Spring Fair
"You look tired." Daryl said, setting up their stand at the Spring Fair in the local park where it was held every year.
"I am tired." Punk nodded, stocking the fridges in their little shack to get them prepared for the day, "I stayed up until 3am last night baking." He shook his head, "I got nowhere with it."
"What did you bake?" Daryl asked curiously, taking some plastic cups out the boxes to sit beside the coffee machine.
A week had gone by, and they'd decided they were sticking with their original idea of selling hot and cold drinks, bagels and sandwiches. Punk was ashamed to admit that over the course of the week he had been staying up until early hours of the morning, trying to figure out how to bake.
"I started off with sponges." Punk said, "They didn't work. They barely rose. Then I tried cookies and they got all stuck together, so it was like one big cookie. And they got stuck to the tray." He added as Daryl cringed.
"I don't think we need any sort of baked goods." Daryl shrugged, trying to make Punk feel better, "Their stuff is too good over there anyway." He said, looking over to the left where AJ and the girls were setting up their own stand, already showing a varied number of cakes and baked goods at the front of their shack.
"Well, I got back-up just in case." Punk nodded as Daryl turned back to him.
"You went to the store?" Daryl asked with concern.
"No." Punk shook his head.
"Phil, where shall I put these?" Linda asked, appearing at the back of the shack with an older man beside her who was carrying trays.
"Ahh, my saviour." Punk smiled, "I'll take them off you." He said, rushing over to her and taking the trays from the man, "Daryl, come help."
"This is my husband Pete." Linda introduced, "There's more in the car. He's going to bring them over."
"Amazing." Punk nodded.
"What did you make?" Daryl asked Linda curiously.
"Well, I made macaroons and fudge." Linda nodded, taking a seat inside the shack whist Punk and Daryl carried the trays over to the front counter, "And I made brownies. Caramel shortbread." She continued, "Carrot cake slices and gingerbread men… I was thinking they'd be good for the children." She said.
"Jesus, you didn't to do so much. A couple of things would have been more than enough." Punk said.
"Well, I quite enjoyed myself doing it." Linda admitted, "Although, my hands are quite sore now." She said.
"You've done amazing." Punk said, uncovering all the trays where all the glorious cakes were, looking incredibly yummy and inviting.
"Can I try this one?" Daryl asked, pointing to carrot cake slices.
"Go on." Linda nodded, watching Daryl take a bite, finishing the slice in the second as he nodded whilst eating.
"They're damn good." Daryl said with excitement as Punk smiled.
After admitting his defeat with baking, he'd asked Linda if she was willing to make a few batches of sweet treats for them to sell at the Fair. He had offered to pay her a reasonable amount for it, but she'd only insisted that he gave her a few free coffees instead.
"I'd love to stay here and help you out, but I can't stand for too long." Linda admitted, standing back up with the help of her walking stick, "And I'd like to go enjoy the Fair if that's alright with you two."
"Of course." Punk said, "You've done more than enough. Thank you. Seriously." He said sincerely as Linda smiled.
"I told all my friends at the bingo last night that I was making stuff for your stall." Linda said, "They all promised they'd be over here checking it out."
"You're the gift that keeps on giving, Linda." Punk smiled, placing his hand on her shoulder as she patted his hand with affection.
"I'll leave you boys to it. Hope it goes well." Linda called, leaving the shack through the back, "Pete will keep bringing the stuff in." She said as she walked away.
"This is incredible." Daryl said, "When did you ask her to do this?"
"Yesterday morning. I can't believe how much she's done." Punk shook his head.
"Well there goes my big hero moment." Daryl huffed.
"What?" Punk looked at him.
"Well since I thought maybe people would rather have something sweet, I brought a chocolate fountain with me." He shrugged, walking over to his bag and taking the box out, which only made Punk chuckle.
"Where did you get that?" Punk asked.
"My house. I've had it since I was little. Mom busted it out at birthday parties and stuff." Daryl shrugged, "And I went to the store and got fruit, marshmallows and sticks to make little skewers." He said, "But if we've got all this other stuff…"
"No… no, let's put it on. You can have your hero moment." Punk smiled, "We can quickly make up the skewers. We've got time."
