Disclaimer: The Fast and The Furious was not my idea and the characters don't belong to me.
AN: This is my first TF&TF fic and I'm just gonna write and see where it goes. Also, it might end up becoming pretty cheesy, so here's advanced warning. Hope ya like!
Chapter 1
"Hello??... Yeah, um, Janice, I'm kind of busy right--Oh..." Lara Baughman's face paled, her hand's motion stilling as she listened to the woman screaming on the other end of the line. "I'm so, SO sorry... No, don't do that! I'll have someone come and get him as soon as possible. I promise."
"Nina!"
"I'm so, SO sorry again, Janice-- Yes, any minute now. Yep, thanks, buh-bye."
Lara hastily ended the call just as her boss stormed into the small LA bakeshop kitchen. Her chest heaving and fists clenching and unclenching angrily at her sides, Lucy looked around the small room. Baking sheets filled with ready-to-be-baked pastries sat on every countertop and stray piles of flour and spices littered every available surface. "Nina?"
Quickly getting back to stirring the batter, Lara turned to face her boss, her large, dove grey eyes sparkling innocently, an angelic smile curving her full lips, "Hi Lucy! How's it going?"
The older woman scowled, her dark eyes, usually so warm and friendly, looked ready to kill. Huffing exasperatedly, so that a piece of her dyed platinum blonde hair flew away from her face, Lucy marched her large frame over to Lara, peered into the bowl of batter and shook her head, "No-go on the Pecan Butter Cream--something or other about her hubby-to-be's potential allergy problems..."
Lara rolled her eyes. "Should I still bake it? Or just toss it?"
Lucy sighed, some of the anger fading away as she sympathetically thwacked Lara on the back a couple of times. She'd always had strong hands, very strong hands... "Bake it. And get started on the new one. Wedding's gonna be here before we know it!" she called out as she walked away.
"Yeah, let's just hope she doesn't change her mind again," Lara snorted, reaching for a baking dish before remembering: "Wait, what kind of cake does she want?!" she shouted, but her boss had already disappeared out through the kitchen door. Lara got up quickly, intending to follow her, just as her cell phone rang again. "Oh shoot... Hello?"
---
"Hey man! I was driving by the house a little while ago and saw PeeWee tearing up Mrs. Elvestead's lawn again. Man, Lala, it was the greatest thing ever--You should've seen her!" Caryn Thompson cackled delightedly as she sped along the highway; the warm, summer breeze whipping her long, honey-blonde hair all about her shoulders. "I thought she was gonna blow a gasket," she gushed, pushing her sunglasses higher up her nose. "Remember how she almost killed us that time she caught us throwing up in her petunias on the way home from Billy Townshend's party in 10th grade? Oh my god, almost as--"
---
"Carrie!" Lara shouted, interrupting her friend mid-sentence. "Sorry to cut you off, babe, but is Pierre with you? He is? Oh, thank god...ok, I gotta let you go 'cause the bridezilla doesn't want Pecan with Butter Cream Frosting either. So far we've gone through Strawberry Shortcake, Lemon Pudding Cake, Triple Chocolate Fudge Delight, Raspberry Walnut, and Mocha Cream... I swear, this wedding's gonna kill me. Shit..." Pausing a moment to gather her wits, Lara sighed, tucking a stray strand of sable hair behind her ear before continuing: "Anyways, sorry for yacking your ear off-- Yeah...ok, thanks a lot, babe. Talk to you later. Byee." Ok, good, my little pudding cup's safe. Now, I just gotta find out what kinda cake that woman wants...again...
Heading out into the store-part of the bakery, Lara looked around, noticing a young couple enjoying a plate of cannolis at a little table in the corner. They looked so happy, just savouring the food and enjoying a quiet moment together...
A flash of movement caught her eye and she looked up quickly. Was that-- Jesse? Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Lara glanced back again too reassure herself that she was just seeing things. Had to be. Why would Jess be here? Well, of course he could be anywhere, but of all the places... Spotting Lucy sitting in her office, going over the books, a cup of coffee in one hand and a pencil in the other, Lara hoped she was in a better mood, but the look on Lucy's face said she was shit outta luck. "Luce, I forgot to ask you--" Lara started, making her way towards her boss, but slowed her step when she felt someone touch her arm.
"Uh...miss?"
Lara turned at the touch, expecting yet another psycho customer from hell. "How can I--?" Lara paused mid-sentence, feeling her heart skip a beat at the sight before her. "Le?"