It was almost a week and a half later when Steve entered the shop, a nervous look upon his features, as he sat down at the bar. I glanced up to him through the doorway, and flashed a grin as he spotted me.
"Ollo, Steve!" I began, casually removing my hands from rolling around the pie crust on the table and patting them together, flour rolling into the air in tuffs of clouds. "It's been a few days. What's eatin' at ya?"
Steve sighed, running hands through blonde tangles and looking a bit irritated with himself at the moment. "It's my first time back in the city after so long… and most of the people I knew are either diseased, or they live in some other country…" he glanced at the Banana Nut Muffin l slid in front of him, a glass of milk to the side as I sat across the counter. He gave me a weak smile. "I just found out a long-time friend was still here… and I don't know how to confront her!"
"Then you've come to the right place!" I began, a smile upon my lips and my hands smacking over his, a cloud of flour into the air once more, dusting his hands. "I just made one of my best cakes. You can surprise her with it!"
Steve leaned back, half of a piece of bread in his mouth as I started to stand up. He waved one of his arms for my most-needed attention, and used his other hand to rip the bread from his mouth.
"I just need a suggestion," he exclaimed, and he scrambled around the table as I went to the kitchen. "I don't know what to do!"
"Well, I'll tell you what to do!" I began. I dusted off my hands and made it to the kitchen counter, where the Red Velvet Cake was cooling, white frosting atop of the big, red cake. It was doubled layered, fresh strawberries in the middle.
"You go to her, and surprise her, with this cake." I packed the cake into the plastic box, sealing it shut. "You explain where you've been, and open the cake." I point at him as I say this. "And you stay with her," I pause as I grab a bow from the box below the counter, and slap it atop the counter. "…While you eat the cake."
"B-But I—" Steve stammered, trying to look back at me as I began pushing him towards the exit.
"Go on, Steve! Don't keep her waiting." I reply, and the bell chimes as he stumbled out. I pop my head out the door as he almost crashes into a young woman on the sidewalk. She snaps at him, and continues on. I don't mention that he has white handprints on his back from my flower. I grin.
"Don't mind some of the women these days; some 'er whores anyways." I say, and gesture him along. "Now go surprise her! She's probably been waiting a long time for you to come back!"
"Pyrrah—" Steve started, his blue eyes were worried, and his stance was a bit rigid. He glanced down at the cake in thought after I level him a playful glare, and his face suddenly flushes with red. I quirk my head to the side as his blue eyes dart to me, face burning and looking embarrassed. With a quick bow of his head, he squeezes his eyes shut and says:
"Thank you! Y-You're really sweet, Pyrrah! Thank you!"
Cuteness Meter Level: Overload, I can't help but think as I watch Steve try to stammer out more words. I blush after a few moments and began laughing as he looked away.
"Hot damn, Steve! You're just too cute!" I tell the blonde lad as he ducks his head at my remark. "Go see her. I'll bet no doubt she'll be happy."
Steve glances at me again. "Thank you," he says
Give or take, I smile. "Always."
"Pyrrah!"
I hardly have time to react as I'm tossed about into the air, my captor spinning me in enthusiastic circles. I clutch the box of homemade Angel Food Cake and some cupcakes tightly until they stop, putting me down on my feet to spin me around.
Steve has a beaming smile, eyes opened and filled with glee as he stares down upon me. He doesn't look to know what he's doing, between possible kissing me and/or possibly crushing me in more hugs. His grin looks ready to break his face in two.
I grin. "I say she loved to see you?"
"More like your cake idea did the trick!" Steve exclaimed, almost dramatic. "Thank you! She—I—we—"
"Okay, okay, I get it, tall, blonde, and adorable," I chuckled and went down the side walk with him in tow. "I'm glad she liked it."
Steve smiled gleefully, and shoved his hands deeper into his pants pockets, striding alongside me without a care in the world. I couldn't help but giggle at him.
"Oh, you're so happy!" I began, almost close to a laugh. "It's so cute!"
Steve ducked his head, a mumble of something under his breath. I craned my head up to ask what he might have said, but the red on his cheeks was enough to alert me otherwise. I grinned.
I ducked my head and fell behind slightly to stare at his back. Sure enough, I found that my white handprints were still there, only a small heart had been added to the middle. Whoever he saw must've done that.
"You have flour on your back from this afternoon. Did you know that? It's been there since you left the shop." I said, a giggle in my tone.
"You can't be serious." Steve began, glancing back at me.
"Quite."
