Jigi went aboard the train as the wheels rolled to a halt. She skipped to the work in the library. She knew Mrs. Lambert's stoic and dark aura and visage could not destroy it.
"Bonjour, Michèle." Jigi greets as she enters the vintage library of Library Eugène Flachart.
"Bonjour, Juniper. You seem happy." Michèle commented and responded Jigi.
Jigi giggled but didn't say anything. The shift went smoothly as always with Michèle being as talkative as ever and trying to initiate a conversation with Jigi.
Mostly, Jigi went with her with less enthusiasm but today they talked about everything under the sun, from random questions to insightful ones.
Michèle dressed in black trousers and suits with a brown classy turtleneck and comfortable black pencil heels.
So, the hours flew by welcoming the high sun and noon. Jigi went to eat her lunch as she usually did alone in the library near the fantasy section.
She initially applied to the library because of her love for reading until it was replaced by watching movies. Jigi learned to read early for her insightful and inquisitive nature.
She would also get lost in the world of fantasy and romance in the books she read during her time at the foster care facility and home.
The foster institution and facility did not mistreat her nor did the other foster children bully her, but she always felt hollow and unloved. She felt like she was a cause or a major card in her parents' disrupter.
Although she mostly used movies as her leisure, she always enjoyed a good book at the library especially on her break. She began to read the first page of her new book, Little Women when a shadow blocked her source of light.
"Michèle!" Jigi exclaimed slightly spooked.
"Hi, Jigi. I'm here to remind you that the offer is still on the table." Michèle announced.
Jigi pondered on it partially confused. Michèle noticed her scowl and clarified, " Joining me for lunch. Having lunch together."
"I already had lunch." Jigi reasoned.
"Please, Juniper. I would pay and it would be fun." Michèle coaxed. Jigi knew it wasn't. She wasn't going to accept. She was getting to the climax of the plot, and it was driving her insane to know what's next.
" Okay. I am putting in a word for you to my aunt, and you can take this Friday off, what do you say?" Michèle tries one more time.
"Okay, that definitely works," Jigi says closing the book by leaving a bookmark on her current page and entering it into the system as a borrowed book.
Working at Library Eugène Flachart has its advantages. Jigi grabbed her items and left with Michèle.
"I forget to give you this." It was the Japanese cheesecake Jigi had baked that morning and stashed a slice for Michèle.
"Aww, thanks. Let's go. We have barely forty-five minutes to the end of break." Michèle uttered.
They abruptly leave the library and walk into the western street toward a grey crossover. The car ride was jolly with Michèle singing to every song on the radio. Jigi rolled her eyes singing some of the songs. Jigi would admit she didn't have the best voice, but it is nice to do a singalong, especially with a friend or basically with someone else.
In the rush of the moment, she checked her phone and noticed the unread messages from Dr. Oliva. She had to check it. She had not been taking her session seriously. She had not been having the session on video call as agreed. Jigi sighed and placed her phone in her pocket.
Michèle pulled to a stop in front of an eatery, L'Orange. She wasn't staving the Japanese cake, and the juice did the trick. The waiter walks up to them greets them and welcomes them to the restaurant. He showed them their table and they took their seat. The table was right underneath a diamond chandelier. The restaurant had a dim glittering appeal. The waiter handed them the menu, but Michèle already knew had something in mind.
"Je voudrais Steak frites." Michèle ordered as Jigi examined the menu. Jigi settled for a La Club Seguin.
"Would you like anything to drink?" the waiter asked.
"No, thank you" Michèle responded with a smile. For some reason, Jigi noticed a baby bump on Michèle.
"Are you expecting?" Jigi asked after the waiter exited. Michèle shared a warm smile.
"En effet!" Michèle affirmed. Jigi could feel her eyes bulging in their sockets.
"Wow!" Jigi managed to say after a loss of words for fourteen seconds. Michèle was still grinning.
"My boyfriend and I have been going strong for seven years, since lycée," Michèle explained.
"Enough about me. Anyone special to you?" Michèle asks.
Jigi instantly reddened with the thought of Wyatt. Michèle giggled at the reaction. "So, there is someone?" Michèle probed. Jigi couldn't bring herself to speak or even open her mouth without the thought of stumbling over her words. She just continued to redden. She could feel the colour rise to her neck ears and the tip of her nose. Jigi cleared her throat and Michèle said, "I shall say no more."
The waiter walked in with their meals. Each of them silently began to shove their meals. Jigi knew would be able to finish it. With bravery, she asked Michèle, " Are you doing anything out of the library?"
"Yes. I am a freelancer ballet dancer and studying a civil engineering course." Michèle summarised.
"Really, you are a ballerina?" Jigi exclaimed to loudly draw the attention from the other table.
"Yep." Michéle simply replied and further probed, "Jigi, I have realised you have- issue. Would you like to talk about it?" Jigi sighed losing her appetite. She should have seen this coming.
Jigi just sighed and took the last scoop of her salad then said, "I appreciate your concern Michéle but I rather not. I would like to leave please." Jigi firmly stated.
Michéle shook her head and said, " I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Je suis désolé."
Michéle waved for the waiter to let him know the conclusion of their lunch. Jigi insisted on splitting the check and ultimately Michéle agreed to it.
The car ride passed by in a blur. They turned to their shift ten minutes late. Michéle realised she had been too quick to think they were getting to know each other, and she would share her thoughts and issues with her.
She knew she made the wrong move, but her curiosity had the best of her. She was hell-bent on knowing who Juniper Lefèvre was.
The shift went as it would normally would until it came to an end and Jigi knew it was time for her next shift at the diner.
She was anxious to make her debut after the incident, but she felt like Miss Toussaint would not go with her threat. Right? she thought.
She packed up to leave when Michéle called out to her, " I'm sorry, Jigi. I crossed a line. Remember you have Friday off." Michéle stated and Jigi gathered her things and left.
YOU ARE READING
Winter Bakery
Short Story"Want to get out of here?" "My shift hasn't ended yet," she stuttered. "Are you sure you want to go back in there?" Fumi asked, raising her eyebrows. "Well..." Jigi hesitated. "Come on. It would be fun. I've been meaning for us to go out together...
