How To Find Your Future

1 - Fudge For The Future

Olivia

The scent of sweet and gooey chocolate fills the air. The cloth I hold in my hand is cold and damp. I use it to wipe away the stray flour that had gotten onto the counter while I was baking. I inhale the scent of the room again. This is why I love working here.

After school I come right here and start baking our last batch of the day. It's nice to come in here after a hectic day of school and calm myself down with some music and the rules of baking. There's just something about baking that calms me. It's always the same recipe and steps, I never have to worry about anything different being thrown at me.

I finish cleaning the counter before heading over to the sink and rinsing the cloth out before throwing it into our dirty rag bag that sits by the sink. Then I take a quick peek at the fudge in the fridge. It still looks wet and whipped. I shut the fridge, grab my timer and my school bag before heading out of the kitchen through our swinging door and to the actual store part of the bakery.

The bakery isn't normally that busy at this time, but when I exit the kitchen for the first time I notice how noisy it is out here. There's a line that leads almost all the way to the door. The few tables that are set up throughout the small area are all crowded with groups of people.

I rush over to the till where Nick stands taking payment from a customer. "Can you grab me a Peanut Butter Fudge please?" he asks me, his blue eyes flicking towards me for a moment before flicking back to the customer.

I nod, grab a baggie and our tongs and then head to our display case. I reach in and grab the tray with the pb fudge and pull it out before grabbing one with the tongs and putting it in the baggie. I tie the bag before handing it off to the customer.

"Can I get a regular?" Nick asks.

"Regular coming right up!" I exclaim.

For the next hour we continue this routine. Only stopping for me to go and grab the last batch of the day to stock up. When the rush is finally done I lean against the counter and run my hand over my forehead. "That was exhausting," I say.

Nick nods and runs his hand through his black wavy hair which pushes the long strands backwards. "It's never been that busy before."

I nod. "Today must be international fudge day."

He chuckles. "Is that a thing?"

I shrug. "It must be based on how busy it was."

Nick nods before looking down at his watch. "My shift is almost up. You good if I go early?"

I nod. "After the hard work you did, definitely. I'll be fine for the rest of the day. Take a piece of fudge for the road too."

"Really?"

I grin and nod. I can never say no to this man.

He smiles one of his big smiles that shows all his teeth and that makes him squint. "Thanks, Olivia."

"Anytime. Have a good rest of your day."

He grabs his bag from the floor and a piece of fudge as he makes his way over to the door marked employees only. "You too." He gives me a little wave before pushing through the door and leaves.

When he's gone I sigh. Even if I didn't get to talk to him very much, every moment with him is amazing. Those blue eyes shine so bright when he's happy or laughing, and they dim to the darkest blue when he's sad or mad. And his long black curls, everytime I see him I want to run my hands through them.

"Miss?"

I blink. "Sorry!" An older lady stands before the till. "What can I do for you?" I ask. I hadn't realized I'd been zoning out. Dang that boy and the things he makes me do.