Teddy Bear Love

Chapter XI - Hot Muffins

Lucy

I brushed a stray lock of my hair from my forehead as I slid the final tray of muffins into the oven. The golden glow of the kitchen light shone over the tin, turning each dollop of batter into a small promise of something delightful. I straightened up, tucking the rest of the loose hair behind one ear. I closed the oven door with a satisfying click.

"Alright," I murmured, glancing at the old-fashioned timer on the counter. I twisted the dial to twenty-five minutes and set it back down.

The weekend had arrived, bringing with it a sense of amnesty from the bustling week of school. On the cusp of this little liberty, I learned of the upcoming camping trip hosted by Beckington Academy. A mandatory affair that loomed ahead. Where some might have seen an imposition, I saw an opportunity.

Uniforms didn't come cheap.

My gaze drifted to the neatly stacked baking supplies lined up like diligent soldiers ready for duty. Vivianne bought all these ingredients for me. I shook my head. She was kind, whether she chose to believe it or not. 

My hope was to sell muffins and banana bread to hungry teenagers on the upcoming camping trip—rich teenagers, I couldn't forget. The idea brightened my mood, and a soft smile played on my lips. "Everyone loves a sweet treat by the campfire, right?"

I envisioned the scene: a circle of students warmed by the flickering dance of flames, laughter mingling with the crisp night air, and my muffins and banana bread delighting their taste buds.

Turning back to the present task, I took comfort in the familiar routine of baking. The scent of vanilla and blueberries had already begun to seep from the oven, wrapping around me like a cozy blanket. I always allowed myself a moment to close my eyes and breathe in deeply—the aroma was a whispered promise of home.

Home... A sensation I held onto dearly since losing my parents so many years ago.

Best get these dishes cleaned. I rolled up my sleeves and reached for the sponge. As I scrubbed away, each circular motion felt like a step towards my goals—a neat stack of money materializing in my mind's eye, each one inching me closer to the crisp, new uniform I needed.

When I finished washing the dishes and cleaning. I stood in front of the oven with my hands on my hips. I surveyed the fruits of my labor. Dozens of banana breads and muffins, each wrapped in clear cellophane and tied with a ribbon, sat proudly on the counter.

Theodore

I leaned back against the plush cushions of the chaise longue in Vivianne's room, the soft chatter of my friends adding a comfortable buzz to the atmosphere. Vivianne perched at her vanity, her hazel eyes flicking up occasionally to catch someone's reflection in the mirror as she spoke with a tone laced with sarcasm.

"Really, Tom, that's the best story you've got?" she teased, arching an immaculate brow. "I suppose I should expect no less from your summer escapades."

Tom laughed it off, rubbing the back of his neck. "Can't all have adventures like yours, Vi. Some of us enjoy the simpler things, like getting shit drunk on the beach in Greece."

Miranda, sprawled on a bean bag with her phone in hand, looked up just long enough to roll her eyes. "Please, spare us the mundane details."

"Ah, but life is found in the mundane, isn't it?" I interjected smoothly. My gaze fixed on nothing in particular as I spoke. My friends' conversations filled the room, but something else had begun to tiptoe into my senses—a sweet, warm scent that seemed out of place amidst the usual smell of cigarette smoke and a perfume not masking it well in Vivianne's room.