The Story of the Sun and the Moon

Chapter Two, Apollo

"Welcome to Incredible Edibles! How may I help you..." The girl in front of me trailed off, staring at me. I looked back, wondering what was going through her mind. She was kinda cute, with a little red apron, long blonde hair tied into a ponytail, she looked hard-working and dedicated. The opposite of me. I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"Miss...?" I said, raising an eyebrow. She blinked and blushed.

"O-oh, yes? I'm sorry, how can I help you?" She asked, obviously embarrassed.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to have something.

"What would you like?" Her embarrassment turned to annoyance and I grinned. She's quite feisty.

"A cookie." I answered simply. I watched her smile fade.

"We have many cookies. Which would you like?" She asked, not trying to hide her annoyance anymore. She probably thought I was stupid. I hummed a little tune as I looked at the cookies in the case. I put a finger to my chin, contemplating.

"A chocolate chip cookie, please." I said, deciding. She grabbed a piece of wax paper and pulled out a chocolate chip cookie, bagging it.

"Will that be all?" She asked, her voice telling me to leave already. I decided not to.

"Oh, and drink... How about..." I looked to the trash, and to the cup sitting next to the cash register.

"A hot chocolate." I said. She looked confused.

"We don't sell hot chocolate." She said, straight-faced.

"But you make it, perhaps only for yourself, but I'll pay." I said, pulling out my wallet. There was a moment of silence before she spoke again.

"How did you know?" She asked. I pointed.

"Your trash has Swiss Miss packets, and the cup next to you has some chocolate left on the bottom. It smells strangely chocolatey. If it's not hot chocolate, what is it?" I asked, the answer right in front of her. She sighed.

"Alright, that'll be three dollars." She said reluctantly. I blinked in surprise.

"For everything? Quite cheap." I noted. She glared at me.

"Three dollars for the hot chocolate. $6.59 is your total." She said coldly. I took out my wallet and pulled out seven dollars. I handed it to her.

"Here you go, Miss Selena." I said, looking at her name tag. She looked surprised.

"How- oh right. Name tags." She said.

"I'll be back with your hot chocolate in a moment." She said, walking into the kitchen area. I nodded and took a nibble of the cookie. It was really good, nice and soft, and the chocolate wasn't completely solid, but also not completely melted. It was near perfection. She came back, holding a steaming cup.

"Here you go, sir." She said, exaggerating the sir.

"Please, call me Apollo." I said, waving a hand and taking the hot chocolate. She shrugged.

"Cool." She turned around and began walking towards the kitchen.

"Where are you going to school?" I called out and she turned back to me, annoyance clear on her face.

"Why do you need to know?" She asked.

"I was just curious." I answered simply and she rolled her eyes.

"I'll be starting at California State University. You?" She asked, coming back to the counter. I raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Really? I'm starting there too! You mean the one in Long Beach, right?" I asked, to be certain. She nodded slowly.

"That's cool. I'm going to be the best painter there is. After going to college." I said proudly. It was my dream after all.

"Good luck with that." She said, rolling her eyes. I grinned.

"I'm going to do it. Just you wait." I assured her. She rolled her eyes again.

"Yeah, okay. Call me when that happens." She said.

"If you don't believe me, then how about a little wager?" I asked. She raised an eyebrow.

"Like what?" She asked.

"If I win, I get free hot chocolate from here for life." I said boldly, and she grinned a little.

"And if I win?" She asked, tilting her head. I put a finger to my chin.

"Hmmm..." I mused.

"Well?" She asked impatiently.

"Then I'll have to take you on a date." I decided. Her eyes widened.

"A DATE?" She laughed, surprising me. She was surprisingly joyful despite her attitude about a minute ago.

"What? I'm serious!" I said, pouting a little. She shook her head, smiling.

"That's not a fair bet at all." She explained.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want a date with you. No offense." She added quickly.

"How can I not take offense to that?" I joked, putting a hand to my chest as if she had struck me there.

"But really, why not?" I asked, truly curious.

"We literally just met." She said, as if it were obvious.

"We'll be going to the same school." I protested. She sighed.

"I'll think about it." She conceded.

"Yes!" I said, pumping a fist, and she rolled her eyes. I grinned and leaned on the counter.

"So, what are you majoring in?" I asked, though I had a hunch in what she would do.

"Culinary arts..." She answered slowly. I nodded.

"That explains why you work here." Suddenly a deep male voice shouted from the kitchen.

"Selena! You have a cake to finish, remember?"

"I'll be right there, hold on!" She shouted back. I had the feeling that I was intruding, and I got off the counter. I scribbled down my number on a piece of paper and left it under the tip jar.

"See you at school!" I said, winking at her as I left. I turned the corner out of the little bakery, smiling to myself. Finally, something to look forward to at school.