Song: Looking Up by Paramore

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"Did you get your assignments turned in this morning?"

I looked at my mom from across the table and my mind went blank.

She raised the cup of coffee to her lips, still eyeing me over the rim.

"I haven't even started," I admitted. "I'll do it before I go to work, don't worry. Do you need me to open the bakery today?"

She sat the cup down and nodded. "Your dad and I are going to take Grandma to her doctor's appointment in a few. I just have to wait for him to get back and we'll leave."

"Okay. Where's Jason?"

"Early class this morning." She stood up and took her coffee cup to the sink. "I'll give you your keys and your phone back, but only for today. Got it?"

"Yeah, Mom." I took the last bite of my cereal and took my bowl to the sink.

I rushed back up the stairs to get ready. Jeans were always my go to on any occasion, and it's definitely one of those occasions. Then I found a black sweater with white polka dots scattering around the fabric. I dressed quickly, brushed my teeth, and then put my hair into a ponytail before putting on a pair of shoes and packing up my computer. Not only did I need my computer, I needed my textbooks and a few notebooks. So I packed that up in my backpack too before rushing back down the stairs.

My mom was waiting by the stairs, my phone in one hand and my keys in the other. "Did you forget you lost your wallet?"

"Shit," I hissed and quickly covered my mouth. "Sorry."

She handed me my phone. "We'll drop you off and I'll be there to help when I get back. I should only be gone for a couple of hours."

"I think I can handle a couple of hours, Mom. Is Stacy working today?"

"Yeah, but she doesn't come in until ten. So you'll have to make due on your own until then."

"Like I said, I think I can handle it," I replied lightly.

"Dad's waiting in the car, lets go."

She ushered me out the front door and I walked to the car. I climbed in the back seat with a small huff and closed the door.

Our bakery, also known as Enchanted Sweets, used to be run by my grandma. But as she got older, she could no longer take care of it so she passed it down to my mom and she was happy to take over. That was about five years ago. And that's also when I discovered my love for cupcakes. Not just eating them of course, but baking them. The possibilities with cupcakes are endless.

Now it's my favorite time to be in the bakery because Christmas is less than a month away and it's my best season if I'm being honest. Fall and winter have the best flavors to work with and that works in my favor.

When my mom asks me to work in the bakery, I'm all for it. I guess I have that going for me.

They dropped me off in front of the bakery as usual and my mom gave me the keys to open up. She hugged me tight and kissed the top of my head like she's sending me off on my first day of kindergarten. They drove off and I turned around to unlock the doors and head inside.

The first thing I did was turn on the lights and take the chairs down off the table.

You could tell my grandma decorated. Or at least had a majority of what went on in the process. I mean it is her bakery. The place was drenched in white and soft pinks, blues, and yellows. Mainly white, but it brightened the place up a lot. It looked and felt like a modern bakery and people loved it here including myself.

After I fixed the tables, I walked behind the counter and behind the glass cases where cupcakes would soon be. I handle the cupcakes while my mom handles the other things like muffins and fresh baked breads. Stacy, my aunt, also hands that so she'll probably take care of that when she comes in.

I got started immediately. First I gathered the ingredients I needed for red velvet cupcakes and then pulled out my textbook. I opened it up on the chapter I needed and began making the cupcakes.

The first batch went in after I filled the liners and I set the timer. I pulled up a stool in front of the counter and took out a pencil to take notes from my book. My phone buzzed in my pocket and started ringing loudly.

Mia's picture popped up on the screen.

My mom would kill me, but of course I answered it anyway. "What's up?"

"My parents are fighting again," She yelled. "I can't handle this shit, Lucy."

"I'm sorry, Mia," I murmured. "Come to the bakery. I haven't seen you in a week and I miss you. My ears are also open for venting."

She laughed a little. "I'm already on my way."

"Good." I smiled. "See you in a few."

I hung up and started to gather everything I needed for the cream cheese frosting. While the cupcakes baked, I put the frosting ingredients into the mixer and blended it together. Every recipe in this bakery has been passed down from my grandma. Well, maybe there's an exception with a few that I created. But I always got my grandma's permission and then her approval. My favorite is the ginger bread cupcake with a spiced cream cheese frosting. It's a big hit this time of year.

Our best seller is probably Snicker doodle. We usually sell at least a batch a day. Sometimes people will come and buy a dozen from the call center across the street. They're a bigger hit than donuts.

Occasionally we'll have people come in, order coffee and a muffin and just relax. Sometimes they come to do homework and sometimes they'll come to meet up with someone. I could be envious of some of these people. They seem to never have a care in the world. Unlike me obviously. A dog gets let out more often than I do. And so does my brother Jason.

As I was waiting, I made fresh coffee because I'm sure I'm going to need the caffeine along with some of our regulars.

