"Hey, LaF," Laura greets as she walks through the door of the bakery. A little bell dings when she opens the door.
"Hey, Laura. The usual?" LaFontaine asks.
"Yeah and do you have any of those cinnamon buns? I've had a long day,"
"I don't know. I'll ask Perry," they say before disappearing into the back.
Perry owns the bakery and LaFontaine works there. Perry bakes and handles the behind the scenes work. While LaFontaine manages the customers and handles the front of the bakery. The bakery has a small front room with a counter sitting across from the front door. The counter is a glass case filled with all sorts of goodies that goes from wall to wall. Behind the counter is a door that leads to the back where everything is made. On either side of the door there is shelves full of breads and other baked things. In the corner there is a coffee machine. Small bistro tables fill the rest of the room and against one wall there is booth seating. There are a few tables in front of the store for when it's warm.
Laura puts her money on the counter and slumps down into her usual seat at the table by the counter. She drops her bag next to her and rubs her eyes. She sighs, today was a long day.
"Perry's just about to take a fresh batch out of the oven," Laura jumps a little at Lafontaines voice.
"Great. Today sucked, but at least I have Perry's cinnamon buns,"
"What happened? You're missing your usual chipperness. Did Danny make fun of your pescaterianism again?" LaF asks as they puts the money into the register.
"No, Danny wasn't on my shift today. I'm just tired, I didn't get much sleep last night,"
"Oh, up all night for any fun reasons?" LaF asks with a wiggle of their eyebrows.
"No, shut up," Laura blushes. "I was up with Netflix if you must know."
"Buffy again?" LaF asks as they makes Laura's hot chocolate.
"Yeah," Laura responds. "I'm just tired and this lady at work was being a raging b- bad person."
"What did she do?" LaF asks and sets the cup of cocoa on the table. They lean against the counter.
After taking a sip of her drink Laura says "This lady came in with her 3 kids. The kids weren't really the problem, I mean they were loud and annoying and made a huge mess, but they're kids so whatever. It was the mom that was the worst. She made all these special requests on her meal and I wrote them all down."
Laura takes a sip of her cocoa, "So I brought out the food and when I tried to leave she did that thing where she snaps and says miss, miss. Apparently I forgot the pickles. I hate it when people snap at me, but I kept my smile on and took it back. Luckily she didn't bother me for the rest of her meal, but then she leaves and I go to clear her table and guess what."
"What?"
"She left me a dollar and 37 cent tip. In change," Laura scowls, "It wasn't even big change like quarters. It was nickles and pennies. I mean come on! I put up with her special requests and her finger snapping and her kids, with a smile on my face, and she leaves me a dollar and 37 cents on a 65 dollar check. I mean come on!"
"That sucks," LaF says with a sympathetic smile.
"Yeah," Laura sighs, "I'm fine though. The day is over and now I get to drink my cocoa and eat a cinnamon bun and relax. Speaking of which where is the cinnamon bun?"
"I'll go check," LaF says before they disappear into the back again.
Laura holds her cocoa with both her hands and looks around the bakery. She loves coming in after work because her shift usually lets off between busy times. Usually when she comes in its just her and LaFontaine and Perry. Today though there's another person in the bakery.
A girl is sitting in the corner drinking coffee and reading a book. Laura can't see what book it is and it's obstructing the girls face.
Laura moves a little to get a good look. She leans over so far she falls out of her chair. She lets out a small oomph as she hits the ground. Smooth Hollis. The girl doesn't seem to notice and just keeps reading. Laura gets up and sits back in her seat. Just then LaF comes out of the back.
"One delicious cinnamon bun," LaF says as they sets it down in front of Laura with a flourish and a bow.
"Thanks, LaF," Laura says with a laugh.
"I'm gonna go help Perry in the back for a bit. You going to be okay or do you want to keep venting about the bad person?"
"No, I'm fine, I have my cocoa and sugar. Go help Perry,"
"Okay," LaF says before disappearing into the back.
Laura keeps staring at the girl as she ingests her sugar. She can only see her eyes and the top of her head, but from what she can see the girl is pretty.
She has long curled dark hair. Black eyeliner drawn across her eyelid. Laura wishes she could see her eyes, but they are pointed down at the book. Laura is plotting ways of getting the girls attention, maybe she could fall out of her chair again, when the girls phone vibrates of the table. She sets down the book and picks up the phone. Laura finally sees her face and wow. This girl is beautiful. She has high cheekbones and this insanely perfect jawline. Her eyes are dark brown and the expertly drawn eyeliner accentuates them perfectly. Her red lipstick is the perfect contrast to her flawless fair skin.
