third floor ➳ post malone

three

After closing the first day, I feel accomplished. I have a good feeling that business will be great, especially being in the heart of Chicago.

I walk into my apartment building, towards the elevator. Once I step on, I press the third floor button but am soon greeted by a certain curly haired boy who is frantic.

"Hold it!" He says. I huff and open the doors, letting him in. He walks on, his Converse sounding heavy on the metal. "Thanks."

"Yeah," I reply in place of 'you're welcome.' We stand in silence for what seems like forever. Slow ass elevator.

"Your cupcakes were good," He speaks up and I look over at him, nodding.

"Thanks," I say, looking back at the metal doors that aren't interesting at all. But I'd rather look at them than talk to Austin.

"Maybe you can bake me something else," He suggests and I chuckle. "Since I kinda know you now."

"You don't know me at all," I say to him as the elevator reaches the second floor. Good God. "I bet you don't even remember my name."

"Yeah, it's Gracie," He nods, super confident and I laugh. "Something with a G."

"Okay," I continue laughing as we finally get to the third floor. "I'll bake you something when you remember my name."

"I bet you don't remember mine," he says as I step off the elevator first.

"Austin," I say to him, over my shoulder. "I've always been good with names."

"Will you at least tell me what it starts with?" He questions and I shake my head.

"I'll tell you this much," I say to him as I walk towards my door. "It's one of the twenty-six letters in the alphabet."

"Whatever," he huffs. "You don't have to bake me anything. I'll just come to your shop."

"I have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason," I say, not sure why I am still having this conversation.

"Oh, God," he sighs. "Whatever, Gia."

"Nope," I shake my head, unlocking my door.

"Worth a shot," he says before walking into his apartment as I do the same. I sigh and throw my keys on the coffee table, walking into the kitchen and grabbing a glass to pour my wine in.

I decide tomorrow will be the day that I introduce myself to the rest of the floor, even though my first attempt didn't go so well. I got a number of ingredients out of the refrigerator to make vanilla cupcakes this time instead of anything chocolate even though my brownies are award-winning.

I walk over to my speaker and connect it to my Bluetooth. I press play on my music and am delighted when I hear my favorite song to bake to come on– Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root.

"I would like to reach out my hand. I may see you, I may tell you to run," I sing along to the music as I get bowls out of the cabinets. "You know what they say about the young."

I whistle as I begin mixing stuff, not measuring anything since I had become conditioned to standard measurements. I feel the most like myself when I am baking, I love it more than most things.

I continue my singing and dancing around the kitchen, smiling the entire time until I hear a bang against the wall. I jump and look around, not too sure where the sound came from.

I pause my music and stay silent until I hear it again, and again. I locate the sound after a few seconds, realizing it's coming from Austin's apartment. There's no way the walls are that thin. I huff and take my apron off, walking towards my door and slinging it open.

I walk over to Austin's unit, knocking on his door. I wait for a couple of minutes until he opens it, shirtless in sweatpants. He has tattoos everywhere on his body. I roll my eyes.

"What's up... Jill?" He asks me and I huff.

"No," I shake my head. "What's with the banging?"

"What?" He asks me, raising an eyebrow.

"The banging," I repeat myself. "Against the wall."

"Oh, you know the girl I was with in your bakery?" He asks me and I close my eyes in annoyance. "Her."

"Okay, what is she doing?" I ask him, throwing my arms up. "Can she stop?"

"Jennifer, come on now," Austin chuckles, leaning against the doorframe. "We're clearly banging. Like together."

"If you don't know my name, then just stop trying, okay?" I huff once again.

"Fine," he puts his hands up in defeat. "I'll just call you babe."

"No you won't," I chuckle sarcastically at him. "Call me by my name or nothing at all. And move your fuck fest to the couch, I really don't want to hear it."

"Austin! Who is it?" The girl calls out and he turns around, rolling his eyes. I don't think I am meant to see it, but I do.

"Be there in a second!" He yells back and then turns to look back at me. "Look, it's not my fault the walls are thin."

"It is your fault, though, that your bed is noisy," I say to him. "Put a pillow or a blanket behind it.. Something."

"My suggestion to you is to invest in some ear buds or turn your music up loud," He shrugs to me. "I have a lot of sex."

"You're the worst," I scoff, turning away from him and walking back to my unit.

"Hey, if you do decide to turn your music up, Britany and I are huge Fleetwood Mac fans," He says. I don't even turn around but I know a smirk is plastered on his face.

"Fuck you!" I say in a singsong tone before I open my door.

"You would be so lucky, babe."