Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: This ff was writing for the Bridgerton Gardens' Six Month Anniversary Exchange Extravaganza. Here we go for the third OS - that I actually wrote first!

Alpha and beta love to the great Cinnamonbun24 & Coeurs_de_Coeurs, my kind regards to HannahPelham for cheering me on and special thanks the lovely ExistentialMalaises for helping me find a title in Spanish.💜

See you tomorrow, and as usual, happy reading!❤️

es pan comido

Falling in love wasn't part of the plan.

~for jehanprovvaire,

Normally, I don't do high school stories, but after reading your request, my little OS went another way and instead of Colin finding ways to make Pen stay, Gareth and Hyacinth's became involded - and this whole AU was born, starting with this OS.

I loved the challenge (but not so much the maths to get everyone's age right!) and had a lot of fun writing this for you.

And I'm very glad you liked it, muchas gracias! 💜

"Have you got it all?"

He puffs, irritated. "You mean the camera?"

She almost wants to stomps her feet, she really wants to. But he's the only one available to help her, and this is bigger than her. "Can you just answer me?"

"Camera, check?" The white of his teeth flashes as his hands raises his phone up for her to see. "Clock? Check!"

Unclenching her jaw, she breathes in slowly. "Can you please stop this?"

God help her, she's going to be mature, nice, calm about this, about him and-

"Rain check?"

"Gareth!"

"What Hyacinth?"

She darts an angry glare on him. "This is an important mission!"

He shrugs. "If you say so." His devil-may-care attitude doesn't surprise her, she knew this was a bad idea, she knew she should have insisted for Gregory to be here, but no, that fucker/dimwit/cretin is busy and he had sent his friend in his stead.

"It is!"

St. Clair merely smiles in a mocking way. "I'm not sure you trying to set up your brother with his favourite baker is a matter of worldwide importance, Hyacinth." Contempt is dripping from his voice, and she almost wants to hurt him. Almost.

"It's a good thing I'm patient with the likes of you. Now take your position and remember to record this!"

He mutters something about Gregory owing him big time, making her frown. "I heard that."

"And of course, you've got the best hearing ever."

Hyacinth smirks. "I can't believe my brother sent an old bore!"

Gareth St. Clair leers right back at her. "And I can't believe you're trying to set up your brother with the one you had the biggest crush on!"

This is unexpected. Her face turns red, and she never, never ever, blushes. What's wrong with her? "How do you know that?"

"Gregory mentioned it. He assumed that's why you were so adamant about this so-called mission." His gloating mouth turns up at the corners, making her wish she could actually smack him instead. Damn Greg, why would he confide that suspicion to St. Clair? How friendly were they?

She pulls her poker face, look at him straight in the eye. "Well, it's why I think it's about time she got her happy ending! So be ready!"

"How's it going?"

Hyacinth moans. "I hate him. I really do."

"Do you now?"

She can't not hear the mocking glee in her friend's voice.

"You would too if you had to put up with him, Felicity!"

Felicity tilts her head back to laugh. "You may have finally met your match, I think!"

Hyacinth's dry reply dies on her lips. It's nice to see Felicity behave so freely once again. "I really don't think so," she finally answers as she drinks from her cup.

Lately, her classmate has been very worried about her sister's decision to go abroad, it would change so many things in her family dynamics; starting with her having no free space to run to when her mother becomes too much. Unless she moves in with the Bridgertons, but well, Felicity would not do that to her mother. Despite all her flaws, she loves Portia dearly. Just like Hyacinth is fond of her own mother; it seems not having a dad growing up brings out overprotective daughters.

And it is also how/why Hyacinth had sketched that whole plan. Drop by Penelope's bakery, make vlogs, ask for Colin's help editing and make him watch all the handsome customers Penelope is friendly with. And hope to God her hunch is right, that Colin does have a fondness for the older Featherington sister. Well, she frowns, she is fairly sure she's right. St. Clair's insidious remarks are getting to her head, which she can't allow if she wants to succeed. Because her idea should just do the trick.

"Wait and see, Miss Bridgerton!" Felicity's happy cheer interrupts her, her biscuit dangling from her pretty fingers, making her smile.

If only she could reveal her scheme and ask Felicity for help. But no point in raising her best friend's hopes, Hyacinth would rather surprise her.

Because really, her plan is perfect.

It should be a piece of cake.

If only it wasn't for Gareth St. Clair.

"You still on that stupid website?"

She shots him an annoyed glare. "It is not a stupid website!"

His shrugs easily. "It's gossip – gossip's always stupid."

"It isn't!" Hyacinth's not sure why he irks her so much, but he does. Before she has time to contemplate where her feelings come from, her next words are already out of her mouth. "Well, your family isn't their target, so what would you know about looking out for your sister?"

Gareth's mouth thins in such a way that Hyacinth mouth becomes dry. She suddenly feels bad, which is definitely not something that happen often; she's Hyacinth Bridgerton, she doesn't do being sorry! And especially not with people who aren't part of her family.

But as she sees him turning around, his fists clenched, she can also recall that she's never mean –not really. She always dances on the border, pretends to be sassy since she knows that she'll always be forgiven as the youngest daughter. Or the cleverest girl at high school, with all the nice, handsome big brothers.