The bell above the door rang and I lifted my head in time to see Mia step through. Her golden hair was pinned back out of her face and she was wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants. She sighed and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose before walking up to the other side of the counter. "What are you making?"

"Red velvet as always and then I have to get started on vanilla."

She sat on one of the stools and dropped her bag on the floor before leaning on her folded arms. "I need something to make me feel better."

I walked to the fridge and opened it up to reveal left over chocolate cupcakes and other various cupcakes from yesterday. My mom tells me to get rid of them, but why do that when Mia and I can eat them all?

It was a small plate filled with five chocolate cupcakes. I placed them in front of her and she grabbed one immediately. "This is why I'm glad I have a best friend that basically makes cupcakes for a living." She grinned and took a giant bite.

I smiled. "Hopefully one day I can have my own bakery." I walked back to the fridge and pulled out the milk to pour Mia a glass. By the time all of that was out of the way, the timer on the cupcakes rang and I pulled them out to cool.

They were placed on a wire rack neatly and went back to the frosting. Once it was finished, I placed it inside the fridge and got started on the vanilla cupcakes.

"Honestly, I don't know how you guys do it." She took a gulp of the milk and wiped her fingers on a napkin.

"Thank my grandma," I teased. "So...you want to talk about what's going on?"

Mia shrugged and grabbed another cupcake. "It's just the same shit, Luce. Neither one of them is happy and I wish they would just divorce already. At this point it already feels like they are. They both work late and I know my mom is seeing someone else."

"Mia—"

"It's okay." Then she scrunched up her nose and shook her head. "No, it's not okay. None of it's okay. And I don't think they see how this is also hurting me."

"I wish there was something I could do," I said and started filling liners with vanilla batter. "Are you going to stay with Caleb?"

"Probably," She murmured around the cupcake. After she swallowed, she continued speaking, "I was going to ask your mom, but I forgot you're grounded. Caleb said his parents don't care."

"As long as you have somewhere to go, Mia. And you know my mom would've probably said yes."

"Eh, maybe. I hate bothering her sometimes."

I snorted. "Bother her all you want, I don't care. You know she doesn't either."

"Yeah, but...it's okay. I'll be fine, Luce."

I smiled sadly and put the vanilla cupcakes in the oven. Next I filled a piping bag full of the cream cheese frosting and started to ice the red velvet cupcakes.

"Oh, tell me about your birthday. I hate I wasn't here." Mia frowned.

I sighed. "It was...eventful and uneventful at the same time. I don't know why I did that. Maybe to freak my mom out. She wouldn't let me go anywhere, but she'll let Jason go everywhere. It's not fair."

"But it's the big eighteen. You're supposed to go a little crazy."

I let out a loud, sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, like that would ever happen. My mom has these senses. She'll know when I'm about to do something stupid."

"Well, except knowing when you're going to leave the mall and basically end up in a bar."

"It sounds horrible out loud," I grumbled. "But I actually had a good time at that bar. The bands were great. Probably the highlight of my birthday. See...now that would've been a great way to spend my birthday and nothing happened to me. She needs to loosen the leash a little."

"It sounds like it's only gotten worse since..."

"It has," I choked out.

After I finished up frosting the red velvet cupcakes and started putting them into the glass case. "There was this guy—"

The bell above the door rang again and I looked up, expecting to see Stacy, but instead a familiar face.

Benji.

I'm pretty sure I stopped breathing for a second.

"You were saying..." Mia prodded.

"Hey," Benji said as he approached the counter. He glanced at the red velvet cupcakes and back to me. "Oh, hey. Lucy, right?"

I nodded and for some reason my tongue wasn't working.

"I didn't know you worked here." He smiled, his green eyes brightening as he spoke. "I used to come here when I was little. Best vanilla cupcakes I've ever had."

"My family owns it, actually," I spoke broadly. "Is there anything I could get you?"

"Uh, yeah. A coffee, please."

I walked to the other side of the counter and got a white mug from the hooks hanging below the cabinets. I'm glad I actually remembered to make fresh coffee this morning now. I poured the coffee in the mug and brought it back to the counter where Mia sat.

"What do I owe you?"

"First one's on me." I smiled. "And if you'd like to wait a few minutes, I'll throw in a vanilla cupcake."

Benji's smile widened. "I think I could definitely spare a few minutes."

Mia cleared her throat and I jumped. "Oh! Sorry." I gestured to Mia. "Benji, this is Mia my lovely best friend and this is Benji."

Mia smiled at Benji. "How'd you guys meet?"

Benji looked at me and back to Mia.

But I answered, "He's in one of the bands I saw last night. Kind of bumped into him." I laughed nervously.