Laura just sits there gaping at this girl. She has to find out who she this magnificent creature is. She says creature because beauty like this can't be human.
The girl smiles down at her phone and Laura thinks she going to die. She didn't think the girl could get more beautiful, but that smile.
Laura shakes her head to bring herself out of the daze this girl put her into. She has to talk to this girl, now before she leaves. Ignoring her nerves Laura takes a deep breath and walks over to the girl.
"Hi, my names Laura. Whats yours if you don't mind me asking?"
The girl doesn't respond. She just keeps typing on her phone.
Laura tries again, "What are you reading?"
Still no response. The girl either doesn't know Laura's there or is purposefully ignoring her.
"Um, excuse me," Laura continues.
The girl doesn't react.
"Could you at least acknowledge you heard me?"
The girl doesn't.
"Well fine then. Have a nice day," Laura huffs and goes back to her seat.
That girl is so rude. She didn't have to talk to Laura, but she could have at least looked at her. Laura scowls at the girl. Maybe it's better she didn't respond. Who wants to be friends with someone so rude anyway. Laura keeps scowling at the girl. She's never going to talk to her again. The girl smiles again. Okay maybe she's not so bad Laura thinks. No, no, keep it together Hollis. A nice, okay amazing, smile doesn't make a nice person.
The girl puts her phone down. She grabs her book and gets up. She sips what's left of her drink and licks her lips. Laura's staring now instead of scowling. Laura shakes her head. Damn it Hollis get it together. Yes she's hot, but you are not going there. Just let it go.
The girl is walking out of the bakery when she looks over at Laura. Laura freezes and looks back. Oh no. The girl looks her over and smirks before walking out of the door. Laura sits there for a moment trying to remember how to breathe and willing her heart to stop pounding. She looked at her, she smiled at her. Stop it Hollis. You can't go there. It's not happening.
Laura groans and puts her head into her hands, "Worst crush ever."
"Who do you have a crush on now?" LaF laughs as they enter the room.
"No one," Laura grumbles as she glares up at them.
"Come on. Tell me. What's wrong?"
"Nothing,"
"Fine don't tell me. I'll guess," LaF says and rubs their imaginary beard, "Who would Laura have a crush on?"
"LaF stop it,"
"Then tell me,"
"No,"
"Well then I'm going to have to guess. Is it the girl you met at the bookstore? What's her name, the chick who's way into Harry Potter?"
"Elsie? No it's not Elsie,"
"Oh, I know. It's that obnoxious girl from your lit class. Um, Betty!"
"No,"
"Do you want me to keep guessing or will you just tell me. This can go on all night,"
"Fine," Laura grumbles "I don't know her name."
"Ooh, mystery girl," LaF grins.
"I just saw her, but when I tried to talk to her she didn't respond. She didn't even acknowledge my presence. I don't care how incredibly attractive she is there is no excuse for being rude," Laura says, her face bunching up the way it does when she's annoyed.
A grin spreads across LaF's face and they snickers a little shaking their head.
"What?" Laura asks.
"Nothing," they say, still laughing.
"What?" Laura repeats, getting more annoyed.
"Was she sitting over in that corner?" LaF points to where the girl was sitting.
"Yeah. How did you know?"
"That's Carmilla,"
"I don't care what her name is. It doesn't change the fact that she was rude,"
LaF laughs again.
"What's so fricking funny?" Laura asks.
"Nothing. It's just she wasn't being rude,"
"Well I think ignoring people is pretty rude."
"No, no. She wasn't being rude she's…" LaF stops mid sentence and considers their next words.
"What? She's what?"
"Talk to her again,"
"But," Laura starts, but is cut off by LaFontaine.
"Just do it. She's pretty nice. Just make sure you get her attention. Tap her on the shoulder or something," LaF says and tries to contain their smile.
"There's something you're not telling me," Laura narrows her eyes at them.
"Just talk to her. I'll text you the next time I see her in here,"
"Fine I'll talk to her, but I can't promise I'll be nice,"
"Laura Hollis not being nice. I'd pay to see that,"
"Well if she's rude again you wont have to," Laura says. Laura looks at her phone. "I have to go."
"Okay, see you tomorrow,"
"See ya," Laura says as she's leaving.
LaF is back behind the counter.
"Oh, hey LaF," Laura says from the doorway.
"Yeah?"
"You have a little something right here," Laura says and gestures to her mouth.
LaFontaine reaches up and wipes Perry's lipstick off with the back of their hand.
"Bye," Laura says with a smile and exits the bakery.
This is my first fic. What do you think? Should I continue it?
