lucas_apollo (lucas_apollo) wrote in paxletalelogs, @ 2017-03-22 11:26:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | apollo, uke mochi |
I wanted to run but she made me crawl
Who: Lucas and Alice
What: Lucas meets Alice for the first time
Where: Rosemary & Thyme
When: Monday, March 20, 2017 at 7:30am
Lucas wasn’t due at the hospital for another hour; his first patient of the day, a follow-up on Nishka before her therapy started, wasn’t for another two hours, so he had some time for breakfast. He usually made his own at home, quicker and healthier than going out, but he’d been meaning to stop by this particular bakery since he’d seen the message about it on the Pax network. He was all for supporting local businesses, especially those run by neighbours.
Pushing his way into the shop, he took a moment to look around himself, taking in the decor and the various things on display before zeroing in on the case full of food. His eyes lit up and roamed the offerings, already wanting half of what was in there but forcing himself to discount half of them as not breakfast food. Maybe...maybe he’d pick up something sweet for lunch too….
Lucas had managed to come into the bakery during a lull in customers. Typically mornings resulted in one of two things: a stream of constant customers, or the morning and late morning crowd with a break in between. This particular Monday was just like that. There had been the early morning crowd that rushed in for coffee and treats, leading to a line at the register as Alice ran about trying to manage everything and noting to herself that she really needed to ensure two people were working on Monday mornings in the future, but now there was a break.
Alice had disappeared into the kitchen to get a few fruit-filled danishes to restock the food display when she heard the sound of the door open and close. Grabbing the tray filled with the sweet treats, Alice hurried back behind the counter and flashed a smile at the man looking at the display.
“Good morning!” she announced cheerfully, despite that her eyes were still showing a little bit of the St. Patrick’s Day-caused exhaustion. She was still young, but apparently a Friday night bender took her more than a morning to recover. The lack of good sleep hung onto her like a cloak and was just barely beginning to come off. “I have more treats to put in there, so please excuse the empty spots in the display.”
Lucas looked up when Alice came in, recognising her immediately from the St. Patrick’s Day party. He smiled at her, though noted the slight shadows under her eyes and the exhaustion in her features. “Morning,” he greeted brightly, coming closer to the display to see what new goodies she’d brought out. “I didn’t get a chance to say hello at the party, but I think you were a little busy; I’m Lucas, I’m from Pax as well.” He smiled and extended a hand, though frowned just slightly in concern. “Looks like you could use a coffee or something,” he added with a twinkle in his eye.
Alice’s smile faded slightly as a look of surprise took over her features. But quickly, she recovered, smiling again in a more genuine way--not a smile that was merely displayed for customers. “Oh, Lucas!” She sat the tray of food down and pulled off the plastic glove on her right hand before offering it to him over the display. “It’s nice to meet you! I’m Alice, and yeah, you probably saw me at the holiday party and it’s likely for the best you didn’t talk to me. I was… in a rare condition. You’ve got a good eye, I’m still suffering a little bit.”
He gave her a knowing smile. “Caffeine will help in the short term, but the trick is to stay hydrated,” he said. His eyes roamed over the display in front of him with the eagerness of a four year old boy. “This all looks wonderful...and you make all of these yourself?” he asked, awe clear in his voice. “I've made muffins and banana bread, but these...this is real talent.”
“Oh thanks!” Alice said warmly. She reached for tongs and began lifting each danish into the display, neatly lining them up from the front of the display to the back. “And yes, they’re all done by me. Well, for the most part. I have another baker who comes in to help at times but I’ve found it hard to let go and have someone else do that part. But all the recipes are based off of standard ones but then I tweak them.”
With the danishes in the display, she pulled the pan back and sat it on the counter which aligned the wall, letting the sliding door of the display close with a subtle thump. “And muffins and banana bread are great. Believe me, people can mess those up. Would you like to get anything?”
Despite asking him this, Alice was already moving toward the coffee pots on the counter where she placed the tray. Never fully turning her back to Lucas, she poured herself a cup of coffee, obviously taking his advice to heart.
