The Gold and the Forest

VII

Chapter 7: Little Steps

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Min slammed down her pen in exasperation, "It's not good enough."

Kade finally jogged into the room and pressed a cold drink against her cheek. Setting it down next to the drawing tablet in front of her, he hugged her from behind.

"What's up, Cent?"

She shrugged him off, sighing into her hands.

"Commission trouble?"

She removed her hands and downed a fourth of the drink he had set before her. She turned to him, her brows furrowed.

"There it is again." He said softly. "The 'I'm not good enough' look."

She sighed. "I'm going to become a farmer and then die."

"We can't live on a farm, Cent, I'll die of a heat stroke." He countered gently.

She took his hand and started playing with his fingers. She looked less troubled. Her hair had been tied up into a ponytail, and hair was getting into her face. He brushed them up, making her look like she had antennae.

He ran his hand down her cheek and then pinched it.

"You're embarrassing." She muttered.

"No, you." He mocked and then smiled. "What's wrong with this one?"

"His face looks like it grew a tumor. And I have been painting for 3 hours."

"Want to make out, procrastinate, then make out some more?"

She smacked his torso, but she smiled. "Shut up, prick sack."

"Then, do you want to sketch me for the ten-thousandth time?"

"Oh, boy, do I." She muttered sarcastically, then she took out a sketchbook and a pencil. "Don't move or I'll stab you."

He complied, his smile uncontained. She drew the loving look in his eyes as he watched her scratch out a figure on her book. Once she was done, the two sat on the floor as Kade went through her sketchbook, making little comments and grinning so much his cheeks hurt.

---

She shifted on her feet, looking at the closed doors and then at the boy standing in front of her looking down the street. They were both too early for work. Vivi bit her lip and scrolled through her phone for any stray messages she had forgotten. None.

He finally looked at her. To her surprise, he attempted to make conversation. "How was your day?"

"Good! Good."

Both of them disregarded that it was around 6 in the morning, the day had just started.

"Sean's late." Vivi sighed.

"Or we're early."

He always spoke in a soft voice. Low, grounded, shy. His eyes shifted from the floor to his hands and then her face. Next to her, he could blend into the wall. But yet, people noticed him. She did, too.

"How do you like work?" She asked, a small smile gracing her lips. He glanced from the floor to the storefront and then let his eyes rest on the pattern on her cardigan.

"Pays well." He answered truthfully.

Her laugh was a twitter of a bird. The morning lit up her cheek as the sun crept upon the houses. The sound of cicadas fading in and out.

"Oh!" She stops laughing. "I shouldn't be laughing about that, should I?"

"It's fine."

She studies him. A sweater thrown over a t-shirt, bangs that should be cut a week ago. She felt a warm feeling in her chest. This small quiet piece of morning lit up a memory and she wished that Sean wouldn't ever come so she could stand in front of him in this awkward moment.

Eventually, Sean did come and let the two in. He eyed the backs of the two and shook his head.

---

The day started off slow. Vivi took orders, and snuck peeks at the backroom. She was getting caught by him every other glance, but she didn't mind. When their eyes met, she smiled briefly. He usually held the gaze for a few seconds before he turned back to his work.

During their lunch break, she slid into the empty seat next to him. Carl flinched slightly, it was almost barely noticeable, but she had her attention fully on him.

"Do I make you nervous?" The words fell out of her mouth before she could stop them.

He stopped eating, and glanced at her briefly. She was caught off guard and cleared her throat, avoiding his gaze.

"Do I make you nervous?" He asked back, his voice quiet but condescending.

A quick laugh escaped her lips and she fled, running off to "find her lunch".

Carl watched her run off, the way she did it was quite humorous, like a dog with their tail between their legs. He sighed and resumed eating.

In the bathroom, Vivi was cursing him out, having a full-on rant about him in her head. She decided to alert Kade about her distress.

Don't piss off the Woofer.

Vivi fumed at the text that he sent back. I wasn't! He's so guarded! I thought we were going to get somewhere!

Leave the big dog alone when he's eating.

But our lunch break is the only time I get to even talk!

Maybe offer him food as a peace offering next time?

He's going to have to talk to me first! I'm angry!

Lunch break ended and Vivi forgot to eat her lunch, so she sat at the register, hungry and infuriated. She performed the rest of her job with a forced smile on her face. 

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