Perfumed Secrets | Kurt Cobain

It isn't hard to see you've got a hold on me

Hurrying her out of the last class of the day, Faye weaved through the campus, her mind already drifting to the plans for the evening. Arriving home, she quickly changed out of her jeans and sweater into a comfortable pair of leggings and a loose-fitting shirt. Amy was already there, lounging on the couch with a textbook in hand.

"Hey," Faye greeted, tossing her green apron onto the table. "Is it okay if I cook tonight? It's Kurt's birthday and he is coming over so we can celebrate, and I thought about making a special dinner for him."

"That sounds romantic," Amy looked up. "Sure you can, I'll leave you two alone."

"You don't have to. We'll be happy to have you." Faye felt bad asking for something like that just a couple of days after them moving in.

"Please, consider this my birthday gift." She winked.

She relented with a nod. "Alright, if you're sure. Thanks, Amy."

With that settled, she grabbed her purse and apron and headed out the door. Gladly, she thought to herself, the training at the new job should be over in a few days. The opening of the new Starbucks in the mall was going to save her life—it was just a couple of blocks from their apartment, making her commute much more manageable.

In the midst of her barista training at the shop, Faye found it difficult to pay attention. The sound of the espresso machine hissing and the chatter of customers blended into a chaotic cacophony in her mind. Her trainer's instructions seemed to fade into the background as she struggled to keep her thoughts from wandering.

When she clocked off from her shift, she wasted no time and headed straight to a grocery store. With a list in hand, she navigated the aisles, picking up the ingredients for her step-mom's carbonara recipe. Pasta, eggs, Parmesan cheese, and bacon found their way into the basket. She also grabbed some wine to complement the night.

On her way back, she spotted a cottage bakery about to close. With a quick decision, she dashed inside and managed to snag a small cake with "Happy Birthday" written on it.

As she approached the building's entrance, the thought of birthday candles for the cake crossed her mind. "Shoot, I forgot those!" She exclaimed aloud, only to be startled by a familiar sound.

"What did you forget?" Kurt's voice came from behind her, causing her to jump.

"Damn, Kurt!" Faye turned to see him standing there, a grin on his face. "You almost killed me."

He chuckled, stepping closer to her. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist." Leaning in, they shared a kiss.

"Happy birthday, boy," she said, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "Happy 24th,"

"Thanks baby," his lips still against hers. 

"Need some help with these?" He offered, gesturing to the bags in her hand.

"Sure, let's go inside, I'm freezing here,"

Setting down the bags on the kitchen counter, they began unpacking. Faye took charge, pulling out the ingredients for the carbonara while explaining the significance of the dish.

"Catherine always makes this recipe on my birthday," she recalled as she cracked eggs into a bowl, separating the whites from the yolks. "It's become sort of a tradition, you see? So, I thought, why not?"

Kurt nodded, a curious expression on his face as he watched her work. "Sounds terrific. What can I do to help?"

"Well, for starters," she glanced around the kitchen. "You could find a corkscrew so we can open up this bottle."