A/N: So um...my reads doubled. AGAIN. ///./// 1.2k to 2.4k. I've no idea how to thank you guys T-T I love you all <3 and hence, the early update. Cheers. 

Chapter 7: Arguments, Apologies, and Chocolate Chip.

[Chip]

"Giselle...?"

My gaze switched to Xander, who had just spoken. His eyes were slightly wide in surprise and he was staring at the little girl who had just entered the bakery. 

I cocked my head to a side in confusion, and returned my gaze to the girl. 

"Cupcake?" I asked, nodding and shaking my head to initiate interaction. Ever since she came to the bakery that day for a cupcake, the girl had been coming to the bakery every other day with ninety-cents in her sling bag just for a cupcake. 

"Cupcake!" She nodded her head eagerly and exclaimed. Ignoring Xander's strange looks, I shuffled over to the cupcake display case, popping my head down to reach for the red velvet in the middle.

I leaned down and handed it to the sweetheart as she started to open her bag (with slight difficulty) and counted ninety-cent worth of copper.

My eyes darted to Xander's face involuntarily.

His face showed little sign of emotion—all except that his lips were drawn into a thin line, as if he was trying to hold something in. He crossed the bakery in a few easy strides and placed a firm hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Giselle," I could see the pressure he was applying on her fragile frame, "is this where you were going every day?"

Xander's tone was dangerously soft, his eyes suddenly fierce.

Giselle...Giselle? That name...it was the name on the cake we made. Even she, Giselle, recoiled from the taller man's hardened gaze, and she avoided it by looking at her feet—unblinking.

"Giselle, I asked you a question—" Xander had begun to raise his volume, and I could see that he was trying to compose himself. "Is this where you were going every day?"

He turned Giselle around forcibly, trying to get her to face him. I began to panic, and so did Rose.

"H-hey you can't treat a girl like that-" I intervened, getting between the frightened girl and Xander. I gently pulled Giselle behind me in a protective stance somewhat like a mother.

Xander's face froze over in that instant, and I could even feel the heat from his body welling up. "What are you doing?" He hissed gravely.

Suddenly, I couldn't find my voice anymore.

"I-I...you shouldn't treat Giselle like that." I managed feebly, trying my best to hold my gaze. I felt my lower lip tremble.

Xander clenched his jaw and before I could react, he shoved me aside, hard, and I crashed into the basket of baguettes beside the counter.

I felt a whimper escape my lips while Rose gasped, hurrying over to help me up.

Xander's mouth was slightly parted, and his eyes widened when he saw me bite my lip in pain. He almost looked guilty. Then his eyebrows furrowed, and another emotion appeared in his raging orbs.

"Chip, dear, you okay?" My sister hushed, caressing my head in a motherly voice. I nodded, and our attention was back onto the trembling girl and the fuming teenager.

"You. Come with me, NOW." Xander said firmly, but not as fierce as before, as he grabbed Giselle by her upper arm and led her out of the door.

The last expression I saw on Giselle's face was not one of fear, or sadness.

It was one of emptiness—as if she did not know what to do.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That night, I couldn't sleep. Not a blink.

Every single time I closed my eyes, the image of Giselle crumbling to pieces under Xander's vice-like grip and hardened gaze stung the back of my mind.

I sighed, fixing a stare at the ceiling.

Who exactly was Giselle? More importantly, what was she to Xander? I bit my lip, trying hard to fit the pieces together but failed.

One thing I was sure—Giselle was autistic. I used to have a friend in elementary school and he was autistic too.

He couldn't look me in the eye, and was always in his own world—muttering hushed nothings into the air as if he wanted to be heard. I shared a lunch table with him back then.

I began to recognize some of his favourite repeated actions (rubbing his hands together, gripping onto something for comfort) and the way he spoke in as if he copied them from someone else, just like Giselle did. I thought it was the way he learned.

My head turned to the side and I reached out to touch the bed next to mine—to find that it was empty.

I forgot that Hansel was going to stay at the hostel of his boarding school for at least 3 months.

Perhaps the reason why I couldn't sleep was that I wasn't used to the feeling of being so alone.

Cuddling into my pillow which severely lacked fluff, I closed my eyes; and Xander's fierce, grey orbs appeared once again, boring through with a heavy heat.

And I knew that Hansel's absence wasn't exactly the reason I couldn't fall asleep. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I trudged to school the next day, eyes barely opened.

After stuffing the darn contacts into my eyes and swiftly picking out a pair of the new jeans and a white shirt, I was already wasted.

Before entering homeroom, I pinched my cheeks to wake myself up, and then knocked tentatively on the door—late for the first time.

"Come in," I could hear Mr. Arthur's voice behind the wood.

Sliding the door open, I entered the class, and there was an immediate wave of chatter.

I glanced around, panicking slightly. Had I done something wrong? W-was I that late?

I double-checked my watch—nope, only 5 minutes...

