The neighborhood at five in the morning was quiet. Peaceful. The sun comfortably warm on my skin. I didn't even mind that Nate walked at a snail pace, almost zombie like, as we made our way past manicured lawns with bright green grass and flowers in a multitude of colors.

"Hey, uh, if my mom asks, can you say I was with you last night?"

I whipped my head in his direction, stopping on the sidewalk. "Excuse me?"

He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans, stopping in front of me. "I kinda promised her I wouldn't mess up this summer. Between that fight the other night and now staying out and getting drunk..." He shook his head like he was trying to erase the memory of it. "I don't want her to worry."

He almost seemed desperate, his dark eyes on me. Unmoving. Waiting. I nodded against my will.

The tension in his shoulders instantly deflated. "Thank you. And thanks for letting me crash at your place." He glanced at me more hesitant than before. "I, uh, didn't do anything stupid, did I?"

"Define stupid." The shocked and worried expression on his face was worth messing with him. I bit back a laugh as I started walking again. "You were mostly talking about ugly Greek dudes."

He groaned, running a hand over his curls, falling into step beside me. "Shit."

"Also," I said, crossing my arms. Nate glanced at me, bracing himself. "When were you going to tell me we went to elementary together?"

His lips quirked up into an amused smirk. "I was wondering when you'd figure it out," he said, laughing. "I thought you knew and that was why you had an attitude with me."

"I had an attitude because you're annoying," I spat. "Always have been, apparently."

"Don't be like that, puff puff pass." He tugged one of curls that peeked out from under the bandana I threw on before going on the walk.

I smacked away his hand, narrowing my eyes at him. "Don't call me that!"

He held his palms, surrendering, but still wearing a smirk. "Alright, I'll stop."

"Nathaniel!" The voice was unrecognizable, but I did recognize the woman two houses down staring daggers at Nate. I'd never seen his mom so angry. How was supposed to lie to her? She kinda scared me.

"Where have you been?" She asked, meeting us at the end of the driveway. "I've been calling you for hours. I was about to call the cops!" Even as she yelled at him, she pulled him into a tight hug, forcing Nate to almost bend at a ninety-degree angle to account for the height difference.

"Sorry," he said, pulling out of the hug. "Charm was teaching me some baking stuff. We were baking all night." His mom's brows raised like she didn't believe a single word. Nate quickly added: "I was just too into it. Lost track of time."

When his mom turned to me, I went stone still. "Is that true?"

I nodded. "Yeah, he's...a natural."

That was too much, she pursed her lips like she didn't believe it. "Really? Because he can't even make a bowl of cereal."

"Mom!"

"You pour the milk first," she said, looking up at him. "Who does that?"

I bit my lip holding back a laugh. Nate slit his eyes at me, but I could tell he didn't mean it.

"Nate, I'm happy you're taking this job seriously," his mom told him. "And I know you're turning eighteen next week, but you're still required to check in if you're out late."

He nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

His mom went back into the house. Nate gazed down at me. Either the sun was getting hotter or I was melting from the inside out. The plastic flamingos in the yard across the street suddenly became interesting.

"Thanks for doing that," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess this means you forgive me for the whole puff puff pass thing?"

I looked up at him, rolled my eyes, and walked away.

♡ ♡ ♡

The next few days I fell into a routine of filing papers at my dad's office and sneaking pictures of Cake Me Up for Instagram. Most of the photos I took were of the baked goods Aunt Mimi put on display and the interior design of the shop. I had to angle them just right so no one would notice the place was empty most of the time.

The account had twenty followers so far, unfortunately most were those random accounts who followed hundreds of people for whatever reason. I planned on telling Aunt Mimi about the account once there was something to tell her about. A hand full of likes weren't going to convince her to work on her online presence.

Aunt Mimi spent more time in her office than on the floor, which would've annoyed me, but worked out perfectly for my plan. I didn't know what she was doing back there, but she always came out complaining about having quit smoking cigarettes.

Nate usually ignored me and my picture taking. He was, of course, into his game or his phone or counting the ceiling tiles while I wandered around snapping photos on my lunch break.

After I helped him lie to his mom, he tried talking to me, bringing up random stories from elementary that I barely remembered. But I wasn't in the mood to go down memory lane with him. So, I took my photos in silence.

He eventually stopped trying. Then one day he asked something that had my attention. "Can you teach me how to bake?"

I was sitting at a table in Cake Me Up, editing the last batch of photos I had taken of a pink frosted donut with sprinkles and a random book I stole from the dentist office.

My eyes darted to Nate who was still behind the counter, leaning his elbows on the glass. "Teach you to bake?"

"Yeah, it's not like I have anything else to do around here," he said motioning to the empty restaurant. "And my mom's been asking about our baking lesson. I think she starting to suspect we lied."

That made a lot more sense than him suddenly wanting to learn to bake. But I wasn't going to help him keep up his lie.

"I'm busy, so...check YouTube?" I told him, turning back to my phone.

His shoes squeaked as he walked, the chair across from me scrapping on the tiled floor. "Please?"

"Wouldn't it be easier to tell your mom the truth," I suggested, eyes glued to my phone. "You know, instead of learning a whole new skill?"

"No, I really want to learn."

My eyes snapped onto him. Did he have an actual interest in baking? Aside from my aunt and random people on online forums I didn't really know any other bakers. It would've been fun to have some to geek out with.

But I was still skeptical. "Why?"

"I work at a bakery?" I gave him a look. "Honestly, it looks fun and since you're here every day already..."

I shook my head. "I can't teach you how to bake in my fifteen minute lunch break."

He leveled me with his gaze. "Do you really not have the time or do you just not like me?"

"The second one," I deadpanned.

He laughed at my completely honest reply. "Come on, Charm. Please?" He smiled that megawatt smile that might've worked on most people, but not me.

I shooed him away. "You're blocking the light."

"I'll help you with your photography project."

"It's not a photography project," I told him, aiming my phone camera at the pastry in front of me.

Nate's clasped hands were in the shot. His golden-brown skin interrupted by faded purple on his knuckles. The violence the bruises suggested was a total contrast to the sweetness of the pink frosted donut. I snapped the photo.

"Whatever it is, I'll help," he offered again. "I'm a great camera man. I take pictures of Janae for her Instagram all the time." The words were out of his mouth fast. When he realized what he'd said, how casually he brought her name up, his million dollar smile faltered. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Basically, I'm good at taking pictures and editing them."

I moved my phone around like I was trying to find better angles for the photo. Inside, I was struggling to force down the urge to help a fellow broken heart. He looked like a wounded puppy when he realized he let her name slip.

I was only with Kailand for a month and a half and I felt like my world ended when he said he was done. I couldn't imagine how Nate felt after being with Janae for a whole year. And Daisy said the break-up was brutal.

Mending Nathaniel's heart was not my responsibility.

I repeated that over and over, yet when I opened my mouth, my words didn't back me up. "We can start this weekend."