Bitter-Sweet 2

Chapter 2: Pete

TJ POV:

It's just me and Cyrus on Saturday, we take any other two days off and work the rest. It wasn't particularly busy, thankfully there was no Mrs Pud today but a few familiar faces.

There was Daniel, he goes to Grant high school and comes here to do his schoolwork (mainly to bother Cyrus with it). There was Joyce with her son Tommy who often come here and there was Madelyn. You may not remember but she used to come to the kiddies gym when she was little, she's in high school now but she's still rocking the pigtails.

Daniel And Maddy were often here at the same time after school, but never together. They sit at tables opposite each other and it's the most painful thing to watch because they clearly like each other. They'll always sneak glances at one another when the other one isn't looking. Me and Cyrus have been trying to set them up for at least a year. They're so oblivious.

'Hey Maddy!' I greeted her when she came into the bakery, noticing Daniel glance up at the mention of her name.

'Hi TJ!' She grinned childishly as she gripped her bright pink back pack, 'Can I have what I usually have?'

'Sure,' I yelled to Cyrus in the kitchen, 'Muffin! Can I get a lemon poppy seed please?'

'Make it two?' A voice asked and to my surprise it was Daniel shyly speaking, 'Uh...hey Maddy,'

She smiled, 'Hey Dan! Can I sit with you?'

'Oh uhh sure!' He blushed, 'I'll pay for your muffin,'

'You don't have to-'

'I want to,'

I watched the beautiful scene unfold as Maddy sat down in the swag clearly giddy. I took the money from Dan and Cyrus came out with their muffins which I noticed he had decorated with pink love hearts.

I whispered, 'Very smooth Daniel, very smooth,'

He shook his head before heading back towards Maddy.

'We...have a problem,' Cyrus announced hesitantly.

'What?' I questioned timidly.

'Don't worry, we're just out of milk,'

'Ughhh! Again?!' I complained, already getting my coat.

'Yeah...I may be adding a bit too much to make the stuff taste better,'

I shook my head but smiled, 'What would I be without you?'

'A milk billionaire?' He joked.

I kissed his head softly, running a hand through his hair, 'I'll go to Pete's, be back in ten,'

'If Mrs Petredas walks in here I won't forgive you,'

Before I head out the door I reminded him, 'She doesn't come in on a Saturday, she has bingo. See you later!'

I took the short walk down the road to the small shop where we get our quick fix supplies. When I walked in I picked up a chocolate bar for Cyrus and then went to get what I actually came for, milk. I'd just taken the semi-skimmed out of the section when I jumped out of my skin.

'Hey! TJ! You're...here!' Pete welcomed me rather suspiciously as if he didn't want me to be there.

Pete, who we often call porky or porker because of his meaty pink face and occupation, is the owner of the small supermarket on the street of our bakery. He's a good supplier, we get most of our stuff from him and he's a pretty nice guy too.

'Yeah, we ran out of milk,' I explained, going over to the counter to pay.

'Cyrus again?' The old man laughed.