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“Explain it one more time?”
Scott McCall and Kira Yukimura stood in the kitchen, ingredients spilling on the counter. Scott stared at the mix. A Walmart bag held a bottle of vanilla, sugar, and cocoa powder, while Kira had started unpacking rice cakes and bottles with colorful Korean lettering.
“It’s more of a thing in Korea, we celebrate the new year on February first because it’s the second new moon after the solstice.” Kira said.
“So, all Koreans celebrate their birthday today?” Scott asked, brow furrowed. Kira shook her head.
“No, well, kind of. We do celebrate the day we were born, but count the age today,” she explained. “So I’m 17 now, even though my birthday isn’t for a few months.”
“And the soup..” Scott trailed off.
“Is ddeokguk, the way kids add a year to their age.” Kira finished. Scott smiled as she pulled a pan from under the counter.
“I’m glad you have someone in Beacon Hills to celebrate with, then,” he said softly. Kira’s parents had gone back to New York to escape the supernatural dangers that had found them.
Kira blushed. “Ok, your turn,” she said, pointing at the bag. Scott took out the ingredients, checking them on a list he’d pulled up on his phone.
“It’s nothing for the new year, but my mom helped me make some buns this morning for sweet bread, she said they’re called conchas." He moved to the fridge, pulling out a baking sheet with a few round loaves on it. “I just have to make the topping, it’s kind of like streusel? And then we bake them all together,” he finished. Kira watched as he started measuring ingredients into a bowl, stirring her own pot as it began to bubble.
“So, why the interest in tradition all of a sudden?” she asked. Scott hesitated.
“I guess I’ve never really been connected with my mom’s side, you know? We grew up with my dad here, and he thought being involved would make it harder for us to fit in with everyone else.” Kira nodded. “And then the other day I was listening to my mom on the phone, and she was talking in Spanish, and it just hit me that I didn’t even understand most of it. Most of my friends have been White, so I’ve never really noticed since I didn’t have to. But I’m half Mexican, until now I’ve only ever experienced being American.” he finished.
“I get it,” Kira said. “I mean, it’s better now than ever, isn’t it? Since we have a lot more than where our parents came from that won’t let us fit in,” she said, flashing golden eyes to emphasize her point. Scott grinned.
“Yeah. I asked my mom about it, and she’s helping me learn better Spanish. So yesterday, I was practicing on the phone with my grandma and she gave me the recipe for these,” he said as he arranged the sweet crumble on the buns.
“So, what have you learned so far?” Kira asked.
“Well, I’ve always known how to introduce myself, but I can hold a conversation about someone’s day now,” he said.
Kira smiled mischievously. “Anything interesting? Like, any fun new words I can use when Malia breaks in through the window,” she stopped stirring, trailing her fingers over Scott’s arm. “Or… cute names I can call you?” she whispered as Scott pulled her in by the waist.
“Ah,” he smiled. “ Te quiero, tesoro," Scott murmured, tugging Kira into a soft kiss.
She giggled into it, before turning back to the stove. “So, your grandma is teaching you how to woo all of the girls?”
Scott wrapped his arms around her, tucking his head into her shoulder. “Nope, just this one.”
As Kira held up a still-hot spoonful for him to taste, Scott felt the warmth of having someone by his side that could share these important experiences, supernatural or otherwise.