Today was not a day for sunshine. I wasn't depressed enough to take the apartment directly above the bakery when I first moved here, but close enough. I wanted to hide from the world, and being able to walk to work in the dark every day was the best thing for me.

The snow was glorious in the pre-dawn light, but even as I hugged my coat tighter around myself, I knew those creeping rays of light were leading to a sunny day.

Contrary to my roots, and to the ideals of everyone else in this middle-of-nowhere Scottish town, I dreaded the sun. It made the snow melt, it made me carry my soft coat and snug little scarf home instead of wearing them like a hug. The sun was my worst nightmare, and today it would shine bright and yellow, getting warmer as the day dragged on.

I huffed and pushed the back door open, it was unlocked as Eoin, the head chef, was already here. He always arrived an hour earlier than myself as he liked to make the dough from scratch each day. I was lazy, but I was also in charge of the cupcakes and other délicatesse, which required an hour or two of mixing at most.

I gave the brightening sky one last glare before shutting myself in and hanging up my puffy coat and gloves, I kicked my kit bag against the wall and then apologised to it. Shaking my head, I mumbled a greeting towards the oven as I donned the apron and hat. Eoin chuckled as I stalked into the prep area, struggling with the ties behind my back.

"What's go' yer hair all up?"

I shook my head and smiled, "Nothing, don't mind me."

Eoin shrugged and continued kneading the sizeable lump of dough before him. "Did you hear about the new guy?" He asked innocently.

I kept my back on him, finally giving up on the blasted ties, and just tucking them into the back of my jeans. Some days I just had to admit defeat and get on with it. I cleared my throat softly and bent to gather the mixing apparatus.

"Er, yeah, is that today?"

I ignored the playful snort directed at me, "Yes, and mind you play nice, he is only here to help."

"Sure, sure." I muttered, moving out of the bright prep area, round the corner to the walk-in refrigerator where my ingredients were kept.

I kept on muttering to myself as I piled everything into my arms, it's not that I was unfriendly, I just seemed to rub people the wrong way. 'Stranger danger' being the eternal song played on repeat in my head.

My hands were full, I shuffled carefully out of the fridge and had to kick the door closed on the way out. As I turned to make my way carefully back, I bumped into someone, hard.

I exhaled in surprise, and then jumped back and dropped half my things. The person before me was no one I knew, scraggly dark hair, icy blue eyes set against much too pale skin. Annoyance crossed his features and I called for Eoin before he could move.

Eoin presented an intimidating, if slightly humorous sight, as all 6'3 of him came barrelling forth, powder streaming and rolling pin in hand.

"What is it- Oh?" I relaxed slightly as his demeanour shifted from intimidation to welcome. "Ailey, ye scared me lass!"

I shifted between them, slightly discouraged by the way stranger had flicked a glance at Eoin and immediately dismissed him, despite his obviously threatening entrance. He stood there expectantly, and Eoin took his hair net off to offer the stranger a handshake.

"We weren't expecting you so early son, I'm Eoin, and this is Ailey."

The stranger immediately brightened, offering Eoin a smile, "Eoin, Ailey," he offered me the smile, but I took too long to react so he turned back to Eoin, "My name is Lathan."

"You are very welcome Lathan, please come through, seein' as yer here ye may as well get acquainted with things."

Lathan glanced at me one more time, then smoothly bent down and picked up everything I had dropped, before turning away and following Eoin.

My hands were slightly freer, but I turned and gave the fridge a swift kick, to make sure it was closed of course, and returned to my working space. Where the treacherous ingredients were waiting, neatly stacked in their appropriate order. I frowned at them silently, and then brushed off the encounter and began my preparations. The familiar routine soon had me relaxing, and I forgot to feel embarrassed about being rude and clumsy.

Today, being the sunny catastrophe it was destined to be, I made giant pretzels, and sticky koeksisters for the more optimistic folk to enjoy as they sat outside. The syrup was being stubborn, and sat in a bowl by the side for me to deal with later. My hands were full of the stuff and there was no longer any way for me to avoid crossing the room to where Eoin and the new comer chatted freely by the sink.

Eoin smiled as I came over, and the new comer looked up. I quickly looked away, kicking myself for getting off to such an awkward start with him, and being too socially inept to fix the problem-that-was-not-actually-a-problem.

I turned the tap on with my elbow, grateful for the easy twist-handle so I could avoid interrupting their conversation to ask for help, and cleaned away all traces of the annoying syrup. As I turned the tap off, I realised the silence was weighted. I looked up and saw both the gentlemen looking at me expectantly.

"I'm sorry?" I said, having missed a question for sure.

Lathan smiled and said, "I was just asking if you are alright?"