His eyes slid back to the case, but there were so many choices and they all looked so good. “Ohh, I can't decide...what do you recommend for breakfast?” he asked her, leaning against the counter and eyeing the various offerings. His voice, his body language, was as casual as if they'd known each other a while, as if he was already comfortable in her presence. It may be the atmosphere, the warm scent of vanilla and yeast filling the air, the cheerful colours of the decor and various displays. Or it was the fact that he found Alice quite attractive, and was purposely stalling in order to have more time in the little shop.
“Well, I don’t know who you’ve met at the complex yet, but Rafael? Have you met him? He’s had the ham and cheese croissant. Served warm, typically, but it can be cool if you’d like that as well. But if you’re looking for something sweet, I’d say go for the cinnamon buns or danishes.” Alice returned to the display, a hand waving lightly toward each item indicated. Lifting the coffee to her mouth, she took a sip and let out a thoughtful hmm. “If you really want something sweet, you could go for a fruit tart or cupcake. I know they aren’t necessarily breakfast items but I wouldn’t judge if you indulged.”
Lucas smiled as her words washed over him, giving him options and sipping her coffee. He shook his head at the other name, not recognising it. “No, I haven't met him, but I think I'll have the same as he did, that sounds excellent.” He glanced turned his attention to the case full of cupcakes, now having another equally difficult decision to make.
She lifted her gaze to meet his and smiled. Feeling happy, relaxed, and maybe a tiny bit flirtatious. When Brittany had told Alice about Pax, she hadn’t mentioned that there would be a number of men in their 20s and 30s living there, nor that they were all so nice. “Also,” She added, her eyes sparking as she lifted up her cup. “I have coffee, so if you need that, you can have that too.”
His brows rose. “Coffee would be great,” he smiled, watching her go about her business. He bit his lip when her back was turned, hesitating, then smiling again when she caught his eyes.
“So...I'm new around here,” he said, trying not to sound awkward or creepy. “And I'm still not completely moved in, so I've been eating out most nights. It gets kind of boring on my own...maybe you could come with me sometime, for the company. For dinner.” He was trying to be casual about it, but he was supremely bad at this. Or he'd just had bad luck. Either way he was suddenly a bundle of nerves.
Alice turned back to Lucas with his cup of coffee and wide, green eyes. Her cheeks were quickly growing pink and she couldn’t seem to keep a small smile from spreading over her face. “Oh, um,” she stammered, moving forward to give Lucas his coffee then doubling back as she realized it needed a hot holder. Fumbling with the sleeve, she slipped it on and sat the cup on the counter with a small laugh before trying to gain control over her nerves. She smiled at Lucas and tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear. “You know, dinner would be nice. I’m still new to the area too, so it would be nice to go out and discover something local with someone!”
He smiled widely, encouraged by her answer. He accepted the coffee, it's warmth seeping into his hands and cheering him. He'd noticed her slight nerves too, but didn’t draw attention to it. He wanted her to feel comfortable with him, and so far he thought he wasn't doing too badly.
Was that a request for a date? Alice didn’t know for sure and she tried not to think of it as such. Instead, she focused on the idea of a nice-looking guy who seemed reasonable and not at all creepy asking for her company as they both discovered what the area had to offer. Then she realized she had only brought Lucas a coffee. “Oh, gosh. I’m all distracted, I’m sorry. Did you want food? It’s on me, a neighborly treat and all.”
He laughed and nodded, “the croissant,” he said, “and…” he paused and looked into the case, quickly picking one of the many options available. “A red velvet cupcake for the road. They look beautiful...I mean, delicious,” he corrected, mentally whacking himself upside the head for the slip. “And I insist on paying,” he added, “I make a point of supporting local businesses...not in eating them out of house and home.”
Alice’s cheeks continued to redden and she bit at her lower lip to stop herself from smiling — it didn't help at all. “Thank you,” was the almost simple answer she could provide.
