Beyond Love

Silence before Storm

[Chip]

"Giselle! Are you ready to go?" I popped my head through the gap in the door to see that she was engrossed in painting as usual. "Your appointment's in thirty minutes! We better hurry."

Minutes after I arrived at the bakery from school, I was upstairs looking for Giselle. I found her cooped up in the spare room, the smell of acrylic and oil paints slightly overwhelming.

"But Chocolate Chip," she grumbled at her easel. "I want to finish this." Xander's sister fidgeted in the spare wooden chair we had from the kitchen downstairs, now covered in droplets and random splatters of paint.

"Didn't you say you wanted to have your eye checked? Doctor Susan is waiting for you!" I was supposed to take Giselle to the hospital in town to get her condition checked before the surgeon could confirm that an operation could be carried out. Xander was supposed to come with us but the staff meeting he'd been asked to attend meant that he wouldn't have time. Not to mention volleyball practice in the afternoon...

Oh, and the deputy headmaster wanted to speak to him after the meeting. Uwa, Xander's got his hands full.

"Doctor Susan?" Giselle seemed a tad more inclined at her surgeon's name and placed down her brush. "Okay. Where's Xandie?"

"Xandie's still at school. He's really busy today, so let's give him a surprise by picking him up later!" I felt so embarrassed having to say his name in Giselle's special way but it kinda slipped unconsciously. Giselle was very keen on the idea of surprise and cleaned her hands with a rag and stood up immediately, asking if she looked okay.

I helped her with her backpack while she capped her cans of paint. "I'll tie your hair for you later! And good on you for putting on an apron. That way, your dress will remain clean."

"I can tie my hair," Xander sister grinned. "Don't need help."

She received a well-deserved pat on her head before we headed downstairs to get a blueberry muffin for Giselle to munch on while waiting for the bus. Coco and Shea were there to man the bakery while I was away and were sharing their discussion about tomorrow's official launch of savory cupcakes.

"We should have a booth, like outside the bakery. We've got to get the attention of others," Coco suggested as soon as she saw Giselle and I making our way downstairs.

"Beat those shitty competitors of ours!" Shea agreed but for an entirely different reason.

"How about something like a lemonade booth? But instead of lemonade, it's cupcakes!" I suggested while handing Giselle a blueberry muffin. "I have to go. Let's discuss tonight over the phone?"

"Okay. Bye Giselle! See you tomorrow." "See ya! Have fun at the appointment—ow!"

Xander's sister waved back at random, smiling regardless.

*

We were at the bus stop waiting for the bus to the city when Giselle held my arm all of a sudden and squeezed it tightly. I laughed. "What's wrong Giselle?"

She didn't respond at once, and I was beginning to think it might be the nerves. After all, it had been some time since Giselle had to go for an appointment with Doctor Susan, and I wasn't sure if she knew what today was about since Xander said not to tell her. I was afraid that it would scare her as well.