Flashcards On The Wall

Chapter 11: Muffins

I decide to spend the next day studying for two exams I have this week. Which really is a stretch since I didn't get any sleep last night. That is in between trying to decipher Gabe's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality. I find myself on a break almost as soon as I start and end up baking. It's a good diversion since I know I'm not exactly having much luck focusing. Tash loves it because we always have the kitchen full of baked goods during midterms and finals or whenever I'm stressing. Needless to say, it happens quite often. I'm emptying a tray that just came out of the oven when Tash comes in.

"Love the way it smells when you bake," she sits on a stool and starts picking at a muffin.

Accidental bliss she calls it.

"So...?" Tash asks very casually, "How are you Miss Millie?"

"Can't complain," I answer, "How are you Miss Tash?"

"All good on my end," she responds.

"Great!" I say.

"What are you up to?" she continues.

Solving world hunger. Taking on the energy crisis. Maybe next week I'll pick an endangered animal to start a GoFundMe page for.

"You're seeing it. Baking," I respond.

"Uh-huh," Tash sounds unconvinced.

"That's it," I assure her.

"Millie, we literally have a kitchen full of muffins-different types yes-but you're making more as we speak. What's bugging you?" Tash finally asks.

"Stop analyzing. I'm procrastinating. Plain and simple," I say, "How was rehearsal?"

I know if I get her talking about the play she's in she'll stop asking about me questions.

"Awesome, like usual."

"I'm so excited to see you on stage. Your character is so mean, and you do it so well!" I continue.

"Makes you wonder huh? How much of it really is acting?" Tash says.

"That's why I keep you my friend, because I don't know if I'd want you as my enemy," I joke.

"Ha-ha," she rolls her eyes at me.

After putting the tray in the oven once more and setting the timer, I begin washing the bowl I was using. The doorbell rings and Tash gets up to answer. I examine the number of muffins and make a mental note to call Lo. We will certainly need to give most of them away and I for sure will have to take a bunch to work tomorrow. Okay maybe I really should stop now.

"Millie, it's for you," Tash yells.

"Real funny," I yell back.

I never have visitors.

"Not joking. It's your- it's Gabriel," she answers.

Oh great.

I walk to the door unsure of why he's here.

"Hi," he smiles at me.

This is not the same guy that left annoyed yesterday. I should change his contact info to J & H (for Jekyll and Hyde). Am I being dramatic? Maybe but at least then it would be a little more accurate.

"I want to show you something," he says.

"What would that be?" I ask.

Gabriel hands me his phone which I see is logged into his school account and showing his grade for his last Spanish test.

"You got an A? Congratulations! That's so fantastic! I knew you could do it," I say.

"I did have a pretty incredible tutor," he responds, "You got me an A."