"Melody? Hey Mel?" Lauren called, snapping me out of my daze.

"Huh?" I stared at her confused, as she slowly took the castor sugar out of my hand, I look down at my bowl, the cupcake mixture now just a mountain of sugar. Oops...

I give Lauren an apologetic smile, "sorry..."

She returns a warm smile and turns around, coming back with a new bowl, "don't worry, it's okay and it's your day, so you're allowed to wander off into your little head, but maybe try and not waste ingredients,"

I narrow my eyes at her, don't know if I should be thankful or offended, "thank you...I think," shrugging, I pull the bowl forward and restart my cupcake mixture.

After a few hours, I was finally done with the cupcakes and put them into a little box, I also decide to just make the cupcakes with the ruined mixture, taking some sugar of from the top and I'm sure it wasn't going to taste that bad, putting them into a separate box, I wash up, grabbing my coat and the boxes, heading out.

"Alright Lauren, off I go into the world and you can lock up after you're done robbing the pantry," I wave at Lauren, who was cleaning up around the bakery,

she shakes her head at me, "bye Melody and be safe,"

The bakery isn't officially open today, I just had to come in and make cupcakes for a very special person, who was probably going to kill me for being late.

Oh sugar

I quickly got into my car, making sure to strap the goodies, oh and the cupcakes, driving to my destination.

Great now he's going to think I have no sense of time and nag about responsibility, great here we go again.

"This is all your fault, if you would just act like a normal kid for once, I wouldn't be trying to sort out my relationship right now!"

But, I wasn't a normal kid, so I don't know why she was expecting me to act like one. Normal kid's parents don't leave them, normal kids have normal lives, but mines far from normal.

But I can't blame aunt Jemma, she got pulled into our mess when she has her own mess to sort and I wasn't making it any easier for you. I mean I'm trying...okay I'm not.

Releasing a big sigh, I waited to cross the street, the green walking man appeared, a blur of people pushed passed me while I stood there frozen.

Maybe if I just-

No, I can't...

But what was stopping me...? Nothing, no one, so why not?

I pulled up to the driveway, parking my car behind an old Jeep, he really needs to wash that...

Taking my seat belt off and grabbing the good box of the cupcakes, I got out of my car, walking straight to the front door and holding my hand up to knock, only for it to stay up as the door opens, oh oh.

"You're late,"

beeping and the green lights flashed, I stared blankly ahead as people rushed to get to the other side safely. They probably lived normal lives.

I could hear the car engines getting ready to go, as the last person reached the other side, the flow of cars started again, back to their full speed.

There was a gap, the next car was still quite far, maybe I could... Taking a deep breath, I put my right foot forward and started walking forward, I had left the safety of the sidewalk and the car was now much closer.

It suddenly clicked, my ears were ringing and all I could hear and feel was my heart beating against my chest.

I don't wanna-

I felt someone grab my wrist, pulling me back against a hard chest,

"What the hell are you doing kid?!"

"Hey! It's not my fault, do you know how much traffic there was like I was at a traffic light for 10 minutes, it's crazy-"

"Melody...It's Sunday, there's no traffic," he gave me a disappointed look, shaking his head at me and walked inside, leaving the door open for me to follow.

I quickly ran after him, closing the door on my way in, trying to reason with him, "Okay listen, like obviously you know how I am, so you know that I sometimes-"

"Have no sense of time and get distracted," he finishes, walking into the kitchen and taking a seat on the stool, turning to me, still the look of disappointment on his face.

I frown at him, putting my best puppy face on, "oh, I'm sorry...I brought cupcakes,"

He raises a brow at me, "that doesn't work on me any more kid and that's literally the only reason you come,"

I sigh, slightly narrowing my eyes at him, "You really not gonna let the whole Kid thing die are you,"

Earth to little girl, Snap out of it!" The guy yelled, waving his hands in front of me, I flinched, looking up at the very concerned man, who was still trying to snap me out of my daze.

I slapped his hand away, "can you stop shaking me, I can feel my insides going on random mode,"

He narrowed his eyes at me, "do you have any idea what you were going to do?"

I narrowed my eyes back at him, "yes, now please leave me alone, strange man,"

He raises a brow at me, "oh no, I don't know about you, but I'm not gonna have this on my conscience if I see you on the news. Follow me, kid,"

I gave him a blank look, "do you really think, I'm gonna follow you to your 'free candy' sign van,"

He huffed, "it's literally across the street and how did you know it was a 'free candy' sign?"