I blushed and looked at my sneakers, "Yes, thank you." Eoin's eyes sparkled and I frowned at him. Lathan was still watching me, so I amended, "It was just… all sticky, needed to wash my fingers. And hands, uhm," I peeked up, as I expected Lathan looked a tad confused, Eoin was ready to burst a seam. I rolled my eyes, blushed some more and cursed my awkwardness. "I need to…" I gestured to my work station and trailed off, "Ah, yeah, cupcakes."

As I walked away I dried my hands on my apron, which of course untucked the silly ties from the back where they were holding down the fort. I slowed my steps so I could focus on tying the damned things back up before I had to make more mess with the syrup. I was met with some success, and could brush off the barely concealed laughter coming from Eoin as he continued telling Lathan about our day to day duties.

I cracked and separated some eggs. As I beat the egg whites, I mumbled to myself. Why on earth we needed another 'helping hand' was beyond me. This was a tiny little coffee shop, in a tiny little town, we had one waitress, one cash keeper (who only came at noon after my shift ended) and one baker (Eoin). Even I was an excessive hire, just because I could bake a half decent croissant once in a while did not excuse it.

But Eoin had a soft heart, and plenty of money. He opened the store with his early retirement money, and kept it going because let's face it, there is nothing better than fresh bread and hot milo on a cold winter's day. He was constantly hiring these troubled youths to help "keep the place tidy" until they were back on their feet and he could dust his own work station again.

Lathan was a mystery, kind of like myself. Clearly not young enough to be a high school drop out looking to pad their CV, and not old enough to be looking at settling down in an easy going job-on-the-side. He was about my age, I could guess, early to mid-twenties. Maybe he was a convict, out on parole? He certainly had the right amount of mischief crinkled in the corners of his eyes to be some sort of crook, or trouble maker.

"Excuse me?"

I just about jumped out my skin as a soft voice sought to catch my attention. I dropped the bowl with a thud and a fleck of white fluff landed on my cheek. I clutched my heart and then chuckled, embarrassed.

"Oh, Lathan, you startled me."

His eyes twinkled, definitely mischief, "My apologies."

I huffed a little unsteadily, wiped my cheek, and picked up the bowl again. "What can I do for you?" I asked and began to beat the egg whites.

"Well, I have finished speaking with Eoin and he has informed me of my duties, which it would appear I am too early to perform."

I tested the peaks on the whites and then carried on beating, "Well, yes, the others don't normally get here until eight."

He chuckled, "As I have been told, however, since I am already here, I was wondering if you needed any help?"

I paused, "Well, uhm, I'm actually nearly done with these, and then there is just the icing and garnish. So, no, not really."

I tested the whites, they were ready. I looked around and located the bowl of mix, as I reached for it Lathan's hands shot out and fetched it for me. I smiled, "Thanks."

As I folded the mixture I pondered the strange individual hovering in my work space. I hated having to think of small talk, clearly I was an awkward individual so did he really have to make matters worse. Couldn't he go stand… anywhere else?

"Am I bothering you?" His quiet voice was full of mirth.

I started pouring the mixture into the little tins for baking, and frowned, "Not at all."

He chuckled and I rushed over to the oven to quickly put the cupcakes in, setting the timer carefully. I checked through the little glass windows and smiled, happy that everything was baking according to schedule. I turned around and froze.

"What do you think you are doing?"

He was leaning against the counter, looking every bit like a model from the pages of some cheesy magazine, casually licking mixture off his finger from my spoon. He glanced up innocently, "Just tasting the batter, it's very good." His eyes narrowed mischievously, and his lips pressed into a fine line, he tilted his head as he said it and I felt goose bumps raise all up and down my arms.

I narrowed my eyes in turn, his entire posture was teasing, testing me, waiting for my overreaction. Just as I was about to stomp my feet and chuck him out of my kitchen, the back door opened and Eoin came rushing in. The blast of cold air broke my fury, and Eoin laughed as he shook the snow from his hair.

"Well lass, ye were right to worry about the rays, but 'twas the wind ye failed ter warn me about!"

His excitement died down as he took in my thunderous expression, "What happened now?"

I glared towards the new guy, and my mouth popped open in shock, he had somehow, innocently, gathered every dirty utensil into a neat pile and looked halfway through a step towards taking them to the sink to wash up.

Eoin raised his eyebrows expectantly, and I popped my mouth closed and cleared my throat, "Nothing Eoin, I'll be back soon."

I wiped my hands on my apron and hurried to the door. As I passed Lathan, he shot me a cheeky wink and then smoothed his expression and carried on.

I collected my bag from the door and stepped outside, the sun was warm and soft on my skin. I cringed, it was nice of course, but the snow was already forming little rivers down the sides of the alley. It was only the very beginning of spring, not time yet for my beautiful snow to run away.

Eoin was right about the wind, as I stood there mourning the snow, a freezing breeze whistled up the alley and blew my hair about. I shivered and hurried quickly up the stairs at the side of the building.

