A/N: Thanks for all the reviews everyone. Sorry it took me so long to update, I've been rather busy!

"Where are we going?" Emily asked, in a small voice that Cassie found extremely endearing. Cassie flashed her a grin, and replied, "To pick up some groceries!" Cassie locked arms with the petite little redhead, without any regard for the fact that she was still in her pajamas. At that moment, she couldn't have been happier to get out of that kitchen, and Emily seemed to make for great company. Emily looked up at her, confused.

"Why did we rush out like that?"

Cassie's smile fell. She had thought by escaping the kitchen, she'd be escaping the subject altogether, but obviously that wasn't the case. She took a deep breath before explaining.

"Remember that boy I told you about in the park? The suicide-inducing life-sucking wanker?"

Emily nodded hesitantly.

"That would be him. Not Tony, of course, but the greasy little twat that came down the stairs and interrupted our beautiful, beautiful breakfast."

"Um… It's a quarter after two…" Emily half giggled. Cassie honestly hadn't even thought of the time.

"Is it? That means it's not too early for something sweet! My favorite bakery- I mean, I used to go with my mum when I was a little girl all the time, to this little sweet shop up the road. We would sit on these really high silver chairs and I would get a red velvet cupcake and use these pink plastic spoons… We should go!"

"Sounds lovely," said Emily, and Cassie felt her heart try to leap out of her chest when Emily smiled her adorable smile. Something about this girl just put Cassie in a good mood, and she wasn't sure why.

Cassie hadn't actually eaten at Miss Leah's bakery since she was fourteen, right before she developed her anorexia. But during the time she starved herself, there were many occasions where she would stop in, usually just before closing, and gaze at all the cupcakes on display in the big glass case. Occasionally she'd even buy one, just to look at, because they were so pretty and perfect and small, just like she wanted to be.

As they were walking, Cassie looked over at Emily, and examined her thoroughly, trying to figure out exactly what it was that made her insides turn warm. She was truly one of the prettiest girls Cassie'd ever seen. Her cherry-red hair was so striking against her milky skin, and it was complemented by her rosy cheeks; and the soft curves of her button nose led perfectly into that heart-melting smile. Emily was a head shorter than Cassie was, and her dainty frame was gorgeous in her blue cotton dress.

"So… do you live nearby?" Emily asked, biting her lip.

"Oh, no… I used too… but not anymore. I live in New York City now."

"Wow, I've always wanted to go there. Is it lovely?"

"At first, yes. But things change. People change."

The pair stopped in front of a polished white storefront, whose window was filled with various cookies and cakes and baked goods. Opening the door rang a cute little antique bell, and a white haired woman behind a sugar-laden counter peered at them over a knitting magazine.

"Hello girls!" she chirped, before resuming her reading.

Cassie grabbed Emily's hand rushed up to the counter. Without even thinking about it, Cassie excitedly blurted out, "Two red velvet cupcakes please! And a bag of those pink sugar cookies to go!"

The old woman put her magazine down. "Coming right up, hun," she said.

As the two girls sat down at one of the wrought iron tables, each with their own cupcake on a plate, and Cassie holding the bag of cookies in her lap, everything was wiped from Cassie's mind. At that moment, she had no worries, about anything. Not Sid, not New York, not even Effy. It was just her, some sweets, and the pretty redhead from the park.

"I've never been in here before," Emily said, peeling the wrapper off of her cupcake, "Thank you."

"Thank you for being with me," Cassie replied, and then she lifted up her own cupcake into the air. "Cheers?" Emily obliged, and touched her cupcake to Cassie's with a smile, before biting in.

"With all the shops and restaurants in New York, you'd think I'd have found a place that makes cupcakes as good as these by now. But I can't."

"These are some bloody good cupcakes," Emily said with a mouthful of frosting.

"I think part of it's the sentiment behind it all though. The memories, you know? Just like, when I was small this was the greatest thing that could possibly happen. Before everything got so fucking complicated."

"I know what you mean. The park? The one where we met? I used to go there all the time, as soon as I was old enough to go by myself. My twin sister, Katie, hated being outside, so I guess that's why I loved it. It was my favorite place in the entire world."

"You have a twin?"

"Unfortunately," Emily laughed. "But I really love her. I do. She just always… stepped all over me, you know? Made me feel like nothing. Like I was worthless next to her."

"Well, I don't think you're worthless." Cassie grinned. "But I do think you have frosting on your cheek." It was true, Emily had a smudge of white fluff leading from the corner of her mouth.

"Oh, shit, where at?" Emily reached for her napkin, but before she could grab it, Cassie had already leaned over with her own, and was wiping Emily's face, like it was nothing. As if it were a completely natural reflex.

"Sorry…" Cassie started to say.

"No, thank you, really."

The two girls finished their cupcakes in comfortable silence, and afterwards they didn't leave the table, instead getting deep in conversation. Cassie told Emily all about New York, and listened as Emily told her about her sister and her best friend JJ. Not once did Cassie even think about Sid.

Cassie started to realize that her new friend was much more than a pretty exterior. Emily never mentioned anything directly, but Cassie got the idea that she'd been hurt before. She got the feeling that they understood each other. Every word exchanged between the two of them came effortlessly, and before they knew it, it was dark outside. Cassie offered to walk Emily home.

And then Cassie found herself on Emily's doorstep, not wanting to say goodbye.

"Thank you," Cassie said, "For everything. I needed this. There's been so much on my mind lately and-"

"Me too," said Emily, her eyes sparkling under the porch light.

"We'll have to see each other again, before I leave, yeah?"

But Cassie didn't get the response she was expecting.

Emily stood up on her toes, and gave Cassie a quick, but strong, kiss on the lips. Cassie's heart stopped. Time stood still for a moment, and all she could do was stand there, shocked, and unsure of what to do or what exactly was going on.

Emily pulled away as quickly as she had swooped in, and her cheeks turned the color of her hair.

"Um, I'm so sorry, uh, g-goodnight," she managed to sputter out as she stumbled through her front door.

Cassie did not see this coming.