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[december 17, 2004]

once y/n and mike stepped into the pizza shop, the warm air hit her immediately, a stark contrast to the freezing cold outside. y/n glanced around, surprised to see just how crowded the place was, especially given how late it was. booths were filled with families, couples, and small groups of friends, their laughter and conversation mingling with the soft buzz of an old jukebox playing in the corner. the smell of melted cheese, tangy tomato sauce, and fresh dough hung thick in the air, making her stomach growl despite her earlier insistence that she wasn't all that hungry. before she could soak in more of the atmosphere, y/n noticed mike walking straight to the counter, his gaze fixed on the large, illuminated menu overhead. she followed behind him, her eyes skimming the options.

it had been a while since she last had pizza, so the variety of choices felt almost overwhelming. the cashier, a young man with a friendly smile and a red cap embroidered with the shop's logo, greeted them cheerily. "evening, folks! looks like the cold's got everyone craving pizza tonight. do y'all know what you wanna eat?"

y/n opened her mouth to respond, but before she could get a word out, mike jumped in. "we'll get three slices each," he said confidently, completely overriding her chance to speak. y/n blinked, caught off guard. her annoyance flared as she remembered telling him earlier that she wasn't that hungry. while she appreciated him taking the lead, ordering three slices for her felt excessive. she pressed her lips together, biting back a comment as mike continued, oblivious. "i'll go with pepperoni, cheese, and a veggie," he told the cashier who nodded, punching the order into the system before turning to y/n with the same polite smile.

"and for you, miss?" he asked.

y/n let out a quiet breath, giving herself a moment to refocus. her eyes flicked back to the menu, scanning it one last time before answering. "i'll have a slice of (first choice), one (second choice), and..." she hesitated for a moment before adding, "a plain cheese." she knew she wouldn't finish all three slices tonight, but she figured the last one could be for nora once she arrived. nora was bound to be starving after her late shift, and y/n liked the idea of saving her a little surprise.

"any drinks for today?" the cashier asked, his hands already poised to punch in their answer.

"just the pizza for today, thanks," mike replied before y/n could answer, once again taking control of the situation. he pulled out his card and tapped it against the reader, the machine beeping as the transaction went through.

the cashier handed mike the receipt and smiled. "your order number is 27. just grab a seat, and we'll call you up when your pizza is ready," he instructed, motioning to the bustling dining area behind them.

"thank you," y/n said politely, though her tone was subdued.

mike didn't seem to notice her irritation as he turned and gestured toward an empty booth near the back of the shop. "there's a spot over there," he said, leading the way. y/n followed, sliding into the seat across from him. the noise of the shop felt a bit overwhelming now, the mix of clinking plates, chatter, and the hum of the jukebox pressing against her tired mind.