Here we go, another chapter! Enjoy! I'm really starting to get into the swing of this story, I'm on a roll!

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I own NONE of this (sadly)

Something about that guy that had come in brightened her day a little. He had been so fantastically awkward that it was cute. Very cute. She wondered if he'd come back again or if it had been a onetime visit. She didn't get many customers, but she hoped he would be a regular. Of course, if he did she would have to stop giving him free food. Thinking back, she wasn't quite sure why she gave him the cobbler for free anyway; she could really use the money. Maybe it was because he was sweet. And a little bit handsome.

"Whoa!" she said to herself, "Careful, Penny, you know how guys are. Stick to your baking."

A few months ago, Penny had encountered a really nice, very hot, guy at a bar. He'd made the first move, chatting her up, making small talk, the usual. The more they talked, the more she liked him; he was gentle, sweet, nice, and a bit dangerous. She liked dangerous, though she knew she shouldn't. After that, they went on a few dates, each one progressively better, especially since he didn't try any funny business. But eventually, on about their fourth date, he'd dropped the bombshell.

Her lip curled into a grizzly sneer as she recalled the memory.

Coming back from the restroom of the club they were at, she found him talking to another woman, carefully dressed so you could tell exactly what she was after. Penny could vaguely sense what was coming as she approached the table. Her date's arm was draped carelessly over the woman's shoulders and his smile was so…disgusting. That's the only way she could describe it.

"So you're with her now, huh? I see how it is," Penny didn't even have to emotional energy to be very angry; she'd had this before and every time she felt less and less shock and more pure hurt and disappointment.

"No, no, babe! That's not it! Here's the deal, you me, and her. We go back to my place, have a little fun, you know? It'll be fun, come on babe!" His words slapped her in the face. Did he really think she'd be okay with this?

Penny didn't even speak; she didn't have any pride left to defend, so she grabbed her bag and left without another word. She could hear his lame apologies as she walked to the exit; his absurd pleadings of "Stay!" and "Come on baby, you're over reacting!" just bounced off her as she left and headed home. Only when she got to her couch did she allow herself to cry.

Was every guy the same? Did no one want to actually make her happy and love her? That was the day she decided to forget guys and do what made her happy. She started making her Penny Blossoms again, she started painting in her spare time, and she started baking when she got home from work. After she'd saved enough money, she decided to open her own bakery; she loved baking, why not make a career out of it? She rented a small space, just enough for a little kitchen, some counter space, and a few tables for customers; she got to work as soon as everything was set up; keeping both jobs for the first month or two after the grand opening. She barely got any sleep and definitely had no time to go out clubbing or on dates. After she'd earned enough money at her bakery, which was more of an initial success than she had imagined, she quit her other job and made the hours at her bakery longer. She started adding items to the menu as she had more time to experiment with creations. Spending most of her waking hours baking and serving, she had little time to think about her painful past, even less time to feel hurt and bad about herself. For the first time in a long time, she was happy. She may not have gotten out much, but she felt young again, doing what she loved and giving people fresh, delicious happiness.

The business slowed a little after four months. It was the beginning of summer now, hot weather keeping most people away from hot pie and donuts. As she expanded her items, she decided to include something that the summer wouldn't harm. Ice cream and ice cream cakes were added to the menu, along with smoothies and other cold things. Business picked up little by little, but it had only been about two weeks since she had added the cool treats to her repertoire. She expected more and more customers as the summer progressed.

And then there was that man, the horribly awkward, cute man that had come in earlier that day for some peach cobbler. No one had eaten her peach cobbler besides her in a long time; it made her feel giddy to serve her favorite desert to someone. She didn't know why, but it did. And then he'd stayed far too long, but she didn't mind, no one came in that early and she went a little mad with no one to talk to. She couldn't really describe what she felt when he left, but it was kind of like swallowing a butterfly that slowly puttered around in her stomach until it died and fell up into her throat. It was kind of unpleasant, but she was also happy. God, her emotions were weird.

A/N: And the story continues! Told you I had more coming R&R Reviews are love!