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Packing, Baking, and Braiding
Back to: Radio Edit Next: Mending of the Hearts
Chapter 20: Packing, Baking, and Braiding


It shouldn’t be so hard to decide what to pack. Part of the problem was that there were so many choices. Alarie dug through her dorm drawers looking for outfits suited for warmer weather. Shorts, tanks, and sandals were all appropriate items, but then there was the matter of what to wear for the casino. She definitely planned on looking fabulous as she tried her luck in Pandora.

It was a good thing she was going to her parents’s house that night because she had a lot more clothes to decide upon stashed in her old wardrobe. When moved to university, she couldn't fit all of her clothes into the small dorm room. The sudden vibration of her phone caught her attention from where it lay on the desk. She picked it up and answered, “Hello?”

“Have you been avoiding me?” Rafael’s voice filtered through the receiver. He sounded agitated.

“No, I’ve just been busy,” Alarie explained while digging out a cute pair of panties to add to her duffel bag, “I’m going to Pandora this weekend with Leona and Illyana and have to figure out what to pack.”

“You didn’t tell me you were going to Pandora!”

“Do I need your permission?” She rolled her eyes.

“It’d be nice to know at least. Maybe I wanted to spend time with you this weekend and planned a big romantic outing but because you didn't tell me your plans, I now have to find someone else to take to Kashmire Point,” Rafael stated bitterly and Alarie found the tone suspiciously close to whining.

“Take one of your bros,” she suggested without sympathy. He could have texted or emailed her; she was known not to always have her phone around so couldn’t be expected to answer every call. She did also not feel obligated to tell him her weekend plans if he was okay with just going off to the beach with his fraternity brothers without mentioning anything every so often.

“Fine, I will!” He responded indignantly.

“Did you call just to yell at me or was there something you wanted to discuss?” She snapped, she didn’t have time for Rafael’s tantrums.


“I was calling to see what you were doing this weekend but it's no use now…hey, is there going to be a lot of guys where you are going in Pandora?” He asked suddenly seeming concerned.

“I smell your insecurities and it’s not attractive,” Alarie said dryly. She really did love Rafael—had been dating him since she was seventeen, and they'd had their share of tiffs over the years. She was jealous when he had first gone to college and joined the popular Hoh Fruhm fraternity, a place where he was surely exposed to many beautiful women more mature than her. She couldn't help but feel jealous that he was attending parties she could not. They partied in different social circles and it caused tension but at the end of the day they either decided to break up or stay together and it had been on and off for several years now.

Her comment had subdued him instead of riled him, and she was thankful for it.

“So, can we get together when you return? It’s Fall Break after all,” she heard him exhale to calm himself then ask.

“Definitely. I will call you on my way back into the valley and we can go for drinks or something,” she agreed. He had to slip her phone between her shoulder and ear to free her hands so she could add her basic overnight hygiene items to her bag.

“That sounds like a plan,” Rafael agreed and then he paused, “I love you. Sorry that I yelled.”

“I love you too,” she replied and smiled to herself before hanging up.

She planned to meet Leona at the Blackwheel bus station where they would then get on a bus to Isla Del Kashmire together. Neither Alarie nor Leona had their own vehicle so relied on other means of transportation to get around the region, thus the reason they needed Illyana to drive to Pandora. Leona would be coming to the station from Sim State University and Alarie would be arriving from Academie Le Tour. She had told her mother that she and Leona would be spending the night at the house and then Illyana could pick them up early in the morning so that they could head out to the desert city six hours south.

Alarie pushed the last of her clothes into her bag, pulled the cords tight to lock everything in, and then threw it over her shoulder. She was ready for a well-deserved break from school. School was just another thing in her life that she had no real negative or positive feelings for. It was just there, something she had to do to get on with life.

Leona was already sitting on a bench in the Isla Del Kashmire terminal of the Blackwheel bus station loop when Alarie got off the connecting bus. It didn’t seem like she had been waiting very long.

“Hey girl!” Alarie waved and headed toward where Leona sat with her roller suitcase. It was much bigger and Alarie bet that Leona was bringing twice as many outfits, she did, after all, have a concert to sing at. With Edric King no less! Alarie was ecstatic for her friend and on some deeper level, jealous of her talent and luck to be a part of something bigger.


