Living with Pain

Chapter 20: Brownie Wars

Sky

"Hey, stranger," Cash greets me in the dance room. "Feeling better?"

"Much," I smile, glad to be upright and functional today. "Do you want to hang out after school?"

"I can't right after, but I can at about 6 if that would work."

"Sure. Do you have something going on? I thought you didn't have dance practice today."

"I usually don't, but we're performing for the school's pep rally at the end of the week so we have to put in an extra practice."

"I'm so excited to watch you perform!" I've yet to see one of Cash's dance performances. I could tell by my glimpses of him practicing that he was an amazing dancer, but it will be cool to see him with his whole team and costumes.

"You can get a sneak peak right now, if you want," he winks.

"Cash," I start in warning, not entirely sure what he is suggesting.

"I just mean you can dance with me," he rolls his eyes dramatically as if it was obvious. Cash grabs my hand and starts to pull me into the middle of the dance room.

"Hold up," I put my brakes on. "I don't dance."

"Please," he sticks his bottom lip out, pouting, "just a little bit? You don't have to be a good dancer. I'll lead."

I'm saved from further argument by the bell. "Darn, got to go to class."

"Fine," Cash pouts. He changes trajectory so we can grab our bags and go to class. "See you later, beautiful."

"Bye, handsome."

--

"How much flour?" I ask.

Cash just shrugs, "I dunno."

I roll my eyes. "You are literally sitting next to the cook book. Read it."

"Oh. 3 cups."

I nod and add the flour while he grabs out the next ingredients. I mix the flour into the brown batter, double checking the cookbook to make sure that Cash had told me the correct measurements.

"Last ingredient," I dump in a cup of chocolate chips to make our extra chocolatey brownies.

"Sky?"

"Yeah?" I look up at Cash, shocked by how close he suddenly was. I pause my stirring and turn to him. "Are you okay?"

Cash continues to step towards me until we are inches apart from each other. The air feels thick and my breathing intensifies. He wears a serious expression.

"There's something I've been wanting to do since we came in here," he whispers, moving a hand to brush a piece of hair out of my face.

"And what is that?" I breath, trying to keep my voice at it's normal pitch.

Cash takes another step forward, resting his hands on the counter either side of me. I stare up into his intense eyes. If I moved just a few inches, our lips would touch.

"This," he whispers in the same breath that he dips a finger in the brownie batter and wipes it on my nose. Cash steps back, laughing as he sees the fury cross my face.

"Oh, now you did it. This means war!" I grab a small handful of flour and chuck it at him. It hits him squarely in the chest. I was aiming for the face, but I'm not known for my accuracy.

He looks at his black shirt now dusted white, incredulously. "I'll get you for that!"

Flour and brownie batter fly through the air as we chase each other around the kitchen island. His growls mix with my squeals as I try to remain upright on the slick floor.