I'm Rachel and I have worked in the big city for 7 years. I'm visiting my parents for Christmas for the first time in... 7 years? I could have visited them during the previous holidays but who cares anyway? Do I have a boyfriend you ask? No. Ever since I broke up with my workaholic boyfriend who I will never mention again, I've focused on my work as a business woman doing business things.

My parents' house is located in my quaint hometown with the most ridiculous name no one knows. I pack my things like a normal citizen and head for an airport in the big city I live in (probably New York or Chicago).

On the plane going there, I contemplate on leaving my habits of lingering on the past. Then I remember it has been years since I visited the town and decide on doing so.

As I find my way to my parents' place, I accidentally bump into a random guy on the way. I look up to see my high school sweetheart Jake? He looks grown up and... hot. His black hair which is nicely brushed back except for his fringe makes him gorgeous to the eyes of lowly mortals.

"Long time no see Jake Elias Carter," I say as Jake helps me up from the ground.

"Wasn't expecting you back here Rachel Aiden Floria. Didn't you say this place was a little too small for your dreams?" Jake points out as I dust the dirt off my clothes.

"Same old Jake. Haven't seen each other since our relationship went astray."

"Classic Rachel. Lingering on the past instead of focusing on the future," Jake counters and I remember what I had contemplated on the plane.

Jake then tells me he is heading somewhere and we say our goodbyes. Once I get home, I'm greeted with love and settle in quickly.

I go help my parents at their bakery. They give me the task of being the cashier since I, of course, haven't baked in a long time because I worked as a successful businesswoman doing business things.

I hear the bell of the bakery ring and someone walks in. It turns out to be... Jake?

"You again? Are you just everywhere in this small little sleepy little town?" Jake questions with a dashing grin. He gives me some cakes and I package them into a paper box for him.

"Am I at the bakery my parents own?" I ask before letting out a chuckle: holding out the box of cakes to him. "You're learning I have a sweet side to me. Grandma's recipe."

He collects it from me, a smile written on his face.

"Honestly, I misjudged you at the start... and you annoy me," I confess before leaving to somewhere that won't be mentioned.

For the next several days, we keep up the same routine. He comes to the store around the afternoon, buys some desserts before coming up to me to pay for them.

"Why don't you give me a discount? I'm a regular customer after all," he asks during one of his visits, his eyebrow raised.

"This is the part where I start to be interested in you but nice try," I confess, as I put his money in the cash register and pack the dessert in a bag: offering it to him when I'm done.

He collects it with a smile, before he leaves.

One day, I get home to see my parents sitting on our couch, looking deep in thought.

"Darling, will you sit down for a second?" My mom says, her voice gentle and I do exactly as she says.

My parents hug me tightly, my mom caressing my hair in the process. "A company is planning on shutting down our bakery."

I was left with... a neutral feeling I guess? "Can't we just pay them enough money to prevent it?" I ask, hugging my parents back.

"But we can't," my dad explains. "We don't have enough money to prevent it."

We sit in silence and soon, my parents and I have to continue working at the bakery. Once I get there, I see Jake as usual.

He picks a random dessert and comes to me to pay for it.

"Honestly, I've always wondered how to bake. One thing that doesn't make me a hundred percent boyfriend material," he states and I laugh.

I decide to take him on a tour to our bakery's kitchen without my parents knowing. As I turn around to Jake, I realize how close we are. As our lips almost meet, we are interrupted by a ringing oven timer which shocks both of us. The atmosphere becomes awkward and I take out the food from the oven.

I finish giving him a tour and we say our goodbyes. After a few hours, I take a break to see my friend who has no back story.

"Hey bestie with a quirky personality," I greet as we both sip from our mugs.

"Nice seeing you back here Rachel Aiden Floria," she says. "How's life?"

"I have everything I've ever wanted... except love," I explain longingly.

"But there are a lot of eligible men in the big city," she points out.

"Yes but I am just a businesswoman. You see, I am just attractive enough to catch the eye of somebody in this small town."

"That's true," my friend agrees, before taking a sip from her mug.

"Oh! And I met Jake a few hours ago," I mention.

"Jake! You mean Jake Elias Carter from high school? The last time I saw him was in like... high school!" she admits, circling her finger around the brim of her mug.

"But girl, don't tell me you find him... hot?" she questions after a few seconds, a teasing smile growing on her face.

"I don't think so. He's pretty average," I inform as I cross my legs.

"Wait... don't tell me you're just trying to hide the fact that you think he's good looking?" she questions, shocked at my words.

I take a big sip out of my mug, "Maybe."

"Maybe," she repeats and we both drink from our mugs in silence. Isn't this such a nice conversation? Just like old times.

I decide to go back to the bakery and I see Jake there again but this time, my parents are standing in front of him.

"It seems you can't save your bakery from being shut down," Jake announces, holding a piece of paper in his hand.

I stand there, frozen in shock. He works in the company that is shutting down my parents' bakery? When he notices me, he looks... regretful? Did he try to hide this from me?

"I can't believe you want to shut down this bakery. I thought we were friends!" I shout, looking at him with heartbroken eyes.

"It isn't like that. You wouldn't understand since you're from the city," he yells back, gritting his teeth.

"What's wrong with being a city girl?" I ask angrily.

"Well maybe you don't understand someone like me who lives in this small little sleepy town," he answers. "Maybe you should just go back to the city where you came from."

"Maybe I will!" I affirm before leaving for my parents' house. I pack my things and book a flight for the next day which is Christmas, pissed by the words that came out Jake's mouth. Not only did he hurt my feelings, he's also working in the company that is shutting down my parents' bakery.

The next day, I head to the airport feeling under the weather. I then drag my luggage to the check in. Suddenly, I hear my name being called from who knows where.

"Rachel!" I hear the voice call out again and I turn around to see Jake? He runs to me and calms to halt when he's close, breathing heavily.

"You don't need to go," he announces, looking me in the eye.

"What do you mean?" I ask him.

"I invested enough money for my company to not shut down your parents' bakery," he states and I stare at him in shock.

My parents' bakery is saved? I compose myself as I look into his beautiful orbs, preparing a speech that I can only say once in my life.

"Jake... I'm sorry. I'm sorry about what happened years ago, I'm sorry for saying you're not good looking though you weren't there but most importantly, I'm sorry that I did not see my future when it was right in front of me."

"I love you Jake Elias Carter. I always have."

He chuckles with a bright smile on his face, "I love you too Rachel Aiden Floria. I always have."

"This town is special," we say in unison. Surrounded by Christmas decorations, we kiss and live happily ever after in the small little sleepy little town.

*Another story?*

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