A/N: Look at the absolutely adorable cover mikkawrites made for me!
Chapter 9: Sweet as a Honey Comb (Charlotte)
"Charlie!" I heard Ginny screech as she entered the dorm, followed by the sound of her taking a swing at anything that stood in her way.
I peeked my head out of our room and grabbed her arm as she stomped down the hallway. "Oh wow," I said, a slight crease forming between my eyebrows. "What's gotten into your knickers?"
She stumbled inside and almost collapsed on the floor, but I took her arm and guided her to her bed.
"Are you drunk, Virginia?" I asked sternly, staring at her. It was ten in the morning!
"I am not called Vagina," she muttered indignantly.
I raised my eyebrows. "Uh huh," I said, nodding.
"I'm not drunk," she protested, swatting away my fluttering hands. "Jesus, stop hovering!"
I bit my lip. I always worried about her - she tended to hook up spontaneously when she got drunk, and there was only one reason why she would drink in the first place. "What happened?" I asked softly, taking her by the elbow so she would stop smacking me.
"Nothing!"
I stared at her stuttering and bright red face. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah..."
She had something she was trying to hide. I sighed. "Which guy was it?" I asked.
"Zachary!" she suddenly wailed, throwing her arms around me and burying her face in my neck. "I went to a party to break up with him, but he kissed another girl before I could!" At ten in the morning?
I rubbed her back soothingly, but at her words, my eyes widened. She never got upset when one of her boyfriends cheated on her, and she was never this teary over being dumped first. It hurt her pride whenever it happened, but never reduced her a mess like right now. "Do you...do you like him?" I asked. I was treading on thin waters here. Ginny didn't do crushes.
"Of course I liked him! He was fucking fit and the sex was incredible!"
I winced slightly at her words. "That's not what I meant. I mean, do you...fancy him?"
The hands that clutched my neck tightened almost imperceptibly, but I still felt it. "No," she replied, a bit too quickly to sound like the truth.
"You can tell me, you know?" I said quietly, massaging her back. "You don't have to, but you can if you want to, whenever you want."
"Thanks, Charlie. You're the best friend ever," she mumbled.
I smiled and released her, gently pushing her on her back. Now that her tear ducts were dry, she needed rest. "Here, have a little kip, my shift starts soon. When I come back, I'll bring back some films and we can have a movie-and-cupcake marathon!"
She blinked at me. "Pride and Prejudice and double chocolate chunk?" she ordered more than asked, already almost like her usual self.
I laughed at her. "Of course, I'm in the mood for some Darcy, myself. I'll just leave some aspirin for you and be off."
"Yeah, okay," she said, snuggling under her covers and turning to face the wall.
I grabbed the aspirin bottle from a bathroom cabinet and placed it at her bedside table. Then I picked up my keys and locked the room, before skipping over to my car and starting the engine. When I reached the bakery, I frowned when I realised that it was locked. I unlocked it, flipped the sign to 'Open,' and checked in.
While I tied on my apron, I popped my head in Diana's office to see if she was in. A little note was stuck to the desk. It said, 'Charlotte, I won't be in until late this afternoon. Be a dear and pop the cream puffs in the oven and fill them with cream later. Don't forget the powdered sugar on top!'
I almost jumped up and down with excitement. I loved cream puffs, especially the ones she made.
Working at the bakery was really the best thing for me. It always smelt like fresh bread and sweet frosting, and it was a bright and open space. I pattered over to the back room where the cream puff dough had been rising and smiled giddily.
Once everything was in the oven and I'd whipped the cream and put it in the fridge, I walked back to the front counter and waited for customers.
Later, when the cream puffs were done and cooled, I set them on the counter and started filling them using the piping bag filled with cream. My god, they looked so good...good enough to eat, in fact.
I grinned widely and pulled two fifty pence pieces from my pocket, placing them in the till. "You beauty," I whispered to the cream puff that was now in my hand, and I took a huge bite.
The dough was slightly sweet and chewy, and the cream was light and smooth, and it was so delicious that I couldn't help but scarf the five inch thing in a matter of seconds.
A cleared throat brought me down from my high, and I almost choked on the last bite. My eyes watered slightly while I glanced up, and then I almost passed out when I realised who it was.
My face probably lit up to fifty shades of red before I smiled widely. "Hello Benny, Clark!" That was so embarrassing. It literally took all I had to not run away from embarrassment.
"Those look delicious," Clark said without replying, a hungry gleam in his eyes.
I laughed - everybody looked like that when they entered the bakery. "Would you like to try one?" I asked, wiping my hands on my apron.
"How much?"
"One pound per each."
He quickly shoved a five pound note onto the counter, grabbed five completed puffs, and hurried over to one of the little tables at the front. As soon as he sat down, he was stuffing his face.
My grin widened, until I realised that Ben was still standing there awkwardly. "Do you want one?" I asked kindly.
He immediately scowled, and I wondered why he wasn't moving to sit with his friend if he disliked me so much. "I don't like sweets," he replied. "You know that." I did know that.
"These aren't sugary, I promise," I said. "They're not too plain, not too sweet! I think you'll like it."
He paused and stared at me. I shifted around, not knowing where to place my gaze. "You're seriously good at that."
"Good at what?"
"Persuading people to eat that shit - I don't even want it but you're making me want it."
That was the closest I've ever gotten to a compliment from him. The thought made my smile turn into a beam. "Does that mean you want to try it? I made it myself! I mean, I didn't mix the dough, but I baked it and filled it with cream and I would be so happy if you'd just give it a try!"
"Do it, Ben," Clark said over a mouthful of cream. I laughed when I saw the powdered sugar dusting his chin, making him look years younger.
"Fine."
I almost exploded with happiness with that one word, and lightly bounced on the tips of my toes as he handed me the money and took a cream puff from my hand.
"Christ. Stop jumping around, Lottie," Ben said, glaring at me. I loved it when he called me by that name, for some reason.
I tried to keep still for him, but the sugar may have already hit my blood, because now my whole body was trembling. "Try it!" I said excitedly, my eyes shining. My hands clasped together as I watched him, and he became sort of uncomfortable.
I heard Clark laugh. "Go ahead, Ben. Make her smile and eat it."
Ben shot him a glare. "I don't even have to eat this thing to make her smile." He shoved the cream puff in his mouth and chewed.
I stared and watched as his expression changed as he ate. I couldn't tell whether he liked it or not, but he didn't look disgusted, which I supposed was a start.
A tiny flickering of a smile lit at my lips. I loved watching how people's moods changed because of a simple treat, and the way Ben seemed a little floored made me strangely triumphant.
"How was it?" I asked eagerly. The pause he made as he contemplated his answer was enough for me to die and be reincarnated from the apprehension.
Ben smiled.