Mrs. Radcliff walked out of the kitchen, her face lighting up as soon as she spotted Lucien. "Lu, dear! Don't distract Leah from her work. She just got out of the hospital yesterday."
Lucien froze, her angry expression faltering as if someone had hit the pause button on her rant. She blinked at Mrs. Radcliff, then at Leah, and back to Mrs. Radcliff, confusion overtaking her. "Hospital?" Lucien's face quickly turned from fury to embarrassment, her voice suddenly a lot softer. "You... you were sick?"
Leah couldn't help but grin at Lucien's sudden awkwardness. The girl had come in like a storm, ready to tear into her, but now she was standing there, looking like a deer caught in headlights. Lucien shifted uncomfortably, running a hand through her hair. "Uh... well... I guess I misjudged the situation," she muttered, clearly flustered.
"What?" Leah raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Did you really think you were free from me just because you decided to swap teams? Should I kiss you to remind you how wrong you are about this whole thing?"
Lucien took an instinctive step back, her eyes wide as if Leah had just pulled out a chainsaw. "Kiss?" Her voice wavered, panic creeping into her features. "I'm... I'm lesbian."
Leah shrugged dramatically, as if she'd just heard the most mundane thing in the world. "And I'm a girl. So, come here, honey, I'll give you a crash course in what that means."
Lucien's face turned the color of a ripe strawberry, her hands waving wildly in the air like she was trying to fend off a wild animal. "Wait...what? I...I don't...! I mean...no! No, no! I didn't..!"
Leah leaned against the counter casually, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "What, Lucien, you don't like the idea of a girl kissing you? Are you telling me you've been faking this whole 'lesbian' thing?"
Lucien froze mid-step, eyes darting from side to side like a cornered animal. "I...I'm not faking! I just…" She trailed off, flustered and obviously wishing the earth would swallow her whole. "I just wasn't prepared for this…this...whatever this is!"
"Relax," Leah said with a chuckle, crossing her arms. "I'm just messing with you. I'm not gonna kiss you. I mean, unless you want me to, in which case, I'm all in. But, you know, not really my type."
"You literally confessed to me," Lucien shot back, her voice a mix of frustration and disbelief. Leah's mouth opened to respond, but no witty comeback came. She snapped her jaw shut, uncharacteristically quiet for once.
Lucien's glare lingered for a moment before she threw her hands in the air with an exasperated groan. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath, her steps heavy as she stalked off to the corner of the bakery. She plopped into a chair and rested her head on the table, muttering something indecipherable that sounded suspiciously like a curse aimed at Leah.
Leah watched her from behind the counter, her lips twitching into a soft smile. She couldn't help it. Lucien looked so dramatic, like a grumpy cat that had just been dunked in water. She glanced around the bakery, noting how quiet it was, the perfect moment to bask in Lucien's presence without interruption.
Lucien let out a heavy sigh, her forehead still pressed to the table. "Stop staring at me," she mumbled, her voice muffled but clear enough to make Leah chuckle softly.
Leah leaned against the counter, resting her chin in her palm. "I'm not staring. I'm admiring," she said, her voice teasing but warm.
Lucien groaned again, lifting her head just enough to glare at Leah. "Admire someone else. I'm trying to mentally process your… existence."
Leah only grinned wider, content.
Leah ended her shift at 8 p.m., wiping down the counter one last time before bidding Mrs. Radcliff a warm goodbye. Lucien had stayed the entire evening, occasionally lending a hand but mostly stealing fleeting glances at Leah when she thought no one was looking. Leah noticed, of course, but said nothing, content to let Lucien lurk in her quiet way.
Stepping out into the cool night air, Leah let out a deep breath. She adjusted her coat and began her walk home, her thoughts already drifting to the comfort of her bed. However, the sound of soft footsteps behind her made her glance back. Lucien.
For several minutes, Lucien trailed behind her, maintaining an awkward distance. Leah smirked to herself, waiting for her to speak, but when nothing came, she slowed her pace. Finally, Lucien's voice broke the silence.
"Hey," she called out, her tone hesitant. "Can we… talk?"
