BitterSweet

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Aurelia Faris Black

Hera has been odd. Since the walking incident, she has been quiet, which is normal for her as she strangely becomes silent every once in a while. Maybe it's the paranoia after that creepy guy harassed me on the streets but I feel uneasy. It's like someone has been watching my steps a little too closely. Maybe it's just that grandma and grandpa left this morning. But my body feels restless, and I don't know why.

I throw open cabinets and drawers all over the kitchen. I rummage through, pushing my head inside some of them looking for mittens.

And when I don't find any, I groan, " Lucien, I'm serious! Just give me it!" I huff.

Lucien stands at the counter, holding onto a pan of fresh cupcakes, already down on the counter. The sweet vanilla scent drifts around the kitchen.

" I'm using it." He shrugs.

" No you haven't. You have been holding that pan-" I raise my voice " ON THE COUNTER. WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH."

He shrugs, " Go find your own mittens." He then grins, knowing damn well I couldn't.

" I want my cupcakes out of the oven!" I complain.

He shrugs again and I swear steam was coming out of my ears. I swipe a bowl beside me.

" I'm gonna spit in it." I deadpan, bringing it close to my face.

And then suddenly a mitton flies past my face. " HELL NO!" Lucien's smug face comically morphs into horror.

In my hands is Lucien's hard-worked homemade icing that he had to watch multiple YouTube tutorials, and go through many trials and fails, to make to win our little cupcake contest.

I stick my tongue out, scaring the living crap out of him. Then I put his icing back on the counter but before I do, I dip my finger in and try it. This time I shrug. " It's mid," I say, leaving to grab the mitten he threw.

" That's disgusting Aurelia." He says and I shrug again. His eyes narrow in at me. This time I can't contain my laugh. And before long, he joins me.

The next few minutes are silent as we start decorating our cupcakes using our own individual batches of icing. My eyebrows are pushed together as I concentrate on getting the perfect pattern with my icing.

" You two look so stupid." Alec's voice comes from the far arch of the doorway. I look up, and Alec and Blaze walk in side by side.

My eyes lock with Blaze's. My mind fogs up as they both come to the opposite side of the counter. I haven't seen Blade since the time I was put on bedrest.

" You sure do have an interesting design there," Blaze says, leaning in against the counter.

I look down. My hands are gripping the piping tool with too much pressure. I immediately loosen up my grip. MY cupcake which was now a much different design than what I precipitated. Instead of a casual swirl, it's replaced by a dump.

I frown, " You distracted me."

" Oh, so I'm at fault? Okay, princess. I'll take the fall for you." He smirks, " To make it up to you, I'll help."

I feel my brothers' eyes look back and forth between us. Especially Lucien. His eyes seem to be burning a hole through my cheek, ready to hear my response.

" That's kind and all but how do I know you won't mess up my cupcakes. I don't take you as someone with an artistic hand."

He shrugs " Are you willing to take the risk?" He asks.

I press my lips together. I look down at my cupcakes. A couple of ugly ones can't hurt. And so, Blaze and me are decorating cupcakes together.

From my preperial vision, I can see Alec and Lucien doing motions with their hands. I smile when I realize they're doing our made up sign language. All the extra time put into practicing worked. I let them communicate whatever they want to communicate and go back to cupcake decorating.

I glance up again but this time I look at Blaze. His eyebrows are furrowed as his face is close to the cupcake. His eyes are slightly narrowed in concentration. And I laugh out loud.

His eyes peer up to me. And his eyes twinkle in amusement.

" Hey, I'm trying my best." He says playfully.

" That looks like dog shit." I laugh, pointing at it. " No like actually."

" No, I have a plan! Just you wait." He says standing straight now, with his hands on his hips.

And I burst out in even bigger laughter. " I honestly don't know who's the 'princess' here." I tease him using the nickname he gave me earlier. His hands fall as he stares at me in lighthearted defeat.

" Oh, what the fuck." Lucien says. The air turns stale. We forgot they were there. I awkwardly scratch my neck, unsure of how to respond.

" What, I can't make friends now?" He says innocently. Of course, no one falls for it. After all he did stay with me when I got cut. I glance at my upper right arm. The scar is still vivid but the pain is no more.

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A/N- short chapter sorry.