Piece of Cake | Ashton Irwin [au]

Twenty-two

Ruth's POV

"We are going to be making a simple chocolate cake today," Ashton announces, emitting a few cheers of excitement from the kids. "You are each going to work on your own, however, if you need help, don't be afraid to ask me or your neighbor."

Does he really expect me to ask these kids for help? For all I know, they'll be asking me for help, but too bad for them because I'll be just as clueless.

Ashton tells us all the measurements for the ingredients we'll be using and starts giving directions. I try my hardest to not pay attention to the mess that the kids are making as they sift flour into their mixing bowls, but then again, baking isn't supposed to be a clean job so I guess it's okay. At least I won't be the one cleaning the mess.

After mixing we mix in the sugar, cocoa powder, and baking powder into the bowl, Ashton grabs a couple egg cartons from the refrigerator and gives two to each of us. With one hand, he cracks the egg against the bowl and expertly breaks it in half, letting only the egg yolk and whites drop into the bowl.

"Don't crack it too hard or you'll get the eggshell in the batter," he warns as he surveys down the line of kids.

I watch as the boys and girls crack their eggs and I'm surprised at how well they do it. A few of the boys get a single shell in the batter, but it's nothing that they can't pick out. I'm even more surprised when Mini-Calum breaks his egg with one hand, just like Ashton.

"How did you learn to do that?" I ask him.

Mini-Calum cracks another egg and repeats his skillful action. "Practice," he says. "I've been coming to these lessons since I was five."

"How old are you now?"

"Seven and a half." I could have mistaken him for being younger. He's a little short for his age and still has a baby face and pinchable cheeks.

"Do you like baking?"

He shrugs, mixing the cake batter together. "It's okay, kinda girly."

"I don't think it's girly."

Sure, the pastel colors of this bakery aren't helping my case any, but after hanging out with Ashton and Michael and seeing how they manage to keep their masculinity even when working here, I don't consider baking "girly."

He looks up with wide, brown eyes. "You don't?"

I shake my head, smiling, earning a bashful grin from Mini-Calum. "What's your name?"

"Levi."

"You're okay, Levi," I say, nodding approvingly of him. He just might be the only kid who I'm not completely terrified of and can tolerate.

"I still think you're too old to be here, but you're kinda cool," he says bluntly and I roll my eyes. "You should probably put your eggs in the batter."

I'm hesitant to touch the eggs to be honest. I have cracked several eggs in my day, but it never turns out well. I either break the egg completely and it spills everywhere, or I successfully break it but pieces of the shell mix in it.

"You having trouble, Ruth?" Ashton asks, making his way around to my side after assuring one of the girls that there isn't a baby chick in the egg.

"Uh, no, I have everything under control," I say.

"Then why haven't you added your eggs yet?"

"I was just about to." I pick up one of the eggs and hesitate for a second before tapping-more like slamming it against the side of the mixing bowl. The yolk makes it into the bowl thankfully, but so does the eggshell.