Sweet as a Strawberry

10 ~ Sour as a Warhead

A/N: From here you'll see their relationship develop :) Dedicated to pearlxx because SHE MADE ME TWO BEAUTIFUL COVERS THAT I LOVE! One of them is to the side, isn't it lovely? :)

Chapter 10: Sour as a Warhead (Ben)

I don't think I'd like it - I really didn't. It wasn't only because I'm a dickhead, but I just don't like sweets. But Lottie was staring at me with stars in her eyes and I could hear Clark's obnoxious laughter coming from behind me, so I had to do it.

When I took a bite, I was shocked. It was like biting into a creamy, fluffy cloud. The sweetness came mostly from the powdered sugar on top - just the right amount for someone like me that didn't do sugar. I couldn't stop the lazy smile that stretched across my face, because Lottie knew what I liked before even I did.

Once I finished the entire thing, I looked up and immediately wished I hadn't. She was staring at me, and if I thought her happiness had reached its limit when I said I'd eat the damn thing, I was dead wrong.

I almost wanted to cover my eyes, because it seemed like the way she smiled should be private, shown only to the most special people. It made me a little angry, but I wasn't sure why. But this was Lottie we were talking about - I had no idea where her Happy Metre let off. "You liked it?" Her voice went up about three octaves from her excitement. I would've winced, except with Lottie, it just cute.

Oh god, I was getting soft.

My eyes narrowed as she began bouncing again. "It's not bad," I said. Her smile didn't dim at all, and the slight annoyance I felt became apparent in the scowl on my face. I wondered if she could be serious.

"Good," she replied simply. Her green eyes twinkled and two bright red spots appeared high on her cheeks. She looked like a woman who would give you the world on a platter if it would make you happy.

Without another word, she gathered the remaining puffs, arranging them neatly in the display thing that lay below the front counter.

I sighed and walked over to Clark, collapsing on the chair across from him. He grinned creepily at me, and with the sugar coating his chin, I felt the need to run away. "What?" I said.

He shook his head and stared at Lottie weirdly until she straightened, tossed us a polite smile, and disappeared into the back room. "I saw that!" he sang obnoxiously, as soon as she was out of earshot.

"What?" I pressed, my expression darkening.

"It's funny, actually," he said, ignoring me completely. "When I see her by myself, she's sweet, but she's so calm. But the second she sees you, she gets super excited. Care to explain?"

I hated that all-knowing smirk he wore. The words he spoke were untrue. It was impossible. "I can't take you seriously when you look like you tripped and fell on a line of cocaine," I said.

Clark rolled his eyes and dusted off his chin. "I think she fancies you."

I couldn't answer straight away, because my brain was shouting obscenities at my heart for finding the idea of Lottie liking me satisfying. "Don't talk to me," I told Clark angrily. She  didn't fancy me. I was a dick and she was the opposite of that.

"I thought you wanted her," I said, annoyed. "Why do you have to push me on this?"

"I do like her." Did I just want to punch my best friend? "But not romantically. In a platonic way." And now the urge was gone.