Paint Over my Scars

Chapter 8

-Hints of UsUk-

Monika avoided her father like the plague all evening. When he'd walk out of the kitchen she'd pretend that she was packing desserts in a bag for somebody or count the money; when he'd walk towards her she'll say the phone is ringing; when he opened his mouth to her she'll explain that she's busy. After all her plans worked and her father didn't speak about anything, she fell exhausted. Having to come up with an excuse on the spot was challenging but it was definitely worth it. 

She felt petty like a teen hiding from her father after he found out that she snuck out on a school night. She's 24, her father shouldn't tell her what to do and what not to do, but she couldn't say no to her steer father, the one that raised her. 

Once she saw the kitchen light go off and loud footsteps going up stairs, she relaxed, rubbing her temples and throwing the rug on her shoulder. She just finished washing all the messy table that were littered with crumbs and had watermarks. 

Monika glanced at the Bakery entrance and noted a black shadowy figure on the other side. It was dark- nearly 11- so she couldn't make out the person. 

Walked to it and the closer she got the more it looked like Gilbert. Once at the door, she couldn't keep denying that it wasn't Gilbert, for he stood close to the door with his hands cupped around his face to see inside. 

She cracked open that door, "We're close," 

A man bumped into him, pushing him closer. He acted like nothing happened and spoke, "I guessed that, but I'd thought you'd like for me to walk you home," 

"I live above the bakery..." 

Another person hit his back. She opened the door more and let him in. She watched him take off the scarf around his neck and dust off the light snow on his shoulders. 

"Oh... We could go to the Roundabout. I heard that they have decorated for Christmas so everything had lights on it and the tree is up." Said Gilbert quickly. 

"The roundabout? Isn't pretty busy and it's also late." In their town at the very center, all the six shopping trees converge into a roundabout with a large fountain in the middle. It was also where most people visit, for the ads that displayed on the buildings were bright and looked like ones from a big city, the stores that surrounded it were expensive and most rare from the city and much more modern than the rest, the large fountain in the middle had millions of pictures taken of it each day. 

"I guess, but," He shrugged his shoulder, leftover snow fell from it, "I just think it's quite cool definitely at night." His eyes flickered with enthusiasm and his smirk nearly touched his eyes.  

"Alright," Monika huffed, "I have to get a coat though and hang up my apron," She added. 

"That's fine,"

"You can come back to the kitchen if you'll like," She told him, making her way to the back of the shop with Gilbert following 

"Have any extra food?" Gilbert asked, sitting on the counter and crossing his legs. 

Monika untied her apron and looked over to him, furrowing her eyebrows. "Gilbert, get off the counter please and, yes we actually have a sonnenblumenkernbrot that didn't sell." 

He hopped off the counter and paced around the kitchen, making Monika on edge. If her father would enter the room right now, he'd explode of anger seeing Gilbert in it. Also, the kitchen was a special place for her and her family- it had to be kept tidy with no smudges or stains, always sweep the floors after the work day ends, and nobody that doesn't work there must not come back.