third floor ➳ post malone

four

"Ricky, how's the banana bread coming along?" I ask him as I pull cupcakes out of the oven. Business finally died down for a bit so we are making more of things we're running out of.

"Just took it out about three minutes ago!" He yells from the front of the shop. I smile to myself at how well things are going. I place the cupcakes on a cooling rack and walk back to the front.

I see Austin standing at the counter and I roll my eyes.

"Figured out my name yet?" I ask him as I fixed some of the cookies that were on display.

"Gabby," He smiles at me and I roll my eyes, shaking my head.

"Oh my God," I groan and throw my head back. "Whatever. What can I get you?"

"I thought you could refuse service to anyone for any reason," Austin smirks at me and I roll my eyes yet again. It is becoming a thing.

"You're right," I sigh and then look at Austin with a smile. "But why would I give up a chance to take your money?"

"Alright, well, what do you have?" He asks me and I let out another sigh because we quite literally have a menu.

"Okay, there's the John Lemon cupcake, which is obviously lemon flavored. There's The Rolling Scones which come in orange, peach, and strawberry. Then there's the Bowie Bread which just came out of the oven. It's just banana bread," I say to him as he listens. "And uh... There's the Ozzy which is a bat-shaped, raspberry-filled donut and-"

"Let me stop you there," he chuckles. "That is genius and I want two."

"One for Britany?" I ask as he took out his wallet. I regret saying it.

"You are good with names," he nods to me. "But I think that's just because you're jealous."

"Jealous?" I scoff. "Of what, exactly?"

"That noise you heard last night," he shrugs and I roll my eyes.

"Okay, no," I shake my head. "Definitely not."

"Sure, babe," He nods. "How much is it?"

"Six," I tell him. "And don't call me babe."

"I think I like it better than whatever your name might be," He jokes as he hands me a ten dollar bill and I glare it him. "Kidding! But it suits you better."

"How?" I ask as I gave him four dollars back out of the register which he puts in the tip jar.

"Bye, Glenda," He shakes his head, turning around and walking away as I roll my eyes. Again. "By the way, both of these bats are for me. Britany is no longer around."

I am confused as he walks out of the shop. Why not? What happened with Britany?

"What the hell was that about?" Ricky asks me and I shake my head.

"Honest to God, I have no idea."

–————

Once I get back to my apartment, I put some finishing touches on the cupcakes I made the previous night. I put them in a large Tupperware container and close the lid on it. I fix my hair that had fallen all over my face out of my messy bun and grab the container.

I walk out into the hall and decide I'd try the unit across from Austin's. I walk over and knock on the door. It takes a minute but the door finally opens and I am greeted with an elderly woman with round glasses and salt and pepper hair.

"Hi, I'm Georgia," I smile at her. "I just moved in across the hall and I thought I'd bring you some cupcakes and introduce myself."

"Oh, how wonderful!" She smiles brightly, clapping her hands together once. "Please, come in!"

I step inside and sit the cupcakes down on her kitchen table that is covered in mail except for one spot that is cleared off for her to sit.

"It's so nice to meet you, Georgia," She smiles. "I'm Lorraine."

"It's nice to meet you, Lorraine!" I smile at her. We walk over and sit down on the couch but not before she grabs a cupcake. "How long have you been living here?"

"Chicago or this building?" She asks me as she took a bite of the cupcake.

"Both, I guess," I shrug.

"I've been living in Chicago for about seventy years. I'm originally from Buffalo, New York," she tells me. "I've been living in this apartment for about ten years; ever since my husband died."

"Oh, Ms. Lorraine, I'm so sorry," I shake my head and she smiles at me.

"Albert would've loved these cupcakes," she smiles again as she continues eating it. "Are you a baker or do you just do it in your free time?"

"Yes ma'am, I own a bakery down the street," I tell her. "I just opened it."

"Oh! Well I am so glad," she tells me, taking the last bite. "You're amazing at it."

"Thank you," I say to her as I looked around her apartment. Pictures of a tall man with white hair are hanging on most of the walls. That must be Albert.

A knock emerges from the other side of her door and she smiles; she is always smiling. She gets up off of the couch and shuffles over.

"That must be Austin," She says and my head turns so fast towards the door. No way is that Austin compassionate enough to visit sweet Lorraine.

She opens the door, though, and Austin is standing there with the bag I gave him from the bakery and a bag from Dairy Queen.

"Hi, Mrs. Duncan!" He says, greeting her. "I brought you a donut and some chicken fingers."

"Oh, sounds lovely," she says. He steps in and looks at me, trying to comprehend why I am there. "I have company. I don't know if you've met her, but she lives on this floor now."

"Hi," he smiles. I nod as he walks past me to put the bags on the table, moving the cupcakes over.

"I'll head out," I say, standing up off of the couch. "It was so nice meeting you, Lorraine."

"You can stay," Austin says, sitting down in the blue recliner.

"Oh, no, I have plans anyways," I shake my head.

"Well then, it was so nice meeting you, too," She says, shuffling over to give me a hug. I hug her back, smiling as I do so. "Please come back anytime. I would love the company."

"I definitely will," I tell her and then turn to Austin. "Bye, Austin."

He nods and I walk out, back to my apartment. I'm not sure how Austin knows Lorraine, but it makes me feel warm inside. He has such a tough exterior so it is nice to know he has a heart underneath it.

a/n: lorraine and albert are actually my great grandparents, everything about this is true except for the chicago/apartment part. i figured it'd be nice to tribute them in a way. i'll put pictures of them in the cast if you guys would like.