Leah turned, her smirk shifting into a genuine grin. "Sure," she said, slipping her hands into her pockets. "Wanna walk to the park with me?"
Lucien hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded, falling into step beside her.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the stillness, punctuated by the occasional rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Leah walked with an easy rhythm, stealing sidelong glances at Lucien, whose gaze remained firmly ahead, her jaw tight.
Leah couldn't resist breaking the silence. "So, do you always follow people home like a lovesick puppy, or am I just special?"
Lucien stopped in her tracks, narrowing her eyes at Leah. "Can you ever be serious for five seconds?"
Leah tapped her chin, pretending to consider. "Not really. It's part of my charm."
Lucien groaned but kept walking, her steps quickening to match Leah's. The corners of her lips twitched as if she was fighting a smile.
"Are you going to tell anyone? About me?" Lucien's voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes fixed on the gravel path ahead.
Leah blinked, startled by the vulnerability in Lucien's tone. "Why would I do that?" she asked, tilting her head.
Lucien's steps faltered, and she crossed her arms defensively. "Well, it'd be… disgusting to people. You know, a girl pretending to be a guy," she muttered, her words laced with bitterness.
Leah frowned, her mind turning over the statement. Crossdressing didn't seem like the right word. Lucien's wardrobe wasn't overtly masculine—just comfortable, practical, and decidedly unisex. It wasn't the clothes that made people mistake her for a boy; it was her face. That sharp jawline, the slightly tousled hair, the undeniable boyish charm she carried without trying.
"I was surprised, sure," Leah admitted after a moment, her tone thoughtful. "But disgusted? Not even for a second."
Lucien glanced at her sideways, skepticism flickering in her gaze. "You're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?"
Leah smirked, shrugging. "Maybe I'm just nice like that. Or maybe I like having secrets. Adds a bit of spice to life."
Lucien rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of relief in the way her shoulders eased. Leah noticed it, the soft crack in Lucien's armor, and it made her grin widen.
"You know," Leah continued, nudging Lucien lightly with her elbow, "if anything, I'm a little jealous. You've got this whole mysterious, double-life thing going on. Meanwhile, I'm just... well, me."
Lucien huffed a laugh despite herself. "Trust me, there's nothing glamorous about it."
Leah leaned closer, her tone playful. "I don't know. You've got the whole 'brooding loner with a secret' vibe down pat. It's kinda hot."
Lucien froze mid-step, her face flushing crimson. "What—" she stammered, her voice shooting up an octave.
Leah straightened, hands in her pockets, a satisfied look on her face. "I'm just saying. Embrace it, Lucien. Live your best mysterious life."
Lucien shook her head, groaning, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. "You're insufferable," she muttered.
"And you're fun to mess with," Leah shot back, her laughter ringing through the quiet night.
Leah's grin faded as her expression turned serious. She stopped walking, her hands sliding out of her pockets. "Alright, I'll keep your secret," she said, her tone calm but deliberate. "But I need something in return."
Lucien stopped too, raising an eyebrow. "Blackmail? Really?" she asked, folding her arms. "Alright, fine, what do you want? My lunch money? My soul?"
Leah's gaze didn't waver. "Go out with me."
Lucien blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"You heard me," Leah said, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Date me."
Lucien let out a sharp laugh, the kind that sounded like it escaped without permission. "No. Absolutely not."
Leah huffed, crossing her arms and giving Lucien her best "are you kidding me?" face. "Why not?" she whined, her voice dripping with exaggerated disappointment.
Lucien turned around, as if ready to walk away. "Because I don't know you," she said, her tone flat. "You're just the person who knows my secret. I appreciate you keeping it, but that's all there is. Let's not make this more than it is."
Leah's heart sank a little at the coldness in her voice, but she didn't let it show. "So, you're just going to pretend this never happened?"
Lucien's shoulders stiffened, but she didn't respond. She walked away, heading back toward the bakery.
Leah stood there for a moment, processing the rejection with a dramatic sigh. "Well, this is the worst day ever."
Then she grinned to herself, already plotting how to change Lucien's mind. "She'll come around... eventually."