I walked out my apartment the next day and saw an envelope with my name taped to it. I ripped it off the door and put it in my bag before heading of to work. I walked into the bakery and opened it up. I was reading the letter, which was from Jonathan Crane, when Rachel Dawes walked in.
"A letter from a secret admirer?" she asked.
"Nope, just my neighbour. What do you want this morning?" I asked putting the letter on the counter behind me.
"The usual," she said. I grabbed a regular croissant and heated it up before handing it to her and taking her exact amount in money.
"Want to have lunch together?" she asked.
"Why?"
"Because I'm missing your competition and I want to make it up to you," she said.
"Fine, usual place, usual time," I said.
"Great. See you then," said Rachel before leaving. I've come to realize that I do almost the same thing every day with only slight changes to it. I guess my day to day routine changed when I got mugged that night. I'm still trying to decide whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. I went back to reading the letter. He said he might be able to make it, and that he'd hold onto the key. I put the letter back in my bag and got to work. I was going to make a lot of those apple pies today and have my employees tasted them.
The morning went by slowly, as to be expected. It never does go fast. Finally lunch time arrived and walked to the caf . I got my food and spotted Rachel at a table outside with her food already. I sat down at the table and smiled at her.
"Hey," she greeted.
"Hello," I said.
"How was your morning?" asked Rachel forking a piece of lettuce.
"Long and boring. But I came up with a new item," I said taking a sip of my juice.
"Oh really what?" she asked.
"Apple pie. But I smoke the cinnamon into the apple," I said taking a bite of my salad.
"That sounds really good. I'm still trying to decide if having a baker as my friend is a good thing."
"Because I can make delicious things, but too many of those delicious things is not good for the heath nor the body."
"Exactly. So who has tried this creation so far."
"My neighbour, but I made a bunch this morning for my employees to taste."
"I thought you said you didn't know your neighbour."
"I met him a few nights ago. He was that doctor I saw."
"Oh. Speaking of that, how are your cuts coming along?"
"Their fine. Nothing really to keep me down. Plus I think it adds to my masculinity. Battle wounds."
"You're weird."
"I know, but if I wasn't then I'd be like everyone else. And that I don't plan on doing, ever."
"That's also probably why I agree to hang out with you. You make things different."
"Mysophobia," I said pointing to woman walking by us.
"What is that?" asked Rachel. She knew of my guessing game. I did it on her (scoleciphobia- fear of worms. I figured it out while I was eating gummy worms).
"Fear of germs. See how she has her hands firmly protected in her pockets. And her clothes and ironed and fade from multiple cleanings.
"You never cease to amaze me," said Rachel staring at me, "are you sure you're not insane."
"Don't know. But it sure seems like it huh?" I said with a smirk.
"Well whatever it is, don't do anything against the law, because I'm sure you'll be one of those criminally insane people and I don' want to see you end up in Arkham."
"Please, I'm not that serious of a case am I?" I asked. I had never though about that before. I knew I was special. Not stupid or completely insane, but I find ways to entertain myself.
"No, if you were than I'd probably have recommended a shrink for you a long time ago," she said standing up, "now I have to get back to work, but I'll stop by the shop sometime tomorrow to try that pie."
"Fine by me," I said standing up too.
"Well back to work," she said. I nodded and waved good bye as we went our separate ways. The rest of my day was fairly boring. All my employees liked the pie, but I don't know if that is because they really do like it or if they are worried about getting fired. I did scare a newbie once. She tried my strawberry tart and she said she didn't like it. I put on an expressionless face and asked 'you don't like my cooking? If you don't like it you can leave.' She started crying, but stayed and now is assistant baker for me.
I arrived at home and made a simple dish of pasta with tomato sauce and crashed on the couch. I was watching a random movie on TV and before I knew it I had fallen asleep.
Next thing I knew I was woken up by a loud sound and sat up. That's when I saw two guys braking into my apartment and one saw me and ran over in a flash. Before I could even comprehend what was happening I was being strangled. I heard the other burglar rummaging through my apartment. I had no doubt these were the thugs that mugged me. The loud noise was them braking the door down, since their key no longer worked.
I tried to brake free, but no prevail. I started seeing spots in my vision but it was still enough to see my neighbour burst in and he sprayed something into each of the robber's face. They inhaled and stood in fear. The one holding onto me grabbed tighter and I gasped. That's when I slipped out of it.