Don't Distract Me, I'm Cooking.

“Hey, Robin! Come here,” Drake exclaimed, calling for his friend. He had some task to do with him in the kitchen. Robin arrived immediately, “What is it, my red mop-headed friend?” Drake playfully punched his shoulder, “Hey, don't call me like that! The fact that my red hair is long doesn't mean that I'm a mop!” The two friends laughed at each other, and Robin looked down at the table. “Hmm… toast bread, cheese, salami, ketchup. Why do we have it here?” Drake slowly showed Robin the pizza picture cut out of the box, saying nothing. However, Robin took a hint, “Aha, pizza time, huh?” And then, Drake nodded in agreement, “Let's make the pizza toasts, shall we? I'll also make one for Doi.” Drake put on his blue apron and grabbed a slice of bread from the stack. “Alright, step one: toast the bread,” he said, placing it into the toaster and pushing down the lever. As the bread started to toast, he turned his attention to the cheese. “For the classic pizza toast, we need a good amount of mozzarella cheese,” Drake explained, as he grabbed a grater and began shredding the cheese block onto a plate. “We want it nice and melty when we put it on the toast.” Meanwhile, Robin was busy gathering toppings for his Supreme Variant pizza toast. He retrieved sliced pepperoni, diced onions, bell peppers, black olives, and even some fresh basil leaves. As he chopped and arranged the toppings on a separate plate, his mouth watered at the thought of the flavorful combination. Drake, now with the toasted bread in hand, spread a generous amount of ketchup on one side. “We'll use ketchup as the sauce substitute.” He chuckled at the unconventional choice. “It's not the traditional pizza sauce, but it adds a tangy flavor.” Next, Drake carefully layered the shredded mozzarella cheese over the ketchup-covered bread. “Cheese is the heart and soul of any pizza, right?” Robin remarked, admiring Drake's creation. Drake nodded, “I'll also add some salami to my toast. By the way, here goes the fun fact: the more cheese, the better. And, I'll leave mine for a bit longer, because I think that if the pizza toast is slightly burned, it'd taste better.” Robin chuckled at his friend's comment. “And now, into the oven it goes, just for a few minutes to melt the cheese!” Drake said, eventually, as if announcing some special performance. As Drake preheated the oven and placed his pizza toast inside, Robin began assembling his Supreme Variant. He spread a thin layer of ketchup on one slice, just like Drake, then added a generous heap of toppings. The vibrant colors of the vegetables made it look even more appetizing. Drake watched Robin with curiosity as he finished assembling his masterpiece. “Wow, that's quite an elaborate version you've got there,” he commented. Robin replied, “But hey, variety is the spice of life!” With the oven timer beeping, Drake retrieved his pizza toast and placed it on a plate. The melted cheese oozed over the edges, making it look even more delicious. “Voila, a simple yet satisfying classic pizza toast,” he proclaimed proudly. Meanwhile, Robin carefully folded his loaded slice of bread, creating a «pizza envelope». He secured it with toothpicks before placing it in the oven for a quick warm-up. “There you have it, the Supreme Variant,” Robin said with a grin. “It's like a pizza pocket bursting with flavors!” As they waited for the oven to work its magic, Drake started to do the pizza envelope for Doi. The boy arrived to the kitchen, “What a good smell. What are you two doing?” Drake explained, “Doing pizza toasts for us all. I'm making the one for you as well, doing the envelope-like one. Want to have something extravagant for the topping?” Doi's eyes widened with excitement as he replied, “Yes! Surprise me with something delicious!” Robin immediately rushed to the fridge, “I got it, boy! Take a good look!” Robin rummaged through the refrigerator and found some leftover grilled chicken, sliced mushrooms, and a jar of marinara sauce. He had an idea brewing in his mind. He quickly grabbed a slice of bread and spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on it. “Doi, how about a Chicken Mushroom Marinara pizza toast? It's going to be a flavor explosion!” Robin exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious. Doi nodded eagerly, “That sounds amazing! Let's do it!” Robin then turned to his friend, “Drake, I trust you to do it for this young man. Do your magic!” Drake carefully layered the grilled chicken and sliced mushrooms on top of the marinara sauce. He then added a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese to hold everything together. “Alright, now it's time to fold it into an envelope,” Drake said, demonstrating the folding technique to Doi. With toothpicks securing the edges, Drake placed Doi's pizza toast in the oven alongside the others. “Now we wait for a few minutes until it's nice and toasty,” Drake said, setting the timer. As the aroma of melting cheese and flavorful toppings filled the air, the three friends eagerly waited for their creations to finish baking. They chatted and laughed, sharing stories and jokes, making the time fly by. Finally, the timer beeped, and Drake carefully removed the pizza toasts from the oven. The cheese was perfectly melted, creating a gooey layer over the delicious toppings. The friends couldn't help but admire their creations. Drake, Robin, and Doi gathered around the table, each excited to try their unique pizza toasts. They took their first bites, savoring the blend of flavors and textures. The classic, the Supreme Variant, and the Chicken Mushroom Marinara pizza toasts all exceeded their expectations. With satisfied smiles, the friends enjoyed their homemade pizza toasts, knowing that their impromptu kitchen adventure had turned into a delicious success. As they savored the last bites, they couldn't help but feel grateful for good food, great company, and the joy of culinary exploration. “By the way,” Doi stated, finishing up his pizza toast, “we also had the big pizza with only the cheese, brought by my mommy. Where is it now?” Drake then looked at Robin with a sly grin, as if ready to set up a trap for him. “I, uh…” Robin said with a shaking voice, cackling awkwardly and nervously. Drake then answered Doi's question, “Robin swallowed it all alone, even in front of your mom Lesley. And he didn't leave us a single piece.” Drake's accusation prompted a playful yet shocked reaction from Doi. “Seriously, Robin? You ate the whole pizza by yourself? That's impressive!” he exclaimed, his eyes widening in mock disbelief. Robin scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “Well, uh, it was just too good to resist! I couldn't help myself,” he confessed, accompanied by a guilty smile. “I promise I'll make it up to you guys somehow.” Drake and Doi burst into laughter, teasing Robin about his undeniable love for pizza. “You're lucky we still had the ingredients to make these awesome pizza toasts,” Drake said, nudging Robin playfully. “Otherwise, you'd be in big trouble!” Robin joined in on the laughter, realizing his pizza-devouring antics had provided entertainment for his friends. “I'll make it my mission to make it up to you both,” he declared dramatically, pretending to be a hero on a noble quest. “I shall find the most delicious pizza in town and share it with you!” The friends continued to enjoy their pizza toasts, savoring the flavors and relishing in their shared laughter. They knew that, in the end, it was the moments they spent together and the memories they created that mattered most. With full tummies and hearts, the trio sat back, content in the knowledge that their friendship could weather even the greatest pizza-related challenges. And as they made plans for their next culinary adventure, they knew it would be filled with laughter, surprises, and, of course, plenty of pizza.