"Clary! You need to assist the cashier!" Simon called out from behind the oven and I sighed, washing off my floury hands in the sink.
"On it!" I shouted back, untying my apron and hanging it on the hook. Just as I was about to push through the doors, I said over my shoulder, "Muffins are in the oven by the way Si! Take them out in 10 minutes tops!" I heard the muffle of his reply in the far back of the kitchens as I walked out towards the main part of the bakery.
We were crowded today, more so than ever before. It was probably because of the annual festival that was being held this week, a big thing that brought in people from around the world. Theme parks, concerts... tourists: that was what I cared about the most. Tourists brought in new customers and that brought in money for The Cherry on Top. I came up with the name and painted the sign on the window so this shop kind of feels like my baby, not too sound weird or anything.
I've worked here for the past two years with Simon, and that's mostly my social life. I don't really have any friends at school except for Simon, so it's a relief when last period ends and I can ride on my bike to The Cherry on Top to begin my shift. I put my hair up in a bun, tie on my apron and voilà! Of course, about ten minutes in, I'm covered in sugar and flour and my bun starts to fall out.
As I try in a desperate attempt to tidy it up, a voice says, "Hey." I'm startled, which is stupid. There were tonnes of people in here; why was I surprised someone was ordering?
I looked up quickly and my jaw found its new home on the floor. This guy was... wow. He made me want to get out my sketching pad and watercolour pencils and start drawing like my life depended on it. His hair was slightly curly and blonde, his eyes a mesmerizing gold that shone in the light. Then I'd realised I'd been staring at him for the past ten seconds.
"Oh, I mean... hey." Nice save Clary. The guy grinned, showing a flash of white teeth and my heart thumped against my chest. I'd never seen this guy before, if I had I would've remembered! "I don't... do you come from around here?"
"No," the guy shook his head, "I've come down from England to see some family friends. This place was mentioned to me so I decided to check it out." I smiled proudly; this bakery was one of the best.
"What would you like then?" I peered at the menu on the counter, then at the daily blackboard that Simon put up, featuring the specials.
The guy looked at me in a way that makes my skin heat up, "What would you recommend?" Somehow, I didn't think this is just about the cakes any more. I bit back a smile though it came through all the same.
"Personally I like the Golden Surprise, but that's just my opinion." the guy smirked, leaning forward slightly.
"You have any Red Velvet?" I grinned, and unpinned my bun, letting it fall down my back in crimson waves. It was falling out anyway and besides, I preferred it down. Practicality didn't matter right now.
"Not sure. It's not taken or anything," I say hastily, not wanting the guy to get the wrong idea, "You want me to check out back?" The guy settled himself on a stool.
"Alright." he winked and I felt giddy, edging out through the doors to the kitchens. Maia was there, holding a squeeze-bag and in the process of icing some flowers on a bunch of cupcakes.
"Maia, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do," I started awkwardly, wringing my hands. She didn't look up so I continued, "This guy's chatting me up and I'm not the most perfect social butterfly in the world..." She looked up when I said the bit about the guy.
"Shut up!" she squealed, abandoning the squeeze-bag on the table, "Oh my god, who is it? Jordan? Sebastian? Meliorn?"
I smiled at her eagerness, "No, it's this new guy, says he 's just moved down from England." I jabbed a thumb at the window set in the door. She hurried over, peering through the glass.
"Ah, I see him... the golden god in the stool?" I laughed, as she tiptoed to see more, "British, you say? I bet he has an adorable accent!" He did, but that wasn't important right now.
"Yeah but I'm kind of freaking out and-" Maia didn't give me time to finish. She took hold of my arm and shoved me out the door.
"Just go for it!" she whispered and suddenly I was back behind the counter with the 'golden god' looking up at me bewilderingly. It was insanely cute and I smiled despite myself.
"So?" he asked, raising a blonde eyebrow. It made me faintly annoyed; it seemed that everyone could do that except for me. Figures he could do it as well.
"Look," I started, biting my lip, "I'm kind of awkward when it comes to flirting and-"
He mocked a look of confusion, "Flirting? I just came in here for cupcakes!" I grinned and he grinned back .We both knew he was lying.
