"A job?" Taylor and Adelaide exclaimed, clearly taken aback by the news.
"Why do you need a job?" Taylor asked, suspicion lacing her voice.
"Yeah, I thought you were all about focusing on studying and getting that scholarship," Adelaide added, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Leah grinned, clearly enjoying the attention. "I know it sounds crazy, but I wanted to do something for myself. Plus, there's some stuff on my list I want to experience before..." She trailed off, cutting herself off before the sentence could go too dark.
"Stuff on your list?" Taylor raised an eyebrow. "What, like a bucket list?"
"Exactly," Leah said, nodding. "Gotta live a little before... y'know." She shrugged casually, hoping they wouldn't press for details.
Adelaide crossed her arms, studying her friend for a moment before speaking. "You always did like a good challenge, huh? Well, good for you. I'm sure you'll rock it."
"Yeah, maybe I'll start making money so I can buy all the cool stuff you guys keep talking about," Leah added with a sly grin, nudging Taylor playfully.
Taylor rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face was warm. "Good luck with that."
"Seen Lucien?" Adelaide teased, her eyebrows raised.
Leah rolled her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips as she tried to mask the disappointment in her voice. "I think he's avoiding me. We locked eyes in the cafeteria earlier, and he turned his head like I was invisible."
She sighed again, crossing her arms tighter around herself. "I shouldn't have confessed. Now he won't even look at me, let alone greet me."
"And are you just going to let him get away with that?" Adelaide asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth, the challenge clear in her tone.
Leah eyed Adelaide, already knowing exactly where her teasing was headed.
"I'm not a stalker, Adelaide."
"Oh, really?" Adelaide quirked an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Because I didn't notice anything creepy about the way you practically followed him around when he first transferred here."
Leah bit her lip to suppress a laugh, fighting the urge to throw a playful punch at her friend. "That was... research," she said, offering a defensive shrug.
Adelaide snorted. "Research? Right. And I'm sure you were just trying to find out what color his eyes were, huh?"
Leah couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You know what I mean."
But behind the humor, Leah felt a faint tug of regret. She had known—deep down—that confessing her feelings would probably put a stop to even the tiniest of interactions with Lucien. But she had done it anyway, because she couldn't keep pretending her feelings didn't exist.
The truth was, she hadn't expected anything to come of it. With her diagnosis, she would be a fool to even think about starting a relationship, to get in too deep. But a part of her wanted to be seen, to have Lucien know how she felt. Even if it didn't change anything. Even if it was the most selfish thing she'd done in a while, she just needed to let him know.
"Anyways," Taylor said, abruptly changing the subject as if nothing had happened. "You guys have to be at my place by 9. I have the most amazing idea, and, oh, big news to share. It's gonna blow your mind."
Leah and Adelaide exchanged amused glances, nodding along as the conversation continued until the bell rang for the next period.
After school, Leah made her way to the bakery, her thoughts lingering on Lucien. She wondered if he'd be there later. She'd noticed—and by noticed, she meant she'd accidentally seen him there almost every day by 5 p.m. He studied at the bakery, and since he was close with the owner, he was allowed to use the space. Not that Leah was stalking him or anything, of course. She just happened to be there at the same time so many times. It was purely coincidental. Right?
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Radcliff," Leah greeted as she stepped into the cozy bakery, the warmth of freshly baked bread and sugar wrapping around her like a blanket.
Mrs. Radcliff glanced up from the counter, her face lighting up in a welcoming smile. "Ah, Leah! You're right on time," she said, wiping her hands on her apron. "Come on in, we're just getting started."
Leah returned the smile, feeling a mix of nervous excitement. "I'm ready to get to work."
"Good!" Mrs. Radcliff clapped her hands together. "First thing, can you help me with the display? We got some fresh éclairs and fruit tarts today, so they need to go right up front. Make them look nice and tempting."