Sometime she forgets Gareth is a bit weird about his family. She bites her lip, because Gregory did mention something about it. What was it again? Something about him being lonely, she thinks, which doesn't make sense as Gareth is pretty popular, even if he doesn't seem to really care. Which may be why he unnerves her. She doesn't get him, doesn't know what to expect of him – and if there's one thing Hyacinth is good at, it's reading people.

"If you're busy, just say so. I can film you tomorrow."

Her tongue darts out to moist the corner of her mouth. "We had scheduled today, I wouldn't want-"

"It's fine, Hyacinth," he interrupts her. "I can take a hint."

Muttering to himself, he turns on his heels. Her heart suddenly feels heavy as he leaves. What had just happened?

"And so, he left? He just left?"

She groans. "Honestly, Felicity."

Her friend laughs. "You can't stop me!"

Hyacinth groans as she grounds her head into the pillow. "If you don't, I will leave!"

Felicity snorts. "As if. Anthony is probably too busy to pick you up."

Damn her for knowing her family.

"I'll call Colin," she says with a straight face.

"Yes, I can see how that will work fine since you planned his date. Because you did, didn't you?"

And damn her for knowing exactly what she had been doing and calling her out.

"I'll call my mom. And she will call Anthony. And he will get me a car if I keep interrupting his evening without the kids!"

"Okay fine, you win," Felicity grins happily as she lies down next to her on the bed. "But keep that idea around somewhere, I'm sure by next year it could actually work."

Hyacinth smirks. There's a reason this girl is her best friend. "You plan to share with me? Or do you just want to try my kindness?"

"I plan to indulge in your driver's skills – which honestly should tell you how much faith I have in you."

They share a look, start howling with laughter.

"Seriously though," Felicity says as she wipes the mirth from her eyes. "What about Gareth St. Clair?"

Hyacinth's heart misses a beat, but she decides not to dwell on it too much. "What about him?"

"You tell me! Do you like him?" Felicity's eyes shine with excitation. "You've been talking non-stop of him for the past week!"

She frowned a bit, her fingers drawing patterns on the bed sheets. "It's only because I have been spending the past week with him, since Greg discarded me for other pursuits."

Felicity snorted. "Still? He must really care about that girl!"

"Seems so," Hyacinth agreed. "Anyway, I wouldn't hope anything from St. Clair, you know?"

"What do you mean?"

Not daring to cross the girl's eyes, Hyacinth braced herself before answering. "Well, he's gay, isn't he?"

"Hyacinth!" Her friend shook her head vehemently, surprised. "He's bi. Just like you are. You can definitely catch his fancy if that's what you want to go for!"

And with a start, Hyacinth realised that she would very much like to. To catch Gareth's St Clair, her brother's classmate, fancy.

"Now what?" His hands in his pocket, he's standing still against the wall at their usual spot, next to the bakery. "Aren't you happy that your matchmaking succeeding?"

She shrugs. "Not everything worked out yet."

A grin crosses handsome face, making her want to reach out. Maybe let her finger smooth over the planes of his jaw. "There's more to do? Isn't my mission complete?"

Tilting her head back, Hyacinth nibs at her bottom lip. His darken gaze follows the motion, giving her confidence. "Do you want it to be?"

His eyes fly back to hers, the clear blue startled. "I'm about to be the butt of a joke, right?"

A softness arises in her chest, making her aware that he is so very wary. Careful never to be seen as weak, or in a position to be taken advantage of. She wonders what dirt Gregory had on him to make him agree to help her. If there is even any dirt – Gareth still seems like a conundrum to her.

"Really not," she answers amiably. "Would you care for a real piece of cake, St. Clair? My treat?"

He scoffs. "Like what, a date?"

Hyacinth hesitates. This is it. Well, she guesses she can put her pride aside for a few moments. She meets his eyes, blue drowns into blue. "Certainly, like a date."

Her heart pounding, she steps forward to grab his hand, to pull him to her.

He doesn't let go.

"I can't believe this."

Felicity snorts with mischief. "Really, I thought you had it all planned."

Gregory glares at her "Of course not! She's my baby sister!"

Hyacinth doesn't even look up from her phone. "Well, if you hadn't been so busy chasing after Lucy Abernathy..."

"I was wooing her! Honestly! Have some pity for men, woman."

Felicity looked at her nails. "Or be gay. Because you definitely don't deserve us if you can't romance us!"

Gregory sputters about stupid classmates, that he should never had trusted.

Hyacinth smirks. "That being said – who wants the new pastries?"

"Which ones?" Felicity straightens her back on the couch, letting go of the book she's been pretending to read.

"The one my boyfriend just picked up from your sister's bakery," she says with a glee at Gregory's crestfallen face.

"The one that our brother inspired?" Gregory jumps to his feet. "I refuse to eat these! Gosh, but what's wrong with you both?"

Both friends burst with laughter. "He definitely doesn't get it, doesn't he?"

Felicity winks as gets up, ready to leave and afford Hyacinth's some privacy. "Only a woman in love would."