"Ok." Daryl said with a little excitement.
"Hey, thanks kid." Punk said, appreciating Daryl's thoughtfulness. He knew this job was just a means to an end for the eighteen-year-old, but to see him caring and taking things seriously was sweet.
"Don't you guys just love the Fair?" Shiv smiled, standing behind their own stall where they were ready to open and serve the public.
The Fair took place in the one and only park in the town, with many businesses setting up their stalls all around. Local farmers had cheese and meat stalls. There was a trinket and antique stall. A candle stall. A flower stall. The nearby high school also put on a friendly football game, and there was also lots of fun and activities for children to take part in. Face-painting, games and plenty of benches and seats around for families to sit and relax.
"It's a good day for it." Lyla nodded, grateful for the hot sun. The Winter Fair wasn't so easy when it was freezing cold.
"One last thing before it all kicks off." AJ said, coming out from the back, holding the display board which had lived in their staff toilet for two weeks.
On the board she'd written the different cakes and sweet treats they were selling at their stall, as well as some speciality drinks for people to try.
"Oh, you're evil." Lyla grinned, "I love it."
"I hope you washed that thing. It's been sitting in the toilet for two weeks." Becca said.
"I gave it a clean." AJ rolled her eyes, leaving the stall through the back and walking round the front, sitting the display board beside their stall. She knew it was petty, but she didn't care.
She looked over to where Punk and Daryl's stall was, hoping they would notice, but they seemed too busy to look up, so she headed back inside the stall.
"Why do we hate them again?" Shiv asked.
"Because we offered to team up today and that greasy man-child said no." Lyla said.
"He's hot." Becca scoffed as AJ and Lyla turned to her, "What? He is." She shrugged, looking over to Punk. His hair was slicked back as it usually was. He had a pair of cargo shorts on and a muscle t-shirt which appeared to have Marilyn Monroe on it. It meant they were all exposed to his lean muscles and chest, which were completely covered in colourful tattoos. It was hard not to take notice of him. AJ knew that much.
"Ok, everyone stop staring." AJ shook her head, realising they were all looking over at Punk.
"Looks like they have a lot of cakes." Shiv noticed, "I thought you said he didn't do many cakes at his place?"
"Well there was barely any when I went over." AJ said, "Just bagels and sandwiches."
"Is that…" Becca paused, looking closely at what Punk and Daryl were trying to set up.
"A chocolate fountain?" Lyla scoffed, "What age are they? Ten?" She shook her head.
"Ok, look alive people." AJ clapped, trying to get their attention, "We've got this. Like we do every year."
"Let's do it for the girls everywhere. Team girls." Shiv jumped up and down excitedly, getting a little carried away as they all chuckled, noticing the park begin to fill with families and residents of the town.
"Tell me we are not being upstaged by a chocolate fountain." Lyla folded her arms, looking over at the incredibly long line outside Punk's stall whilst theirs was empty.
It was late afternoon and they had been incredibly busy in the morning. They'd sold out of their famous guava cookies and powdered raspberry empanadas, but they had noticed by the afternoon their stall getting increasingly quiet whilst Punk's flourished.
"I think we are." Becca said, "Apparently, they've got really good macaroons too. A guy I just served told me." She said.
"It's mostly kids in the line." AJ shrugged, trying not to seem bothered, even though inside she was anxious and jealous.
"And parents." Lyla said, "And lots of old people for some reason." She shook her head with confusion.
"Hey, I'm back." Shiv said, coming through the back holding a fruit skewer covered in chocolate.
"Get out." AJ's eyes widened.
"What?" Shiv laughed.
"Traitor!" Lyla yelled.
"Come on. It's so good." Shiv said.
"You shouldn't be fraternising with the enemy, Shiv." Becca shook her head, disappointed.
"I'm sorry but I was hungry." Shiv said, "They're almost sold out of everything." She said quietly, scared to tell them.
