Lend Me Some SUGA

Part 1

Aubrey woke up to the slight smell of burning. 

She had fallen asleep on the couch after a long shift at the restaurant. She jumped up, looking towards the open plan kitchen on the other side of the living room. She hadn't left the stove on. She sniffed again and looked to the sliding door to the apartment balcony. She forgot she left the screen door open, so along with the cool night breeze the slightly bitter smell of burning wafted in.

The smell became stronger as she walked out onto her balcony.  It was dark out, but the light from the next door apartment shown through its open door illuminated a young man.  Crouched down in one corner of the adjacent balcony cursing softly. At closer inspection she saw a baking sheet of some burnt cookies under him. They were coal black. She was surprise he hadn't set off the building's smoke detectors.

"Aw, hun. It's alright, I was gonna diet anyway. They're in a better place."

Aubrey always defaulted to humor to help lighten the mood. The man looked put out as the he stood up startled by her sudden outburst. He wasn't tall. Asian, with short hair and small frame emphasized by the oversize apron he was wearing. He just blinked at her.

"I hope that wasn't all your dough suga'. If you make another batch it might help cover up the smell?" She offered helpfully.

She didn't know her neighbor. She'd been living here for a few months, but between online classes and odd work shifts she never really ran into other people. She would recline on the balcony sometimes, her cat Tiger in her lap while she read through her course work. She'd never seen anyone in that apartment, their currents always drawn.

The man coughed a little as he tried to reply. It must have been really smoky inside. She was almost certain now that the landlord was skimping on fire security for it to have gotten that bad.

"Oh. Sorry. I know it smells awful. I didn't hear the timer go off and..." He sighed sticking his hands into his apron pockets. "I only got enough for one batch. It was one of those kits. I mean not a box recipe but like subscription to keep people learn to bake." He made a face that communicated to Aubrey that he was more embarrassed to have shared that he wasn't a good cook.

Aubrey couldn't help but laugh a little, remembering to close the glass door so no more of the smell could get into her apartment.

"Oh no. I'm not laughin' at you dear. I've burnt plenty of things in my day. What were you trying to make?" She sniffed again catching a whiff of something spicy , "Snickerdoodles?".

He continued to look confused. "Gingersnaps?"

"Mhm. Well if they ever send you a recipe for chocolate cake. You let me know. I know a few tricks to make it extra moist." Her attempt to distract him from his recent failure seemed to be working. He smiled a little sheepishly, taking a hand out of his pocket and rubbing the back of his neck.

"That's more like it" Aubrey beamed at him. "It's Aubrey, by the way. 307a" She extended her hand across the relatively short distance between their balconies. He pulled his hand away from his neck and shook hers politely.

"Um. August."

"Like next month? Cute"

He didn't seem to know what to say. Oh well. At least didn't look like a kicked puppy anymore. She heard a soft padding at the door behind her. Tiger, her pet Main Coon cat, was making a fuss. He must be wondering what she was doing out there without him.

"Ah. I better get back inside. Tiger's gonna have a hissy fit if I'm out here much longer. Nice to meet ya suga'. Best of luck with your next attempt."

He just stood there awkwardly so she went inside. Tiger grumbled more than meowed as she hefted him into her arms, resting his big paws on her shoulder.

"Just met our neighbor kitten. We're gonna have to keep an eye on him. Don't want him burning the place down now do we?" She padded into the kitchen and set the oven to preheat. She was suddenly in the mood for something sweet.

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