“You packed light,” Leona commented as Alarie sat down next to her on the bench.

“You packed heavy,” Alarie laughed and shot back, reaching out with her foot and toeing the roller suitcase, “Did you bring your whole wardrobe?”

“I brought all my options. Maybe you and Illyana can help me pick what to wear for the concert?”

“Don’t they have like a wardrobe department or stylist you can use?” Alarie asked.

Leona hadn’t considered that. She’d just always worn what she wanted when she sang but this might have been a big enough deal that Edric King would need her to wear something specific for a backup singer. So she just shrugged. Alarie brushed her hair from her neck, thinking she would have to do something with it. It was much too thick and long to wear down in the desert. Her fingers felt the texture of the braid running around the side of her head and she got an idea.

“Can you braid my hair tonight?”

“What?” Leona laughed, not expecting such a request.

“Yeah like milk-maid type braids that I can just wear all weekend. I’ll boil to death if I leave my hair down, it’s as heavy as a rug.” Alarie explained.

“You’re exaggerating, but sure, it will be like we’re in grade school again,” Leona giggled, “Having sleepovers and braiding hair. All we’re missing is…”

She stopped her voice from completing the thought. She didn’t want to remind herself of what they’d be missing. Because she missed it too much. She missed him.

Alarie didn’t need to ask what she had meant, but she hid a knowing smile from Leona as the bus pulled into the station.

--------

Alanna had always been a big fan of eating sweets before they were baked, cookie dough especially. So it was a small kind of torture being instructed to hold a bowl full of the sweet temptation while Franz decided what else to put into it. They had run out of counter space due to the large baking project they had spent all afternoon on for the bake sale the next day. They had already gone through scones, muffins, turnovers, pies, brownies, and lemon bars and now were on the last batch of cookies.

“Why can’t we just make them regular chocolate chips?” She wondered.

He looked around the kitchen thoughtfully and shook his head, “It needs to be something more unique, we already have too many chocolate chip cookies.”

Alanna had to disagree but didn’t voice it. There could never be too many chocolate chip cookies.

“If the point is to sell them, wouldn’t simpler be better? Everyone likes chocolate chip cookies!” She protested.

He gave her a sideways glance and then picked up a bag of raisins and Alanna took a horrified step backward, clutching the bowl to her protectively as if it were her child, “No! You are not going to ruin these cookies Franz Schoulsburg!”

He shrugged one shoulder, took a few raisins out of the bag, popped them into his mouth, and then grinned while he chewed them.

“You told me that everything I baked was delicious, was that a lie?”

“I never thought you would be blasphemous enough to put raisins into chocolate chip cookies,” Alanna made a disgusted face. Obviously, she was not a big fan of raisins.


“Fine,” he set the bag down much to her relief, and instead picked up a bag of chopped almonds, “Will these be an acceptable alternative?”

She nodded, nuts were a nice enough companion ingredient and she held the bowl outward. Franz stepped forward and started shaking almond bits out of the bag.

They were using her parents’s kitchen since Franz didn’t want his mother to know about the bake sale, or how they were doing it all for her. Alanna thought it was a sweet thing to do and didn’t understand Franz’s insistence on keeping from her. His mother’s kitchen was much bigger and better prepared to handle their stock of baked goods.

At least she was hanging out with Franz again. With Fall break basically upon them, she wouldn’t have daily assignments that took up her free time. Though Franz didn’t ever seem outwardly bothered or disappointed by that fact, she could tell he was when she had to decline his invitations to go to the bookstore like they used to. Baking with Franz was a good activity despite the sad circumstances for it, it was actually fun, and the result was always delicious.

Just never when raisins were involved.

Franz must have baked some bread earlier that day; Alanna caught the scent of it on his shirt since he was standing near enough. However, she didn’t know if he had made it for the bakery or for his culinary class at the community college. He shook the last bits of almonds out and told her to stir the dough once more. It was harder the thicker the dough became, and it was too thick for a regular mechanical mixer.