"Chip!!" Kim exclaimed, waving frantically to catch my attention (not that she already had it), and patted the seat beside her. "You're so late!"

I'm not one of a person to look around the class—I mean...I can't look anywhere except the ground, honestly. But the look on everyone's faces.

They were all so shocked. Even Mr Arthur had his mouth opened.

"T-that's...Chip?"

"He looks so different!"

"Was his hair so pretty?"

"Who the hell is Chip anyway, never knew him."

A low murmur swept the class and I could feel the anxiety settling in and I quickened my pace, trying to get to Kim as fast as possible.

Unfortunately, being—well—being me, I...tripped over a bag placed on the floor of the aisle I was walking across, and I...fell.

Head-first into the ground.

The homeroom was silenced instantly, and everyone turned to stare at the scuffled sound.

There was a moment of silence, and then I heard Jack say:

"That's Chip alright."

And everyone laughed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Xander's POV

Confusion. That was what I felt.

I didn't mean to push that kid—it was just an instinct. Giselle is my sister. Not his. What's he doing trying to poke into our business?

But when I saw how hard I had pushed him, I instantly felt that twinge of guilt.

And then came the confusion.

Why was I feeling guilty? After all, it's not like I haven't shoved someone out of the way before.

Following the confusion was plain frustration that I couldn't even figure myself out—not to mention Giselle, my own sister.

School was some shit the next day—as usual—and nothing to look forward to. Sure, I had friends. But judging by the girls hiking up their skirts every now and then and the dirty looks from the guys behind my back, I don't think you could consider them as friends.

My landlord's trying to be funny about the rent; I need a job; I needed to pay for Giselle's babysitting fees; and then there's my own tuition fees.

Basically, my life's fucked up. Yup.

Oh look, it's the bread boy.

I rounded the corner of the hall during lunch break just in time to see Chip at his locker, talking to a girl.

I don't really know her name.

Bread boy was smiling as usual, just his small, shy smile and I realised that was one of the few times I've seen him smile.

When he was around me, he'd just be a freaking red mess.

It was obvious enough to tell where this was going. He was so easy to tease, like a clueless kitten.

I stopped just a meter away from the pair and caught their attention.

The girl looked slightly surprised, and for a moment, I thought I saw a cheeky glint in her eyes.

"Well, uh, Chip," she cleared her throat,"I'm gonna meet Jack for lunch so...you can take your time yaa?" There was a distinct tone in her voice, seeming to emphasise on 'taking his time'.

"W-what? Kim—wait!"

But then she had already stalked away.

Bread boy returned his gaze with much difficulty—like a bunny facing a wolf, and I could see his fingers trembling slightly.

Following my line of sight, he realised he was practically trembling like a mini-earthquake and his head instantly lowered to look at the ground.

"Nice hair," I said, adding the tease to my tone.

Chip's head immediately jerked up and he blushed. "T-thanks..." He said softly.

Like I said—an easy tease.

"I—" "Look," We started at the same time.

"Y-you can go first," "You first," And again.

And then the silence.

Ugh, this guy's gonna be the death of me.

When I saw that he had no intention of even opening his mouth anymore, I sighed. "Look, 'm sorry. How's your shoulder?"

Bread boy looked taken aback by my question but nodded his head all the same, "I-I'm fine really...Thank you..."

He really was a stammering mess.

"I gotta...I gotta go—Kim's waiting for me," He raised his gaze to look at me through his ridiculously long and thick eyelashes. You've got to be kidding me—he's been hiding that behind those glasses?

"'Kay sure," I shrugged, "see ya around." I turned on my heel towards the other direction.

"Wait!" I heard the small voice call.

Shifting my body slightly to face the small fry, I raised an eyebrow.

"W-well um...feel free to come to the bakery w-with Giselle anytime...so...uh..." His head was lowered and he was blushing to the tips of his ears, his voice gradually deteriorating in volume.

I dunno what came over me but I had a sudden urge to pass my hand through that soft honey hair of his.

Obviously, I didn't do that.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Giselle, never, EVER, go anywhere without me. You understand?"

The next day, I was at the convenience store with my sister searching for the cheapest milk on sale, when she suddenly said, "Chocolate Chip!"

I looked to the side and followed her gaze.

What the hell.

Why does Chip appear everywhere we go?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: Hello my beloved readers! Do you like Xander's POV? I know it's very different from Chip's POV because Chip is just too fluffy and Xander's just too edgy. I'm sorry if some of you don't like it, since I had negative feedback about changing POV's once, but I really want you guys to know what is going on his mind ^^"

Like this chapter? Don't like it? Comment to let me know so I can change anything! :)

Vote if you know people who have Autism,  beacuse they are the most beautiful people in the world. :)

-Cupcake 

P.S My readers are such clever people. They all guessed Giselle's identity before I could even say it T-T  (Well, except my brother, who also reads this. He's just so clueless...*sighs*)