I'm Here { Lukanette FF }

8 - Rookie Baker

Afterschool the next day, I waited just outside the classroom for Luka.

"Hey, you waiting for someone?" Nathaniel walked out of the door. I nodded, "Yup, just waiting on Luka."

The tomato boy looked very confused, "Um, okay, but- why?"

"My thoughts exactly." I heard Luka's voice.

Luka walled out of class and walked straight past me. "Hey! Wait for me!" I scurried after him after giving Nathaniel a quick wave of departure.

"I don't need you to escort me." Luka grumbled, he looked down and his shoulders shrugged up, like he was trying to hide.

I noticed a few students were staring at us. "I just wanted to come along." I said.

There was a slight tint of pink on Luka's cheeks, he didn't respond.

The walk to the bakery was quiet, and very short, since the bakery was so close to the school.

I heard Luka chuckle when we got to the door, "You live litteraly next to the school, and yet you still afford to come late to class almost every morning?"

I didn't have time to respond when my dad burst open the door.

"Oh! You must be the boy Marinette hired!" he said cheerfully.

"My name is Mr. Dupain, it's quite a joy to have you here! We're running low on croissants so we can get started on those." he spoke so quickly, Luka naturally looked overwhelmed.

"Uh- but- I don't know how to make croissants." he said sheepishly.

My Dad grinned, "Not to worry! Marinette, you can teach the boy, can't you?" he asked me.

I nodded with determination.

We stepped inside and my Mom was attending to a line of few customers already.

"Oh, hello! You must be Luka, thanks for the help!" she smiled as she finished helping one of the customers.

He gave a brief nod before I lead him to where the magic is set in motion.

"Alright, put on an apron and we will begin." I told him as I put an apron on myself.

After we he got his apron on, I started to run him through the basics of baking croissants.

"Did you get all that?" I asked. He opened his mouth with confusion on his face, "Perfect! Let's begin." I intercepted before he could speak.

I showed him where all the ingredients were, then asked him to bring me butter, flour, sugar, salt, yeast and milk.

He brought them all to me with no problems.

After that, I preheated the oven.

I set my hands down on the counter and looked him in the eyes, "Alright buddy-"

He frowned, "I'm not your buddy." he crossed his arms.

"Okay, Luka then. I'm not going to sugarcoat it, croissants are not easy." I emphasized, deepening the seriousness in my tone.

"They require time and patience. And lots of work." I continued.

Luka nodded to every sentence.

"So are you ready to work your hands with dough until they're dead?!" I yelled, trying to motivate him.

But my volume only made him shrink, he looked less certain every second that passed by.

It was odd seeing him so small and unsure of what to do.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, "I guess I shouldn't have hired someone who's so inexperienced... tell you what, I'll do most of it, just help me with whatever I ask, okay?"