I woke up this morning with a serious craving for pancakes. Not just any pancakes though. I wanted pancakes specifically from a café I went to years ago. They were the best I've ever tasted, and ever since then I have a craving for them on random days such as today.

Sadly, it's an hour and a half train ride away in Brighton. I had them when I was visiting my Dad, who lives there after my parents divorce.

I checked the clock to see it was only half past ten in the morning. My brain sprung to a spontaneous place as I called George's phone earlier.

"What?" he answered.

"Are you awake?" I asked. Usually he sounds as if he just woke up when I call before one, so it's surprising to hear him not only awake but also sounding as if he's walking somewhere.

"Yes I'm awake, dumbass." I pictured him rolling his eyes at me. "How else would I be talking?"

"Shut up, and I'm pretty sure you talk in your sleep," I said, "I meant to ask why you sounded so out and about this early in the morning?"

"It's a beautiful ten in the morning, Maia." His voice was lined with sarcasm, "Why aren't you awake at this time?"

I rolled my eyes and chose to ignore him.

"Hey, do you want to go on an adventure?" I asked him.

"Depends," he said warily, "What'd you have up your sleeve?"

"Want to go to Brighton?"

He chuckled at my question. "Wait, are you serious? Today? For what?"

I took a deep breath, ready for the lecture he was about to give. Or maybe not give, depending on his mood. He's a strange guy.

"To get pancakes.." I said it quietly as if to tone down the reason. It was a small reason, and the ticket will cost more than the food itself. But I want those pancakes so badly.

"Maia, we are not taking a train ride to get pancakes. That is just so stupid. I mean, why would that even cross your mind in hopes that I would say okay to that? You are ridiculous sometimes, you know?" he lectured me, but all in good fun. He was joking, but he really did think my idea was stupid.

"Ugh," I pouted even though he couldn't see me, "I guess I'll just make pancakes all to myself."

"Okay."

"Unless," I tried to hint, "someone wanted to come help me make them."

"I don't know," he said, "who would?"

My mood changed at his idiocy. "Nevermind. You're uninvited."

"Who said I wanted to be invited?" he shot back. "What if I have plans?"

"With who?" I asked, "Dream? Is he in town? Because that's the only reason you can skip out on pancakes, mister."

"No, why would you even guess that?"

"I don't know, it was a wild guess." I shrugged even though he still couldn't see me. Maybe I should stop reacting in person when I'm on the phone. "Who do you have plans with?"

"Wild is right, but I have plans so bye." And with that, he had hung up on me.

"Jerk," I mumbled under my breath.

And that's how I got to the point of making pancakes all by myself. It felt quite sad here without George actually. Not that I would ever let him know that.

My phone ringing breaks my train of thought. I wipe some batter on a towel before answering.

"MAIA" Tommy yells before I get the chance to even say hello. "WHERE ARE YOU?"

I glance around my area as if it's changed in the past ten seconds since answering the phone.

"My kitchen?"

"I'm with George and Wilbur," Tommy tells me. I can hear two people saying hello in the distance. "Do you want to join the vlog? It's going to be a blast."

"Tommy," I say slowly, "I think you might be forgetting one tiny detail."

"No I'm not," he says with no hesitation at all.

"I'm faceless," I tell him once again, "I can't be on a vlog as of right now."

He sighs defeatedly. "Fine, we'll talk to you later."

He hangs up the phone without saying goodbye. Someone should really teach him some manners. I blame Wilbur. Not sure why, but I do.

I'm sitting on my couch as I scroll through TikTok when my phone rings again.

"Hello?" I say as I answer.

"Hey," Tommy says, "Would you maybe want to go to dinner with us? We're done filming."

I smile sadly at the offer. It would only take one fan recognizing them for my face to be all over the internet. It's a risk, and I don't think I can take it. It's sweet that Tommy wants to meet me, but now's not a good time. Especially out in public.

"I would love to," I say, "but I have to be on Quackity's stream tonight with Karl."

"You're leaving us for Americans?" Tommy sounds appalled.

"Quackity isn't American, dumbass." I can hear George laugh in the background. I must be on speakerphone.

"Hi George, is this why you couldn't go to Brighton this morning?" I ask.

"Brighton?" Another voice, Wilbur I'm guessing, asks, "Why did you want to go to Brighton?"

"Pancakes." George and I say at the same time.

"Totally understand.." Wilbur chuckles.

"No, don't take their side," George interjects, "It was a dumb plan."

"Eh," Wilbur weighs it around, "We have some places with some really good pancakes."

"Thank you for taking my side, Wilbur," I say, "You are officially my best friend now."

Tommy laughs. "You really just kicked George out like that?"

"Yes, he called me crazy and said I have dumb plans," I defend.

"I think it's valid."

"Shut up, Wilbur," George says, jokingly annoyed.

"Hey, don't talk about my best friend that way." I can barely hold in my laugh.

"That's it, you're done." George huffs before the line goes silent.

I laugh a little at him hanging up on me. I'm not too worried. I know he'll call me back later when he gets home. He'll probably even ask about pancakes if we're being honest.