"Her birthday wasn't going well—"

"It was your birthday yesterday?" Benji asked, sliding onto the seat next to Mia.

The timer on the oven buzzed and it made me jump again. I quickly walked over to the oven and pulled out the vanilla cupcakes and set them on a rack to cool. "Yes, it was my birthday."

"Oh, well happy late birthday." Benji smiled and took a sip of his coffee. "It was obviously a good one since you saw my band play, right?"

Mia laughed really loud. "Someone's a little cocky."

"You're right," Benji sighed, biting the corner of his lip. "Our band is pretty shitty and I have no idea why anyone likes us." Then the corners of his lips curved into a slow smile.

"Yes, very shitty," I joked. "I downloaded your music when I got home last night. That's how shitty it is."

Benji grinned and traced a finger over the rim of his mug. "Thank you and I hope your ears don't bleed."

"I think I can manage." I slowly smiled too.

The bell above the door rang again and in rushed Stacy. She looked exhausted as she rushed behind the counter. "Hey, I'm sorry I'm late." She breathed, dropped her stuff down, and kissed my cheek.

"It's okay," I assured. "I got the red velvet and vanilla done."

"Great." She rushed to get an apron on and tie back her blonde curls. "I'm going to get started on a few orders."

While Benji was talking to Mia, I took the chance to make the buttercream frosting for the vanilla cupcakes. Buttercream is so simple to make so it didn't take long at all. And another few minutes later, I filled another piping bag and frosted the cupcakes. I retrieved a small plate, set one on it, and slid it across the counter to Benji. He gave me a smile. "Looks perfect."

"I made it so of course it looks perfect," I teased.

Benji grinned and took another sip of his coffee before taking the first bite of the cupcake. He nodded in approval. "Still so good."

I continued frosting the rest of the cupcakes and put them in the glass case.

Stacy was bustling around behind me, muttering recipes to herself.

Mia was on her phone and she let out an annoyed sigh. "I gotta get home," She murmured and stuffed it in her pocket. "Thanks for the comfort food and as soon as you're off house arrest, I'll make it up to you."

"Thanks, Mia," I said sarcastically. "Call me if you need anything."

"I will. See you later." She hopped off the stool and looked at Benji. "And it was nice meeting you, Benji. I'll definitely have to see you guy's play soon. I trust Lucy's music taste."

Benji turned slightly to face her. "Hopefully we won't disappoint."

"I doubt it." She picked her bag up and slung it over her shoulder. "Bye, Stacy!" She called out as she walked out the door again.

Having Mia here kind of gave me the confidence to actually talk to Benji normally without the thought of embarrassing myself. And now with just Stacy here...it gave a new meaning to the word terrified.

His cupcake was gone and he had his phone in hand.

Benji looked different in broad daylight, unlike the horrible lighting in a bar. Not a bad different. I guess it could be bad because he's even more attractive. His eyes reminded me of emeralds. The silver ring around his lip didn't help much with how attracted I am to him.

I'm pretty sure it added to the attraction.

He was wearing a band shirt with cut off sleeves and I could see his tattoos better. He didn't have as many as I thought, but still has more than I'd ever get. He has two thin black bands around his forearm, a small anchor close to his wrist, and on his other wrist was a blue heart. It looked roughly painted, but it made it look more realistic in my opinion.

Now I'd love to know the story behind that one.

I didn't get a chance to look at them all before Stacy called for help. My mom should also be here soon and that was unsettling on its own. But Benji was engrossed in his phone and his cup of coffee he hasn't paid any attention to me.

Fifteen minutes before I should be expecting my mom, Benji stood up from the stool. "Are you sure I don't owe you anything?" He asked again.

I nodded and smiled. "I'm sure."

His lips quirked up. "Well thank you. For coming to the show last night and the free coffee and cupcake. I owe you."

"I'll hold you to that," I blurted and instantly regretted it.

It didn't seem to faze him though. "See you around, Lucy."

When Benji left, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

"Show?" Stacy asked from behind me.

My hand flew to my chest and I breathed. "Yeah, show. Mom didn't tell you about what I did?"

"Oh, no." She laughed. "I heard all about it. I was the first person she called because she figured you ran to me." Then Stacy shook her head. "Don't tell her I said this, but she needs to let you live a little. Taking you out of school is one thing, but not letting you go out on your birthday is another."

Stacy could be so damn understanding sometimes. "I think that way sometimes and then I remember why she does it."

She let out an annoyed sigh. "You won't end up like that, Luce. I know you. Kids make mistakes and learn from them, honey."

"I know." I felt defeated. "But some people don't."

"Life's a pain in the ass."

"Agreed."

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The next chapter you'll see more development with Benji and Lucy's friendship! :) And I'm so glad you guys are enjoying this story already, means soooo much! <3

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