Gathering the croissant and popping it into the toaster, she turned to the cupcake next and ensured she took the red velvet cupcake that she found to be the most perfect. Placing it gently in the baker’s box and wrapping it with twine, she placed it onto the counter. “Do you want your croissant to go? Or would you like me to put it on a plate?” She glanced at him shyly, trying not to make her personal opinion of which option he should take completely known.
Lucas watched her, noting the obvious care with which she did things, making a warm smile spread across his lips. He admired the little box she'd placed the cupcake in and then looked at his watch. “I still have plenty of time, I think I'll eat here, if you don't mind putting up with me for a little longer, that is,” he joked. He shifted over to the cream and sugar, fixing up his coffee as she got his breakfast ready, and then sat at a nearby table; the one closest to where she was working, of course.
Alice kept Lucas’ movements in sight, although she tried not to watch him directly. She felt a burst of energy, a spring in her step. After the meltdown from the last guy she dated, she was certain she wasn't worth the attention of anyone, but this seemed to say otherwise. It might have been only careless flirtation but Alice still found it made her feel rather good about herself.
Once the croissant was appropriately warm, the cheese melted and the ham crisp, Alice placed on one of her colorful plates and carried it around the counter. This was similar to when Rafael came in and that visit had led to Alice making her first friend at the new complex, hopefully this would work out the same. Maybe her croissants had more power than just tasting good.
“I can't remember if you mentioned this in your intro post, but what is it that you do? If you don't mind my asking,” Alice asked as she placed the plate before Lucas. She hoped his answer wouldn't be porn star, she didn't want a repeat of Friday night.
“Thank you,” he said when she placed the plate in front of him. “I don't even remember what I said in that post,” he admitted with a smile, gesturing to the chair opposite for her to sit. “I'm a doctor,” he said, “I'm working at LA County Hospital.” He took a bite of the croissant and almost immediately felt...happier, if that were possible. “This is really delicious,” he praised, “you bake the croissants here?” he assumed she did, since she made everything else. He inspected the sandwich, noting the perfectly formed crescent and the light and airy layers of crispy deliciousness.
Alice nodded as she slipped into the chair opposite Lucas. “They're kind of my favorite. I love how the stickiness of the dough turns into something so light. And that's awesome, your being a doctor. Are we old enough now that people are doctor's? I always pictured them to be these old men with hair coming out of their ears.” She laughed, her nose scrunching slightly.
Lucas laughed, a light, joyful sound. “There are definitely still those doctors,” he chuckled, “but yes, some of us are still young enough to enjoy life while saving others.” He took another bite of his croissant, savouring the salty butteriness. “And what about you, have you been doing this long? Have you always wanted to be a baker? You're clearly passionate about what you do.”
Alice shrugged and looked around her little bakery. “It started out as something to do for fun. Then it sort of became a regular thing. I have a big family but whenever I would cook dinner, we actually would sit down and eat together. I started a blog about it and that sort of got the idea rolling. I have enough people viewing the site and paying for sponsorships that it brings in a decent amount of money.
“When I moved here, I figured I'd give the bakery a go and here I am! I'm really enjoying it so far. Like, I look forward to coming to work which is really nice.” She looked back at Lucas and smiled softly. “It's not really on the same level of saving lives but I do like that people have fully bellies.”
Lucas shifted in his seat, a little more forward. “No, no its great. You truly enjoy what you do, and that seems to find its way into what you make. You...create happiness, and that's just as essential to life sometimes.” He glanced at the case behind her full of treats, a sudden knowledge giving him an idea. “have you ever considered offering to bake for the hospital coffee shop? If they stocked your cupcakes, I'm sure it could boost morale for patients and their visitors.”
Alice’s eyes went wide and she settled back into her chair. “That's certainly an idea I’ll consider!” She smiled fully at Lucas before leaning forward in her seat. “So! Where did you move from? Did the job bring you here?”
“I’m originally from Oregon,” he answered, swallowing his next bite of croissant and chasing it with a sip of coffee. “I was offered a job down here I couldn't refuse, so here I am!” he finished with a smile.
Alice nodded. “It certainly seems to be. Everyone at the apartment—it's like we were all meant to be here. And things are going so well, ever since I moved in, honestly. With the bakery, with my recipes, with the book.”
