Behold my creation!!!
Nat's New Neighbor
Nat unceremoniously drops her bag onto the living room coffee table with a grin painted on her face. In her hands is a tin foil wrapped baking dish.
“I just met our new neighbor outside!” she exclaims happily.
“We know,” Farrah says without looking away from her phone, “Ava’s been trying to hide from her all morning.”
“No!” Ava pops her head in from the kitchen, her cheeks blazing in embarrassment, “I was not hiding, I was–”
“Avoiding?” Farrah supplies without looking up, “Ghosting?”
“She was hiding,” Morgan says from the corner.
Ava crosses her arms, “I just don’t see the need in introducing yourself to everyone.”
“Well that’s too bad,” Nat says as she unwraps the tinfoil, “Because she gave us a lovely casserole as a welcoming gift.”
Morgan scrunches her nose, “Smells like shit.”
“It smells lovely,” Nat spits back.
“Ooh, is that basil???” Farrah asks as she jumps up from the couch to inspect the dish. “Oh man, this looks amazing.”
Ava makes a strangled noise that dies in her throat. Then, she turns on her heel and stalks into the kitchen. In a moment she marches back out with a box of Cheez-Its and a frown on her face. She stops at the front door and turns around, her arms crossed.
“Well?” Ava asks expectantly, “Let’s go greet her.”
Morgan groans.
“With…Cheez-Its?” Farrah asks, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Ava rolls her eyes as though it’s the most obvious thing in the world, “Well I’m not letting her win at this whole welcoming thing!”
Nat only smiles as she gently takes the box from Ava’s hands. “I absolutely agree, but perhaps we should try something less…manufactured?”
Ava nods, contemplating. “Yes, that’s right. Fight like-gifts with like-gifts.” She gasps and strikes her fist into her open palm, “And a homemade four course meal will outdo anything she tries next, so we automatically win!”
Just as Farrah opens her mouth to say something, Nat covers her mouth with her hand and whispers in her ear harshly, “Shh! This is the closest I’ve gotten to a dinner party in ages. Don’t ruin this!”
edit: This took longer than expected because I tried to make it a proper fic.
I also saw the rest of your suggestions and I’m bookmarking them for when I have more time.