airports // 5sos au

viii.

| ashton |

The next day I accidentally arrived at work an hour early. Okay, it isn't an accident, I just wanted to see if Meghan had also gotten to work early.

She hasn't.

"Irwin? What are you doing here so early?" Tom, my boss, asks.

"I just wasn't doing anything today, I guess."

"It's eight-thirty a.m., dude."

"Okay, I was kind of hoping that someone was here."

Tom throws me my apron and raises his eyebrow, gesturing for me to explain.

"There's this girl-"

"There's always a girl," Tom laughs with a nostalgic grin on his face.

"I've only known her for a day, so it's nothing serious. I just came to see if she had gotten to work early," I say as I straighten out my apron.

"She works here?" Tom asks as he sets the "Daily Special" sign above the homemade salt water taffies.

"In the airport, yeah," I nod, "She's really nice and I'm planning on talking to her some more today."

"Good luck to you, man, but while you're here can you go decorate some cookies for me?"

"Sure," I smile and go behind the front counter to get decorating. Tom leaves to go to the back, leaving me alone in the shop.

I pipe brightly colored icing onto the soft sugar cookies in front of me. There's blue icing and a hot pink and a deep purple hue as well. I'm amazed that Tom can create all these nice colors and before I know it a half hour has passed by.

"I like the dark purple color the best," A female voice interrupts the silence.

I turn around quickly and see Meghan standing in front of the counter. She has her hands together in front of her grey coat, her hair up in a ponytail, and a small smile creeping up on her face.

"W-what?" I stammer and accidentally drop the cookie I was currently decorating.

"Shit," I cringe and bend down to pick up the cookie that had broken in thirds.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Meghan frowns slightly.

"It's alright," I laugh awkwardly, "Uh, what are you doing here?"

"I came in early to get away from my house, but Darcy said she doesn't really have anything for me to do, then I saw you, and here I am."

"Darcy?"

"My boss."

"Oh, that makes sense."

She nods and chuckles, "I also wanted to show you my stainless coat."

"Oh, you did?" I can't help but laugh, "I'm glad I didn't ruin your coat, it looks great on you."

"What?" She looks up.

"What?" I say quickly, mentally face palming myself for blurting the compliment out.

"Thank you," She says as her cheeks turn pink, "Do you mind if I sit in here? I still have over an hour until work starts..."

"I don't mind," I smile, "Maybe I could put you to work?"

"I'm up to it," Meghan smiles.

I nod and go to the back.

"Tom, can Meghan help us decorate cookies?" I ask.

Tom looks up from mixing the cupcake batter and nods, "The extra aprons are by the door and she knows that she's not getting paid for this, right?"

"You do know you're not getting paid for this, right?" I turn around and face Meghan.

"I do now," she chuckles.

"She knows," I shout back to Tom.

"Then go for it," He gives me a
thumbs-up.

I walk back to the counter and toss an extra maroon apron to Meghan, "Do you know how to decorate a cookie?"

"I can learn," She smiles brightly as she washes her hands in the sink next to me.

God, she has such a pretty smile.

Twenty minutes later, Meghan and I have found our system. We pipe the icing onto the cookies and place them in the display counter, working quickly and not dropping anymore cookies.

We talk throughout the process, and we make each other laugh. A lot. My cheeks are sore and small tears of joy escape her light greenish-grey eyes.

Sadly, the hour goes by quickly and she has to leave for her work across the way. She hands me her apron and thanks me for the fun she's had.

I thank her for her help and hand her a cookie.

"No thank you, I couldn't take it without paying," she declines politely.

"Think of it as payment for your help."

"I couldn't."

"Then think of it as a gift from the friendly, handsome lad that works near you," I wiggle my eyebrows.

Meghan laughs and puts on her coat.

"I'm serious, Meghan," I say, still holding the cookie.

"Why?" She gives in and takes the cookie.

"Because it's deep purple, your favorite."