Chapter 8

Every now and then Gill will show up and bring me gifts like no tomorrow. He's brought me chocolates, roses, lilies, tulips, more jewelry and even some dresses. Kathy and I split the chocolates and she begged me for some of the jewelry.

She didn't seem to mind Gill's gifts that much but I felt he was trying to buy my affection. Even Chase thinks so. Chase has become one of my best friends since I've been here. Most mornings he's hard at work on a new recipe and I watch him. Something about the way he chops the veggies or the way his arms move as he stirs contents in a bowl gives me chills.

Today he's asked me to make cookies with him. Our bar is going to have a booth for the Summer festival and we're making tons of goodies to put on display. Our idea is making beach ball and fish shaped sugar cookies.

I've learned to crack the egg better and this time I didn't get any shells into the mixture. Chase is working on his own bowl of dough and I'm slowly catching up. I plop the dough onto the cutting board flour flies everywhere. I blow wipe the flour from my face but realize I'm making more of a mess than intended.

"Should I take over? Maybe you should go clean up," Chase is hiding back a smile and I must look ridiculous.

"No, I want to finish what I started." I start rolling out the dough until it is flat and grab the cookie cutters. One by one I start cutting out the shapes and placing them onto the pan. Chase has finished up his and places it into the oven. I do the same.

He's cleaning up the leftover cookie dough and I feel an urge to eat mine. I decide to play a joke and smear a bit onto his face. He looks at me in surprise and wipes a bit onto my face. I grab a big glob of dough and wipe it down his apron.

"Aw, this was my favorite one," he wines and runs over to the sink and grabs a rag to clean up.

"You're no fun," I lean against the counter and pretend to pout, eating a few pieces of rolled up cookie dough.

"How does it taste?" He asks me and I hold scoop up dough and lick my finger. "Good," I say.

"I should try some," he says and reaches for my hand. "Chase?" I say but he doesn't let go of my hand. Instead he places my finger into his mouth and sucks off the leftover dough.

"That is good," he says and smiles. I stare at him, not sure to be turned on or weirded out.

"Is it?"

"I think I might taste it again." He leans closer to me and I stand still, afraid if I move I'll insult him. He pulls me close to him and presses his lips to my cheek. I feel his tongue lick off the flour and dough on my face and I can feel shivers going down my spine.

He licks his lips and I can't help but want to taste them. He's still holding me and I can't control my body as it leans closer to him.

"What's going on in here?" Kathy storms into the kitchen and looks horrified at the mess of flower and cookie dough. "It's a mess! Clean it up." Chase obediently starts cleaning up the kitchen and I feel a little disappointed the moment was ruined. Was he about to kiss me? Would he? Or was he just teasing me? So many questions that are unanswered.

"You should go wash up, I can handle this," Chase says but all traces of teasing are gone.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it's not that much of a mess." He smiles at me and I feel bad leaving him behind but I could really use a shower.

I walk into my room drying off my hair and notice the rose Luke broke is starting to wilt. I rush over and look at it, letting the towel fall to the floor. The tips are turning a dark red and I feel a little sad. The other roses are sitting in a vase on my dresser and so far none are wilting. I take a sniff of the rose to remember how sweet it smells.

I place it down on my dresser and lay down on my bed. I haven't talked to my family in a while so I decide to call and check in. I feel a small leap in my chest as my mother answers the phone.

"Akari? I'm so glad you called. I was so worried about you," she sounds like she's exhausted.

"Hey, Mom, how's everything at home?"

"It's crazy. Your sister was caught sneaking out last night and your father grounded her. She refuses to leave her room," she sighs into the phone and I feel a little guilty.

"I'm sure she'll come out. She can't stay in there forever."

"Enough about home, how have you been? Make any new friends or met any old ones?"

I think about what I should tell her. I think I'll leave out the part with the abandoned house. "Good, so far. I was asked out on a date by the mayor's son and I've become good friends with the chef here at the bar. I met Owen who is now dating Kathy."

"Did you ever see that boy, oh what was his name, the one who always picked on you? You two would always fight with each other."

I rack my brain for any memory of this but come up short. "I don't remember anyone like that."

I hear my mother talk to my father and she returns to the phone. "He was the carpenter's son. Luke was his name. He always would throw worms or dirt at you and you'd always come back dirty. Does he still live there?"

My jaw drops and I start to slowly remember screaming and crying at a small blue haired boy who would laugh and throw things at me. "He hasn't changed one bit," I mumble into the phone. "What was that, honey?" My mom asks but I assure it was nothing.

"I should get going. I'm glad to hear you're doing well," my mother says goodbye and I hang up the phone. I feel a little homesick but it's instantly gone as soon as I think about Luke.

My door opens up and Kathy peaks in to ask if I could take out the trash before work starts. I put on some sweat pants and a t-shirt and head into the kitchen. Chase is nowhere to be seen and the cookies are still in the oven. I grab the trash bag and head into the back.

Thankfully it's not as heavy. I toss it into the dumpster and rub my hands on my pants. I hear a snicker behind me and turn to find Luke covering a smiling face.

"Nice outfit," he says between laughs.

"Thanks," I say with bitterness. "It's my 'I just took a shower' outfit."

"I see. I noticed you kind of smelled but didn't want to say anything."

"Why are you such a huge jerk," I feel myself starting to get angry and I know it's just what he wants.

"I'm just being honest," he smiles and I want to slap that smile off his face.

"That's not honesty, that's being rude!"

"If that's how you take it, sure."

"I know who you are."

"Good, I'm glad you know who I am. I was worried you weren't smart enough to know."

"You used to always throw things at me and pushed me into the pond and laughed. You were horrible to me. I see nothing has changed," I spit out the last part like venom.

"About time you remember me, but you're forgetting something," he takes a step closer to me and I feel my heart leap in my chest. "What did I leave out?" I take a step back until I'm pressed against the wall. Luke is so close to me I can see the veins in his neck poking out. His arm is pressed against the wall above me and I press my hands against his chest. I feel his muscles twitch as he adjusts his position over me and I try to force him away.

"I didn't want to say this right away," he says, leaning towards me, his mouth close to mine. His breath is hot on my face and I close my eyes, waiting for him to do something. "Your shirt's inside out."

I open my eyes and he's smiling down at me. I look at my shirt and notice it is inside out. Embarrassed, I push him away and make my way to the door. "I hate you," I mutter before opening the door and slamming it shut behind me.