First Dance - MunchingCanadian

4: Cinderella

*Tyler*
     As soon as I saw it was him, I froze up. So many emotions welled up inside me at the same time. I was happy, I was excited, I wanted to run over and demand his number, maybe even kiss him again - but I was also very, very nervous and I wanted to run and hide in a hole and never get out because I looked terrible. I was wearing some old, ripped up jeans and one of my college hoodies.
     I felt panic burn through my chest. I looked terrible and there he was, the boy I so quickly fell in love with, Mitch, standing there looking perfect behind the counter of the Maple Street bakery and staring at me with a shocked expression that matched my own. My body acted on instinct, because my mind was entirely somewhere else. I turned and booked it out of there, running right around the corner of the building and hiding behind the dumpster.
     Genius.

*Mitch*
     I could hardly believe it. The kid from the dance, right here, in my bakery. I had to get his number this time, but when I was just about to speak, he made this adorable, fearful squeaking sound and ran right out of the store.
     I hadn't been expecting that reaction, so I was put off for a few seconds. I looked back at Jerome, who looked at me in confusion from the kitchen. I didn't give him time to say anything cause I pulled off my work apron, set it by the register, and dashed around the counter. "Coffee break!" I shouted before running outside.
     Jerome blinked in surprise. "...Uh..."
     I looked around the street, but I didn't see him anywhere. I sighed sadly and I was ready to give up again when I noticed something. On the ground to my right was a shoe. I blinked in surprise, and then I couldn't help but smile. I walked over and picked it up. It was a regular old, grey sneaker, used a lot by the look of it. I walked in the direction the shoe appeared to have been going, around the side of the building. I smiled as I turned the corner.
     There he was. Squished behind the dumpster. I couldn't help but smile softly. So cute...
     I walked slowly closer. I knew he could hear me, but he was clearly pretending not to. "Hey, I think you dropped this." I said, holding out the shoe.
     He was intent on ignoring me for a few seconds longer before he looked at the shoe. He looked surprised. What, had he really not noticed that he lost it? Amazing. I put it in his hands and he watched it, then looked up at me. His cheeks turned pink.
     I smiled at him and took the hand not holding his shoe, pulling him gently out from behind the dumpster. "There we go." I said. He looked down shyly and I huffed inwardly before I squeezed his hand. "Hey, what gives...? Did I get you in trouble after all last night or something?"
     Tyler shook his head. "N-No...! I don't think... I'm just... surprised."
     I hummed. "Well hey, look, I won't push you." I pulled a pen from my pocket and wrote on the skin of his wrist holding his shoe. "Call me or text me if you want - if you don't, don't worry about it. Sound good?"
     Tyler didn't speak, but he nodded in a shy way, still blushing. I didn't say anything else either. I leaned down, kissed his cheek gently so I wouldn't overwhelm him more than he already was, and went back inside the bakery to do my job.
     Tyler stayed were he was a few moments longer before shuffling quickly off to his car, his shoe in his hand.

*Tyler*
     The whole ride to Adam's, I was in a daze. Probably not too safe to drive, but it wasn't like I could help it. I hardly noticed his number on my arm. I had been too busy staring at Mitch. I could hardly believe I had somehow found him again... Thank god Adam broke up with Dawn, right?
     That sounded way worse than I thought it would.
     I let myself in through Adam's front door, like me and his other friends usually did. When I shut the door behind me, I leaned back against it, my eyes still wide, and my right shoe still in my hand. I took in the scene around me. The stairwell was right in front of me, the living room to my left, the dining room to my right. There was Adam, face down on the couch, looking miserable as was expected. Ty was there, and so was Jin. As if they would be anywhere else; the three were roommates.
     Jin looked up as I came in and blinked. "Whoa, dude, you good? You look like you've seen a ghost."
     I swallowed. "I-I'm fine..." I managed.
     Ty looked up at me from where he sat on the couch beside Adam, and he was quiet for a few seconds. "...Where's the cupcake."
     What cupcake?
     I blinked a few times, slowly, before I remembered. I was supposed to buy a cupcake for Adam at the bakery. I groaned, and Ty simply sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers.
     "Damn it, Tyler."
     Adam made a miserable sound, muffled by the couch.