Leah nodded, moving to the counter with a quick breath to steady herself. She carefully arranged the pastries, her fingers brushing lightly over the smooth surface of the tarts and the delicate layers of the éclairs. The smell of butter, vanilla, and warm sugar filled the air, and she found herself smiling as she worked. The bakery was calm, with only a few customers scattered about, and the peaceful hum of quiet chatter made her feel a little less tense.
Once the pastries were perfectly aligned, Leah glanced up. Mrs. Radcliff was looking over at a small table near the window, where an older couple sat. Mrs. Radcliff raised an eyebrow at Leah and gestured toward them.
"Could you take their order to them? Two coffees and a couple of cinnamon rolls, just like usual."
Leah gave a quick nod, picking up the tray. The cups were warm in her hands, steam rising in gentle curls. She could feel the weight of the tray, but it wasn't too much to handle. She carefully made her way to the couple, her heart beating just a little faster as she approached them.
"Here you go," Leah said softly, setting the tray down on their table. "Enjoy your coffee."
The couple smiled warmly at her, thanking her in unison. Leah's nerves eased a little. The kindness in their voices made her feel like she was part of the rhythm of the bakery now.
On her way back to the counter, she saw Mrs. Radcliff packing a to-go order, and when she saw Leah, she motioned for her to take it.
"Alright," Mrs. Radcliff said, handing Leah a small brown bag. "If anyone wants to take their order to-go, just pack it up and hand them the bag. You've got this."
Leah accepted the bag, a small thrill of accomplishment curling in her chest. She could hear the soft sound of the espresso machine humming, the low murmur of voices, and she realized, maybe this job wasn't so bad after all. She could get used to this.
Leah handed the to-go order to the woman who ordered it. Leah took her time, keeping an eye on the clock. The minutes crawled by, and when it was just after 5, her attention snapped to the glass windows. There he was, Lucien, walking through the door.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she scrambled to fix her hair, smoothing it down and wiping the faint flour stain from her apron. She even reached into her pocket, pulling out a lip gloss. She quickly applied it, feeling ridiculous but unable to stop herself. Her lips puckered slightly as she made sure it was even.
Taking a deep breath, she plastered a smile on her face and walked to the counter just as Lucien stepped inside.
"Welcome to Radcliff Bakery, how can I help you?" Her voice came out sugary sweet, too sweet, almost too much. The kind of sweetness that made her think of Seraphina and the way her voice always seemed to sound just a little too perfect, a little too rehearsed.
Leah cursed herself inwardly, but the words were already out. She just hoped Lucien didn't notice.
Lucien's gaze flickered to Leah the moment he stepped inside. He hesitated for a moment, and when their eyes met, his smile was tight, almost forced. His posture stiffened as he quickly turned away, moving to the corner of the bakery. Without another word, he set his books down, pulling out his notes and starting to study.
Leah's chest tightened as she watched him settle into his corner. The brief exchange left her with a sinking feeling. What did he think of her now? Did he find her awkward, fake? She couldn't help but replay every moment in her head, wishing she could erase the stilted awkwardness from her voice.
She sighed, wiping her hands on her apron absentmindedly. Despite the pleasant buzz of the bakery around her, the weight of Lucien's distant behavior gnawed at her. What was she supposed to do now?
Mrs. Radcliff emerged from the kitchen, spotting Lucien seated in the corner.
"Lu-bear, my lovely girl! How are you this fine afternoon?" she called out, her smile as wide as her enthusiasm.
"Girl?" Leah's brain screeched to a halt, trying to process the words she heard but she just decided it was old age. "No, Mrs. Radcliff, Lucien is a boy," she said, her voice unsteady but insistent.
"What?" Mrs. Radcliff blinked in genuine confusion. "What are you talking about? That's my niece, Lucien."
"Niece?" Leah's voice hit a pitch that could've shattered glass. She whipped her head back to Lucien, who was sitting there, looking like he/she had seen a ghost, or like he/she was trying to hide under his/her textbook.