AJ sighed, looking at their leftover cakes which hadn't been sold yet. They'd never experienced competition at The Fair before. They had always been the only stall to serve hot drinks and sweet treats. It was pretty difficult to watch.
"Who is the old crone with them?" AJ squinted her eyes, noticing an elderly woman standing behind the stall with Punk and Daryl.
"He probably had to call his grandmother to do the baking." Lyla shook her head, all four of them watching Punk's stall.
The park was incredibly busy with bodies floating everywhere. As the afternoon began to turn into early evening, a few live singers were taking to the small make-shift stage.
The Brewberry Café stall continued to get customers, but not nearly as much as Punk's stall. They'd certainly been busier than him in the morning, but now that people seemed to get word of the chocolate fountain, it seemed the competition was over.
"You guys can go enjoy the rest of The Fair." AJ turned to Shiv and Becca, "Me and Lyla can handle the rest of the night."
"You're sure?" Becca asked, "I don't mind staying."
"No, it's ok. You girls go have fun. You've been a great help today." She smiled.
"Don't let it get to you." Becca shook her head, the only thing she could think of saying to her boss who looked devastated and deflated.
"I won't." AJ forced a smile, "Go. Get out of here, both of you." She nodded, watching them grab their things and leave the stall.
"She's right." Lyla stood next to her, "We've still basically sold out. And the chocolate fountain is like a kid magnet."
"He deliberately wanted to do this separately. So he could show us up. Prove himself." AJ shook her head.
"What is he doing?" Lyla shook her head, watching as Punk emerged from his stall, making his way over to the little stage where a singer was preparing to start his set. They watched him politely ask for the mic.
"What is he doing?" AJ questioned with confusion.
"Hey… Hey, everyone." Punk spoke into the mic as people turned around in the park to look at him, "Hi, can I just get your attention for a minute." He said, waiting for the park to quieten as all eyes went to him.
"I'm Phil. I'm new to this place." He spoke into the mic, "That's my stall over there." He pointed over to where Daryl and Linda stood, both waving with a smile, "First, I'd like to apologise. I'm probably the reason your kids are all hyper." He admitted, earning a few laughs from the crowd.
"He's so lame." Lyla shook her head whilst AJ kept her eyes on him.
"I just want to thank you all for coming over to the stall today. The truth is, I can't take the credit. All the amazing cakes we served today were made by the town's own, Linda Holden." He pointed over to Linda, "I think she deserves a loud round of applause." Punk nodded, clapping his hands as the rest of the crowd joined in.
Linda smiled, blushing a little with everyone clapping and praising her effort.
"And I'd like to thank the hardest worker ever for all his help today and every day since I've employed him. Mister Daryl Peterson." Punk said, clapping his hands again as the crowds clapped with him. Daryl only waved his hand shyly and smiled.
"He's like a little puppet master up there." AJ shook her head.
"And thanks to all of you who came out today." Punk said, "I've felt super welcomed since moving here by everyone." He said, "Well… almost everyone." Punk nodded, looking over at AJ.
It was the first time he'd looked over at The Brewberry Café stall all day, which meant he hadn't even noticed his display board set up by their stall. AJ immediately glared at him with her eyes as he stared at her, noticing him smirk a little. She knew he could tell he had gotten under her skin. That his triumph today was making her seethe from her head to her toes.
"So… enjoy the rest of the night. And come check out The Brewks Coffee Shop. It's across from that other coffee place." Punk waved his hand with dismissal, earning a few hoots and entertaining gasps from the crowd.
"I'm going to shatter his and his little pet rat's kneecaps." Lyla said with anger as AJ said nothing, keeping her arms folded as she watched Punk leave the stage.
Angering her even more was the sight of him running over towards their stall. She couldn't trust herself right now. She knew if he got close enough, she would throw something at him probably.
"Hey girls." Punk smiled cockily, heading straight for the display board, "I'll just take this back then." He pointed, folding the board up and tucking it under his arm, chuckling as he walked away.
A/N: Thank you for all the kind reviews!