"Ok..." I mused, "Well, seeing that we don't have any Red Velvets, I guess you're not interested then." He scoffed.
"I thought you said you were awkward at flirting?" I giggled, cocking my head to the side.
"What? I thought we were talking about cupcakes!" He laughed and the sound of it warmed me right down to my toes. I noticed a growing line behind him, and a lot of bored faces, but I couldn't care less right now. Well, money's money... "Okay, I'm being serious now. What do you want?"
His tone was neutral but I saw the mischievous sparkle in those tawny eyes and my heart nearly burst out of my chest, "Still not sure exactly." he paused, pursing his lips as he studied the menu behind me. Those lips... they looked like they'd been sculpted by gods, for bloody sake! Oh my god, if he didn't quit doing that with them I was going to go insane...!
"Well?" I prompted hastily, tapping my fingers against the counter. My mind was envisioning many dirty things right now and it was horrifying for me! Trust my hormones to spin out of control when a guy did a natural gesture... shit, he was biting it! I caught his grin and figured he knew exactly what effect he was having on me although it wasn't funny in the slightest. Alright, I'd probably have a good laugh later but right now? Hell no!
"I'll have a green apple fritter please." I smiled ruefully, reaching down to pull it from the glass cabinet and wrapping it The Cherry on Top's signature wrapper with the logo printed on. I saw my own green eyes reflected in the glass and giggled.
"Eating in or taking out?" He gave me a sad smile.
"Taking out unfortunately. In fact, I've stayed here a lot longer than I should've done." I watched helplessly as he put down a fiver on the counter. Just as he was turning around to leave, the next customer walking up expectantly, I blurted out.
"Can I have your name?" He turned back around, giving me an impish grin.
"Jace Herondale." I sighed. Of course this beautiful blonde had a beautiful name.
"And yours?" I blushed, tucking a strand of red hair behind my ear.
"Clary Morgenstern."
"Clary. That's a nice name. In fact..." He delved in his pocket and took out a piece of paper. Then, he reached for the pen on the counter. Jace scrawled something on it and handed it to me. His number.
I looked up, and he grinned at me, "Call me. To you know, talk."
My lips quirked up, "About cupcakes?" He laughed.
"Sure."
I watched wistfully as Jace winked before leaving the bakery, the doors swinging shut behind him. Craning my neck, I kept looking until his blonde head disappeared out of sight and I visibly slumped. I felt as if my reason for a smile had left with him and now working was the last thing I wanted to do.
I faked a smile at the customer, "Do you mind giving me a few minutes?" I didn't wait for a reply. Swallowing, I dived through the door to the kitchens, the piece of paper crumpled in my fist. It was Simon, putting a fresh batch of ginger-snaps in the oven. When he saw me, he frowned in concern.
"You okay, Clare-bear?" At any other time, I would've smiled, but right now nicknames were not welcome.
"Yeah, yeah. Can you just be the cashier, Simon? I don't feel like it right now." Simon nodded, pushing his glasses up his nose before going through the door. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Heh, red velvet. A small smile found its way to my lips and I unfolded the piece of paper, marvelling at the numbers written on it.
"Is that what I think it is?" A voice squealed over my shoulder and I jumped, whipping around to see Maia's grinning face. I laughed, nodding. "See! I told you to just go for it, didn't I?" I smirked.
"Yeah, before you shoved me out the door, completely unprepared!" Maia's grin didn't waver.
"It worked, didn't it?" I rolled my eyes, still smiling as I looked at the paper in my hands. The brown-haired girl watched me closely, "You are going to call him, aren't you?"
"Course I am!" I declared immediately, "It's just that... this one feels special, you know? I don't want to mess it up." Maia beamed, pulling into a hug.
"Trust me. Keep doing what you're doing and this guy will go head over heels for you. I mean, you can talk about what you bonded over. What was that?"
I sniggered, "Cupcakes."
"Okay-" Maia gave a weird look, drawing away from me, "Wait, cupcakes? Seriously?"
I smirked, calling over my shoulder as I headed over to the bread ovens, the paper in my hand a promise that I intended to keep, "That doesn't even begin to cover it!"
I intended for this just to be a one-shot, but if enough people want me to continue it I'll think about adding a few more chapters ;-)
R and R?
~InfernoAlive