All Your Fault

Chapter Nine

The rain began to fall in a steady mist once again blanketing the town in a grey haze. I kicked a loose rock across the sidewalk as I trudged towards the bookstore, hands shoved in my jean pockets. The bell rang over the door as I stepped into the warmth of the ancient bookstore. Shelves lined with books occupied every available space, the smell of aging paper and fresh ink tickled my nose as I breathed in deeply.

I smiled at the old man standing at the counter, his glasses on the top of his balding forehead. "Hello young lady it's been a while."

I smiled sheepishly, "yes I know things have come up in the past few weeks. But I'm here now, thanks Albert."

He nodded, running his hands through his shock of white hair that stood out on either end of his head. I smiled softly and made my way through the lines of books, my fingers dragging across the spines of some new and some old. When I finally chose a book, a faded green leather bound book, a classic- one that I had read many times before The Princess Bride. I curled up in the plush chair in the secluded corner that I had come to call my own and opened the cover, running my fingers across the golden scripture fondly.

"Excuse me, but you are in my seat." A deep voice broke through the vision of the book running through my head.

I looked up and blinked, he stood before me, his jade eyes staring down at me. Fiery red hair stuck out from underneath a black beanie, a white shirt unbuttoned at the top-revealing a tanned expanse of a pleasingly muscular chest.

"If you are done checking me out, can I have my seat back?" his voice broke my stare and I flinched.

"Sorry." I mumbled, shutting the book. I stood quickly, attempting to skirt around him, but he blocked the way.

"Excuse me, let me get out of your way." I slid the book back into its open slot and tried to get by him again—he wouldn't budge.

I was starting to get frustrated and angry, "did you want your seat back or not. Please move." I snapped.

He chuckled darkly, "what's your name?"

I froze, the let a breath thorough my nose, "Kasey. Yours?"

I looked up at him; he flashed a smile full of white teeth, "Carter McAllister." He answered, sprawling out comfortably in the chair I had just vacated.

"Nice to meet you. See you around." I couldn't help but give a small smile, his was infectious.

"I certainly hope so." He called after me.

The rain had let up somewhat when I stepped out of the bookstore, I squinted up at the opaque layer of clouds and shook my head—we were never going to see any sun. I started down the sidewalk, dodging mothers with strollers and teenagers popping their gum. The smell of baking drifted around me, tantalizing my taste buds, pulling me towards it. I stopped in front of a bakery called Savor the Moments; elegantly tiered wedding cakes, colorfully frosted cupcakes, and to die for chocolate chip cookies decorated the front window.

"You don't need that." I muttered to myself, but with a sigh, I pushed open the glass door and strode towards the glass paneling holding me away from the delicious bakery goods that threatened the very shape of my thighs by just looking at them.

I leaned over, my eyes honing in on a single cupcake. It was simple in design, but breathtakingly beautiful. It was a chocolate cupcake decorated with swirly chocolate icing, topped with two strawberry halves filled with a whip cream mixture. My mouth watered and my fingers itched to hold it.

"See something you like?" my head snapped up at the voice, a middle aged woman with kind brown eyes and a stylish blonde bob pinned back smiled at me.

"U-umm…how much is that one." I stuttered pointing out the one, I had been eyeing enviously earlier.

"You mean the Chocolate Strawberry Delight?" she asked, pointing out the mouthwatering concoction.

"Yes." I nodded enthusiastically, followed by a sheepish smile.

She grinned and pulled it out carefully, "three dollars will do it."

My eyes widened, "three dollars for that masterpiece?" I asked shocked.

She nodded, "You seem like you need it more than this shop does. Would you like it boxed?"

I quickly dug out three dollars and handed it over quickly, "Yes please." I watched her carefully place the cupcake in a powder blue box and tie it with a golden ribbon.

"Here you go. I hope you enjoy it." she smiled kindly; I held the box carefully, as if it was fragile glass.

"Thank you so much." I tried not to smile too largely and left the store, in a hurry to get home. Now to decide if I was going to eat the scrumptious cupcake or place it on a pedestal for all to see.

I was walking swiftly, my head down, avoiding any attention, with my hand securely around the blue box. A figure suddenly stepped into my line of vision, a massive wall of brick muscles. I yelped, trying to remove the cupcake from harm but failed miserably. The pretty blue box ended up smashed between our colliding bodies; hands reached out and viciously grabbed my arms in an attempt to steady me.

"No, no, no." I whined, opening the box and tried not to cry when I found the chocolate smashed and mooshed until no longer recognizable.

"It was just a cupcake." A Russian accent bit into my ears, my anger fueled by the destroyed remnants of my cupcake and I threw the box at his face.

"Just a cupcake? That was a masterpiece, a damn masterpiece you asshole." I shouted, throwing my arms up in the air.

His eyes narrowed down at me, his hands crushed the already crumbled box in his hands. The toothpick snapped once more, his jaw clenched, "Do not yell at me.," he whispered fiercely.

Fear quickly seeped through my veins at the murderous look in his eyes, but was quickly diluted by the anger once more. "You," I pointed in his face, "need to leave me alone. Forever, do you understand me Petrov? Forever. "I matched his tone.

Spinning on a heel, I left my hopeless cupcake in the hands of a tattooed monster hell bent on making my life a miserable mass of anger and lost cupcakes. I headed towards the store to buy ingredients, ingredients for a cake. I needed chocolate; I deserved chocolate for putting up with a narcisstic, arrogant, tattooed, infuriating, stranger.