I facepalmed, "dude..."

He rolled his eyes, "I'm joking, you can keep a safe distance and follow me, well that's if you want," he waited for the light and once the green man appeared, he crossed the street.

Reaching the middle of the road, then turning around, he gave me a warm smile and turned back around. Sighing, I followed, I'm a curious 15-year-old, who just tired walking in front of a car and I got nothing to lose, so why not.

I huffed, "Listen, strange man, I've put my time and effort into these cupcakes, please appreciate them,"

He hummed, turning around and got off his chair, "anyways, set the table," Rude

did you bring me to a bakery?" I asked, staring at the man sitting across me, he pushed a plate with a single cupcake towards me.

I stared at the cupcake, not making a move to actually eat.

"Listen, kid, I'm broke, so that's all you're getting," he says, causing me to look back up at him and narrow my eyes, "How do I know, you haven't mixed anything in this? Also, stop calling me a kid, I'm 15 and you look like your 18 or something, really not a difference."

He sighs, "you literally watched me buy that from the lady at the front, watched me as I walked back to my seat," yeah I did...He continues, "and you are a kid also I'm 22, thank you very much," child

Rolling my eyes, I shrug, I decide to eat the cupcake, shouldn't waste dessert, taking a bite, I chewed until... "Ohh no...Even I can make a better cupcake then this! How do they run this place?" I swallow the cupcake and push the plate away.

He looks offended and looks around to see if anyone heard me, "hey! Don't be so rude and I'd like to see you try, they're the best selling around here."

I stared at him gobsmacked, "do people around here just not have any sense of taste?"

He shakes his head at me, "Once again, rude and stop diverting from the real issue here, look kid, I know I'm a complete stranger, that you really shouldn't have Followed...Don't follow strangers, anyways what was that little thing back there."

I stayed silent, picking the tissues up from the table.

He continues, "what's up? Problems at home, school, parents?" Sighing he whispers to himself, "once again Joe, complete stranger,"

But he wasn't giving up, "fine you don't have to tell me but listen, kid, you're still young, you've got your whole life ahead of you, this right here, it's just a chapter, you've still got a whole goddam book to write,"

I was still staring at the cupcake, I get what he's trying to say and I understand, I do, but I just really can't be bothered with this chapter, right now.

I decide to break the silence, "the cupcake doesn't have any sugar..."

Groaning, he facepalms on the table, "You've got to be kidding me,"

"Time for dessert!" I jumped up, getting the box of cupcakes from the counter.

He rolls his eyes and shook his head at me, putting the last of the dishes away, "we literally just had pasta for 4 servings and you still have space for dessert,"

I nod, opening the box and placing it on the table, "ta-dah! It's...drum roll, please...Plain cupcakes made better!!"

He gasps, being overdramatic, "oh my gosh! I had no idea, Melody!"

should get going now, it's getting late," I stood up, staring outside at the setting sun

He nods, "yeah that's fine, it was nice chatting to you kid, if you ever need anyone to talk to, you know where to find me,"

I give him a side smile and nod, "yeah, at this shitty bakery,"

He sighs, "rude,"

"It was nice...the chat not the cupcake...Anyways bye," I quickly say, turning around and walking out, I turn around to see the name of the bakery, you've got to be kidding me!

'Joe's Horrible treats'

"Hey, Joe! The shows started!" I called, sitting on the couch.

"It's literally prerecorded, pause it!" He yelled back from the kitchen.

"The remotes to far away!" I groaned, my eyes on the screen, I know he's gonna come and rewind it anyways.

He came back with a bowl of popcorn and snatched the remote from the table while glaring at me, "lazy," passing me the bowl he rewinds back to the begin and takes a seat beside me.

"You staying over?" He asked, which I usually did, but not this time.

I shook my head, "nope, got a crazy dog that needs looking after,"

Not even bothering to ask he just rolled his eyes while shaking his head at me, "you don't even like pets,"

This one's different.

Hey guys, I hope I was clear with which parts were flashbacks.

Also once again sorry guys, I've been so bad with my updates😭

Thank you guys for reading, commenting or voting. Also, I hope all of you guys are safe and well, sending all my love and prayers for all you guys.💕😘