After the early morning baking, Eoin let me use his shower upstairs to freshen up for the rest of the day. There was normally no need for me to get dirty mixing up batter again during the rest of the day, as everything sold out in a steady stream with few rush orders to clean out all the stock at once. On those rare occasions that a big order did come in, Eoin would set aside his chores and help me out. So I felt fairly safe as I changed into my favourite tights and boots, clothes that would attract flour like the plague if I had to mix again.

Stupidly, I let thoughts of Lathan creep into my head as I packed away my things, I mean, what was that guy's problem? By the time I returned downstairs, the timers for everything would be ready to go off, but I was too huffed up again to notice that the ovens were empty as I donned gloves and opened up the doors.

I turned around in shock and saw Lathan bent over my work space, icing cupcakes, I rushed over, irritation and horror clouding my judgement. My feet got all tangled up in themselves and I hurtled into Lathan like a hurricane instead of smoothly walking over and shoving him away from my hard work.

He cried out in surprise as I inadvertently tackled him off his stool and landed on him like a heffalump.

The oven mitts broke my fall of course, but he must have hurt himself, I sat up immediately and started babbling. "Oh, gods, I'm so sorry! Lathan, are you alright?"

He sat up too, his blue eyes wide with shock, but some other instinct kicked in, and soon I was being hurled around and slammed against the floor. I gasped and cried out, but there was a hand on my mouth and something cold pressed against my throat. All of this in a split second of course, because as I saw the recognition his eyes, shock, anger, and then finally shame settled on his features and he released me. He jumped back like I had electrocuted him, and I half sat up, propped by an elbow.

We stared at each other for a while, each breathing hard and trying to guess what the other was thinking.

He was breathless, "What- why did you attack me?"

I bit my lip, still a bit shaken to be snarky. "I didn't. I tripped."

He frowned, "You tripped?"

"Yes, I was mad, and I didn't watch my feet and I tripped." I suddenly remembered what happened and got my feet under myself. He mirrored my actions, and we stood together, something about the way he moved reminded me of a cat, or a snake. Cautious, but ready to strike. "I came downstairs, and… All my stuff was moved, I saw you there with the cakes, and after you irritated me earlier, with the whole spoon thing." He no longer looked so shook, but the caution was there, "I'm sorry." I said again, "I didn't mean to… I didn't… but what was that?"

His hands were still outstretched, to hold me at bay in case I attacked him again? But now they lowered, "What?"

I gestured to the floor where the stool was still lying, taking a brief moment to marvel that none of my baked goods had fallen. "That! You flipped me like a pancake and… Who are you, some kind of spy?"

He laughed, but it was forced, "That reaction," a muscle in his jaw jumped, and my nostrils flared,"was normal when one is tackled off a chair by a crazy lady."

I frowned, "Hey! Look I didn't mean to do it, I just got all… fine, I got crazy, but you touched my cupcakes! They aren't ready yet!" Sufficiently distracted, I rushed to the table and inspected the goods, they were perfect. He had removed them at exactly the right time it would seem. I was a tad confused, but it didn't slow me down, "Fine, they were ready, but still, you can't ice cupcakes when they are hot!" I touched one to prove my point, but it was cold, perfect for icing. Speechless, I let my hand fall to my side. Lathan was there already, he had picked up the stool and was standing by my side.

I stared at the pretzels, perfectly golden brown, delicious, and plated too. The koeksisters had been dipped in the treacherous syrup and looked glorious, the cupcakes were waiting to be iced, by icing I didn't make.

I was apparently sitting on the stool now, I looked up at him blankly. "Who are you?"

He smiled, the mischief back, as his joke took effect. "You're welcome." He bowed with a flourish and made off with the pretzels, to place outside on the counter where the customers would be waiting for them.

I sat and stared at nothing for a bit, until Eoin opened the door and stated with good natured irritation, "Alley, stop twiddling yer thumbs, there are customers waiting!"

I shook my head and picked up the closest cupcake, "Yes boss."

Eoin smiled and rubbed his hands together, "Is everything alright?"

I looked up, "Yeah, ah, hey Eoin, who is that guy. Lathan?"

Eoin frowned and came into the room properly, letting the door close behind him. "Lathan? He's a drifter, but he checked out, he's not a murderer or anything. Why, what did he do?"

I shook my head, "Nothing, I just… I have a strange vibe about him you know?"

Eoin crossed his arms and looked at me carefully, I could see the cogs turning in his mind as he thought about what to say to me. "Ye know, people said similar things about you when you first came here… All I'm saying is, give the boy a chance."

I smiled and nodded, "Alright, I promise I will try."

He chuckled and his serious demeanour vanished again, "Now hurry up, there are people startin' to come in already asking about yer cakes."