Knox yawned before opening his little bakery. It was nine in the morning, and he was tired. Another yawn escaped his mouth. Someone walked in, the door chiming.
"Knox, you look half dead. Let me handle the counter today," a girl's voice said, the amusement not passing Knox's ears.
"Hey! I slept a one in the morning. Can't blame a guy," Knox defended, a small smile on his lips. He turned.
A girl who seemed to be about eighteen stood there, with wavy brown hair and a slightly curvy figure. Big brown eyes were filled with amusement and she was pulling on an shirt with her name tag and a symbol of LJ, the two letters connected and written in a curvy font.
"Mia, I thought your shift starts at ten, not nine?" Knox stated, an eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, well. I was bored and I knew you needed help in the mornings so here I am! Plus, yesterday was the start of summer break," she said cheerfully.
Knox stuck out his tongue at her. She did the same before jumping over the counter and walking into the kitchen, Knox sighing in defeat before following her. They worked, one of them occasionally trowing flour at the other.
A precisely eleven, Mia turned the sign to 'Open' and someone walked in. Pink hair bobbed in excitement, another person being dragged in as well. Knox turned to welcome them before stopping short. There was a man who was easily one of the most beautiful people Knox had seen. Bright sea-green eyes, raven black hair, soft pale skin, an aristocratic face, a lithe but muscular figure, and a beautiful smile. Their eyes met and held for a heartbeat before looking away. Knox released a breath he didn't know that he was holding. Mia looked on with knowing eyes.
"Ryan, why have you brought me here?" the man asked. "I admit, it is a very nice place, but I have practice."
"Aidrian! Just try a doughnut. They're delicious. Please?" Ryan begged, pulling out puppy dog eyes.
"Fine. You know I can't resist those eyes. You and Delia will be the death of me," Aidrian huffed before looking at Mia.
"I'm sorry for the trouble, but can we have a doughnut, whatever you would suggest," he said, smiling.
"OMG! You're Aidrianto Rayne! Four time Grand Prix champion, figure skater, 2014 Olympic gold medalist, you're my hero!" Mia gushed, having recognized him. Ryan looked extremely proud.
"I'm not that great. There are plenty of others who are better than me," Aidrian said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Nonsense. Do you live here? If you do can we be friends? Are you going to enter the Grand Prix Finals again? Did you come up with a new choreography? Have I mentioned that you're my hero!" Mia gushed.
"Whoa. If we are to be friends, act like it. Treat me like your other friends," Aidrian said. Mia nodded before turning around, remembering about the doughnut.
She nearly crashed into Knox, who held a plate with a simple glazed doughnut. He dodged, Mia just barely catching herself in time.
"Mia," Knox chided.
"Sorry Knox! How could I have known that you were standing there. You should have said something!" she said, adding the last bit as an afterthought.
"I just can't win with you," Knox replied, shaking his head.
"So you're the famous baker Ryan has been talking about. Nice to meet you," Aidrian said with a small smirk.
Knox noticed and set the food down on the table before slapping him upside the head.
"Are you hitting on me?" he exclaimed.
"No. Yes. Maybe?" Aidrian replied, rubbing his head. "And that hurt."
"Good. You deserve it!" Knox huffed. Aidrian pouted.
"Ohh! Try it Aidrian!" Ryan butted in, the others starting when they realized that he was still there.
Aidrian shrugged before grabbing the doughnut and taking a bite. His eyes widened, and Knox felt a hint of satisfaction at the fact that his baking made the other speechless.
"Wow! Did you make this Knox? It's the best glazed doughnut I have ever tasted!" Aidrian said, wolfing down the rest.
"Yes. Thank you," Knox replied.
"Wow. Well, I gotta go to the rink. Gotta train Ryan here to skate. Come on," Aidrian said, changing the subject abruptly. They left.
Knox turned around, spotting Mia standing there with a dazed look on her face. He waved a hand in front of her face. She blinked.
"Are you okay, Mia?" Knox asked, concerned since she usually talked his ear off.
"I just met Aidrianto Rayne. Of course I'm okay. I'm better than okay!" she screamed.
Knox winced and grabbed her flying hands. She stopped for a second, looking at him wonder before remembering something.
"Knox," she said slyly, the blue eyed man looking wary at her tone. "Did I see you eyeing Aidrian earlier? And he was hitting on you! Yaaaaahhhhhhh. You guys would be such a hot couple! And don't forget to let me plan your wedding. I mean, damn! You're gonna have up your game," Mia whistled.
"Mia!" Knox yelled with a blush.
"What!" she yelled back.
"We're not even friends. And I most likely will never see him again. Stop getting ahead of yourself," he answered.
"I know. You're not going to get friend zoned then! Oh, this is just awesome!" Mia gushed, that being the only part of Knox's speech registering in her brain.
Knox shook his head in defeat, hoping that this whole thing would blow over. The next few days were relatively quiet. Knox was hoping against all hope that Mia wouldn't remember about him and Aidrian. But his hopes never made it through the end.
"Hello! Can I come in or is this place not open yet?" a familiar voice echoed throughout the bakery. Knox paused, his eyes going wide and praying that it wasn't who he hoped.
"Hey Aidrian!" Mia's voice called out. Knox sighed before making his way to the front of the bakery.
"It's okay. We were going to open in roughly half an hour. You can stay," Mia replied to his question. Knox groaned.
"Hello Knox! Long time no see. Do you have anymore good food? I'm hungry and your pastries are the best!" Aidrian said, his voice light and melodious. Knox ignored the small fluttery feeling in his stomach.
Mia appeared out of nowhere and held up a bag with the LJ symbol on it. From it came a delicious smell, and on her face was a shit eating grin. Knox groaned softly before pointedly ignoring her.
"Here! Freshly made and straight from Knox's hands. You're welcome!" she said cheerfully.
"Thanks! I'm pretty sure it would've tasted even better if I helped," Aidrian replied with a small wink in Knox's direction.
Mia held in her small squeal. She watched as his cheeks turned light pink. Aidrian waved goodbye before exiting the bakery. Knox took a small breath before walking back to the kitchen.
"He was soooooooo flirting with you!" Mia squealed.
"No he wasn't. Stop saying that," Knox denied.
"Stop saying that," Mia mocked. "Don't deny it. You find him hot too. And he winked at you. After saying, and I quote, 'I'm pretty sure it would've tasted even better if I helped' end quote. If that wasn't flirting, then I don't know what was."
"You don't" Knox deadpanned.
Mia stuck out her tongue and turned back to the box she was unpacking, nearly tripping on her way. Knox laughed and got a finger in response. They officially opened the bakery and spent the rest of the day arguing about Aidrian's 'flirting not flirting.'
By the end of the day, Knox closed up after saying bye to Mia. He fell onto the mattress with Aidrian on his mind, never noticing the fact that he hadn't thought about the betrayal all day. That night, he fell asleep early and curled comfortably on the bed. And for the first time, his dreams weren't plagued by images of two people and snippets of conversations.