Lucas’ eyebrows rose at that last bit, suddenly even more interested.
She paused, realizing her slip up. She hadn't even told Brittany yet about the possibility of her publishing a cool book. “Don't...don't let anyone know about that though, the book I mean. It's just a possibility right now.”
He smiled widely. “That’s amazing, I mean...wow. Is it just...a collection of blog posts? I’ll have to look that up by the way, it sounds like it would be very interesting.” And not at all stalkerish to read more about a woman online that he was attracted to. But it was her blog, it wasn’t as if he would be creeping her facebook page or anything.
The blush returned to Alice’s cheeks and she turned her gaze to the table, shy by the attention and praise. “Penguin reached out to me, I guess they found my blog and they suggested I write a cookbook. So, I’m just sort of working on that right now--the first draft, that is. It’s… a lot. All the measurements and blurbs about why I like that recipe and why I like cooking. It’s just… I haven’t sent the first draft yet so it could still be turned down. They could still opt not to publish it. So, I’ve just kept the news to myself. No one knows, not even my family or my best friend.” She looked fully at Lucas, her eyes pleading silently that he keep her secret, at least for now.
He'd been eating his breakfast while she explained, popping the last bite in his mouth as she finished. “Don't worry, my lips are sealed,” he said with a wink. “I do, however want to read it when it's done. Maybe I can step up my game in the kitchen,” he said happily. He sipped the last of his coffee, checking his watch. Time to go. But…
“I was going to try out an Italian place for dinner tonight,” he said casually, referring to the earlier invitation. “If you're not busy you're welcome to keep me company.” As much as he did want to go out with her for other reasons, the reason he gave her was still true; it wasn't nearly as fun eating out alone.
Temporarily, Alice seemed to fill up with eagerness. She sat up straighter, her eyes were alight, and a smile crept onto her face, but all too quickly she seemed to deflate and the exhaustion from earlier in their meeting crept back into her face. “I would love to,” she began, but already the tone of her voice indicated that this was not an agreement that the dinner would happen. “Alas, I need to be here by four tomorrow morning. It’s when I start getting everything ready to go. I usually get up at 3:30 to do it, so bedtime is ridiculously early for me.” She frowned fully and glanced at her hands for a quiet moment before glancing back up at Lucas. “Could I maybe take a raincheck?”
His face fell just slightly, but he managed to cover the disappointment with practiced ease. “Absolutely,” he said, the smile coming back out to light up his face. He paused for a second and then moved to pull a pen out of his pocket. “Well, when you have a free night,” he said, writing on the napkin he hadn't used under his coffee cup and handing it to her. “Give me a call. I'd love to hear more about your book.” He stood, looking somewhat apologetic. “I'm sorry, but I gotta get to work. Maybe I'll come in again. That's a much better breakfast than I've been having lately,” he smiled pleasantly.
Alice received the napkin gently, avoiding touching the scrawled phone number with her fingers so as not to risk smudging the ink. She looked down at it and the corner of her mouth whirled upward. “You don't even have doctor handwriting, I'm impressed.”
Lucas gave her a little conspiratorial grin. “We take a special ‘messy handwriting’ class in medical school,” he joked, “for use on prescriptions only.”
Looking at Lucas fully now, she seemed a little deflated. Sad to miss out on the chance for dinner and sad to see him go. “I've certainly kept you here long enough. Go, to save lives, and I hope you decide to come back. You know the hours and more often than not I'm here.”
“I'll definitely come back,” he assured her, noting her sudden shift in mood. “And if you ever need anything, just remember there's a friendly doctor on the tenth floor.” He said it casually, though he meant it. Anything at all, he'd be there to help. He gave her one last friendly smile, and then picked up the boxed cupcake and tipped his head to her before leaving, a wide smile on his face and a new spring in his step as he walked to his car.
Alice watched him go, standing still and observant until he was out the door. But once it swung close and the little bell above it announced his departure, Alice allowed herself a giddy smile and even a little dance as she folded the napkin neatly and slipped it into her pocket.