have assumed, the peanut butter sticking to the spoon.  Even though Patton made cookies often - I'm sure no one is surprised by that - I didn't quite consider the time that went into them on the few occasions where I did eat them.

"Patton, can you read me the next ingredient?" I asked.

"One cup of sugar," Patton read dutifully. "Do you really think that we need that much sugar, Logan?"

"Probably not," I admitted. "Maybe try 3/4ths of a cup instead? I don't want to deviate too far from the recipe."

"Okay."

I started thinking for a moment, on something I had heard about a long time ago... Hmm...

"Patton?" I asked, tentatively.

Patton turned around with a small smile, warming up my heart. No, I can't do this, I just can't -

"Can you grab the maple syrup, please?" I asked, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.

Patton frowned, glancing back at the recipe, confused. "Um - that's not in the recipe."

"I know. It's just something I want to try," I explained, forcing myself to keep my eyes trained on the two eggs I was cracking. "Do you mind the change up?"

"Nope, I'm curious," Patton responded, and I heard some shuffling behind me. I didn't look up, trying to pretend that all my focus was on these two eggs, and not on the playful side behind me.

I glanced up when Patton returned with the syrup and a couldn't tear my eyes away, even if I wanted to. I couldn't help my eyes dropping a little lower, dropping to Patton's lips and wondering if they'd taste like Chocolate Chip Cookies -

What was I thinking?! I needed to stop this. I was going to finish with this, then lock myself in my room for the next week. I needed to find a way to stop this nonsense. I can't like Patton.

I can't afford it.

I have to protect him.

I cleared my throat, avoiding his eyes.  "Thanks," I answered, taking the syrup from Patton, making sure our hands didn't brush. If they did, it might be the end of me.

I poured just a little maple syrup into the chocolate chip cookie batter, mixing it all together. I wrapped the dough and put it in the fridge.

And that's when I started to lose it.

Patton didn't act like anything was bothering him in the slightest. He just cleaned up the counter and started putting away all the materials we could need.

I, on the other hand, was dying.

My palms were sweating profusely and I couldn't seem to think of any type of sentence starter.

And then I just blanked out.

I came back to myself to find Patton just staring me a little nervously, fidgeting anxiously.

And then I realized what I was saying.

I was reciting the Periodic Table of Elements and their atomic numbers.

"Then after Potassium," I couldn't stop myself and I inwardly started to panic, "which is symbolized by the letter K is in the first column, third row, with an atomic number of -"

"HELLO, fellow sides! What is that heavently scent I smell!"

To this day - I don't think I've ever liked Roman more than i liked him in that exact moment.

I silently thanked him for stopping me.  Could I have made a bigger fool of myself?

No.

I do not think so.

Well, at least now I know that it has definitely NOT worn off.

"Patton and I are making cookies," I responded, and I adjusted my glasses as an excuse to avoid everyone's eyes. How long would it take them to forget that? By the way Roman was looking at me, he knew that I said none of... that intentionally. He wanted to talk about that for sure...

What am I supposed to say? Oh, when I'm around my crush and get nervous, I black out and I start spouting the periodic table of elements?

BURY ME.

"Ah - so I take it Patton told you about the Oatmeal Raisin Incident?" Roman lowered his voice dramatically. "Do you have a suspect in mind?"

"Well -" I was abruptly cut off by a loud gasp from Patton, who threw a hand over his heart. His eyes watered in pain and a sinking feeling filled me. What was going on?!

Moments later, all of our ears were filled with a loud scream, from some other place in the Mind Palace.

Not one of us dared to breathe.

Patton jumped into action - quite literally, by LEAPING OVER THE COUNTER.

My jaw dropped and so did Roman's, who was staring at Patton in awe.

At that point, Roman jumped into action and I quickly followed, following Patton towards the source of the scream. What was going on?

I slowed as I came to a stunned Patton, who had tears rolling down his cheeks as he just stared.

My heart figuratively dropped.

He was lying on the floor - curling up against the wall adjacent to his room, curling into himself - a sobbing and screaming mess.

Anxiety.

___________________________
Welp enjoy that fluff and cliffhanger XD
(or you could read the companion to this and already know *nudge* *nudge*)

-Max :)