Time After Time (A Joe Trohman Fic)

Egypt 100 B.C.

Ebio sat in the back of the bakery waiting. The daily delivery of barley and wheat would soon be here and she was determined to intercept it before her father did. She didn't just love baking all of the cakes and loaves, she was completely smitten with the farmer that supplied them with their ingredients. His name was Maskini, and Ebio could never get close enough to be able to speak to him. She had heard her father speak to him, and she was totally in love with the sound of his voice. Today would change that. She had perched herself in the back of the shop, awaiting the high sun.

She heard a shuffling sound and turned her head sharply. It was Maskini! She quickly opened the door and let the young man inside. He hadn't noticed her yet, but the moment he turned around he saw her and his eyes widened.

"Oh! Hello!"

"Hello, Maskini."

He cocked his eyebrows at her. "I seem to be at a disadvantage. You know who I am, but I do not know who you are."

She blushed. "I am Ebio, the daughter of Dakarai, the owner of this shop."

"Well, it is wonderful to finally meet you. Your father speaks very highly of you. He seems to be supremely proud of you."

"I only wish to please him. My mother was taken away many years ago, and it has only been us and my brother since then."

"I apologize. I did not know."

"No need to apologize. We're happy. We miss her, but there is nothing that can be done anymore. The Pharoah would not even try to help us."

"That's awful!"

Before Maskini could continue, Ebio's father Dakarai walked in. "Maskini, so good to see you. Ebio, why did you not tell me that the delivery was here?"

"I- uh."

"No need sir, she was helping me put it away."

Dakarai's eyebrows raised. "Oh, she was? Well then, I will leave her to help you."

"Thank you, sir."

As her father left, Ebio smiled. "You know he is going to ask me so many questions once you leave."

Maskini smiled. "That's okay. Just tell him the truth."

"And what exactly is the truth?" She slyly asked.

"That I wanted to talk to the most beautiful woman in the kingdom."

She blushed furiously. "Why sir, are you flirting with me?"

He stepped closer to her and his voice dropped. "That depends. Is it working?"

She smiled. "Maybe. I have things to do now. Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Only if you're here waiting for me again Ebio."

She could only blush and nod as he kissed her hand and walked away. She floated around the shop for the rest of the day. high on the fact that Maskini did, in fact, seem to be attracted to her too. It wasn't until she and her father were back home and about to eat dinner that he said anything to her.

"Ebio, what are your thoughts on Maskini?" He questioned cautiously.

"He seems to be a hard-working man. His wife must be extremely happy with him."

"He is not married, but that doesn't mean that you can throw yourself at him."

"I would never do that father. I simply find him polite and charming. Nothing more."

"Uh huh. So why did you sit by the back door of the shop for half of the day?"

"Okay, you caught me. I always wanted to speak to him, father. I really do find him pleasant to be around. After the short time that he and I spoke today, I feel as if I've met him before."