"Chopped" Fan Fiction - Chapter 1

Due to a few requests, I've actually started writing some "Chopped" fan fiction.  Yes, I recognize how ridiculous this is but I challenge you not to kind of get into it.  
Enjoy fellow Food Network fans!

CHAPTER ONE

“Cut!  That’s a wrap!”

It had been a tough shoot day.  Alex Guarnaschelli, Geoffrey Zakarian and Aaron Sanchez all let out a shared, audible sigh.  It wasn’t abnormal that a shoot would go this long but it was abnormal to have to deal with an unruly contestant on the show. 

Tripp was as arrogant as he was talented.  His attitude made the judges cringe, but they couldn’t deny the flavors he managed to create dish after dish. 

“I feel like I need to take a shower.”  Aaron joked weakly. 

Tripp’s opponent was an older woman named Jackie who was in her 40s.  She spent her time working as a chef in a centre for troubled youth.  And while her altruistic nature warmed the judges hearts, her food just wasn’t as good as Tripp’s.

“Well it’s not a popularity contest.” Geoffrey replied flatly as he removed his tortoise shell glasses and began to clean them using the corner of his suit jacket.

“You need to start wearing ties.” Alex quipped.  “If for no other reason than as a cleaning cloth.”

Zakarian chuckled.  Alex always seemed to be able to make him laugh at the moments where it felt most impossible. 

“Well I’m off.  I have an early morning tomorrow.”  Aaron was out of the studio in what felt like a flash.  He was friends with his fellow judges but just not in the same way that Geoffrey and Alex were.  People would often refer to them as “work spouses”.  They had the kind of connection some people only dream of having. And when you find it, it’s usually with the person you choose to spend your life with.  However, when you meet someone later in life after you’ve already chosen your life partner things can get sticky.  “Work spouses” seemed like the most appropriate relationship for two soulmates who were both already married with kids. 

But today was different.  The air felt heavy around these best friends.  There were a million words dangling in the ether that longed to be said.  But they weren’t. 

Geoffrey and Alex sat in silence in the now-empty studio both staring straight ahead.  Motionless.  An eternity seemed to pass within each heartbeat. 

And then, without a sound, Geoffrey placed his hand upon Alex’s.  A muted movement that brought with it a million words all being screamed at the same time.  All of the things that had never been said were now being shouted in the silence.  The electricity that Alex felt from Geoffrey’s gentle touch was unlike anything she had ever experienced.  She felt it inside.  In her core.   Like a current pulsing through her; she felt alive. 

Her head turned slowly.  Her eyes searching, yearning, begging to be met with his.   His gaze complied.  And they sat.  In silence.  In each other’s eyes.  Really inside of them.  For the first time.