When she was done, she handed him the bowl and he began to scoop out the cookie dough and lay it with precision into little rows of balls on a baking sheet. Since he didn’t need the stirring spoon anymore she quickly coveted it and started licking the extra dough off of it, relishing the sweet, soft, buttery taste.

“So this is the last batch?”

He nodded wordlessly, as he filled the last space on the baking sheet with a scoop of dough. He picked it up and slid it into the oven. Alanna grabbed the timer and wound it to 15 minutes, then set it on the counter next to the oven. Franz turned and saw her continuing to work on cleaning the spoon of the cookie dough and made a small chuckle.

“What?”

“You have some cookie dough on your face,” he replied. Alanna left the spoon in her mouth and quickly wiped at her face, seeming to hit just about everywhere except the actual place he was referring to. As he maneuvered past her, he reached out and brushed the spot just underneath her lip, clearing it away for her with his thumb, “There.”

She laughed and thanked him before throwing the spoon into the sink with the rest of the dirty dishes they had made. Franz started bagging the scones and turnovers he had baked earlier that were now cool enough to touch. Alanna joined him to help, though she should have probably gotten a start on washing the dishes. One of the stipulations of them using her parents’ kitchen was she had to clean every last dish that had been used before she went off to the bake sale tomorrow.

She planned on spending the night in her old room, waking up early and taking the goods to sell outside of the Mocha Chip Coffee Shop with Franz. She had already asked the owner if it was okay and they agreed. She had been a long-time patron of the little coffee shop and since they didn’t sell baked goods–just coffee–it wasn’t like she and Franz were affecting or competing with their sales. It might actually improve them, what with people needing something to wash a baked good down with a drink.

When a stretch of the counter was cleared and clean, Alanna checked the timer and found about five minutes were left. Franz pulled himself up to take a seat on the countertop. He’d been on his feet nearly all day and let out a deep sigh. Alanna leaned against the counter next to him, “How is your mom doing?

His large shoulders shrugged. Understandably, he didn’t seem to want to discuss it. She bit her lip, feeling bad if she had upset him by asking.


In an uncharacteristic movement, he suddenly slumped forward with his hands covering his head. His fingers were running anxiously through his hair, seeming like he was trying to ease a headache away.

“Franz? What’s wrong?”

He was quiet for a few long moments, and she knew he was thinking of what to say. They could clearly hear the evening news from the living room where her parents were watching. Her parents had been kind enough to keep out of the way in the kitchen while Alanna and Franz were baking, in addition to letting them use it and make a big mess of flour, sugar, and various fillings. They had ordered a pizza for dinner instead of interrupting the flow of the baking.

“I…I…don’t know if she’s going to be okay,” his voice finally cut through her thoughts, it was low-pitched as usual but it cracked with emotion as it wavered. He stared hard at the kitchen floor, “She won’t tell me how she is. I think she doesn’t want me to worry but it’s ten times worse when I don’t know anything at all.”

Alanna felt a lump form in her throat seeing him so distraught. She couldn’t even begin to imagine how awful he was feeling. She lifted herself to sit on the counter next to Franz and put her arms around him while resting her chin on his shoulder to try and comfort him–to convey her utmost sympathy but she didn’t say a word because there were none she could think of that would help.

Franz was not a touchy-feely type of person, he was usually content to maintain minimal contact with others, but that was mostly a result of him not having a lot of opportunity to show and receive physical affection as he grew up. He hugged his mother on rare occasions, and he didn’t ever have the inclination to hug Fauna. He’d never even been kissed!

She had found that fact out about him when they were discussing a book they had both read when the romantic subplot came up. He had offhandedly admitted to her didn’t see the point of the characters kissing more than once because he got the gist of it the first time. When she explained that’s just how it’s written to convey the realism of being in love, he still held the same sentiment. She had laughed at his attitude and called him unromantic but he just agreed with her assessment.

Alanna had found out that despite his preference for minimal physical contact, he would tolerate her embraces. She had hoped it was because they had been friends long enough that he was comfortable with her doing it and got some sense of ease or enjoyment out of it. She enjoyed hugging Franz in any case—he was like a large, warm, plushie toy that only the most skilled people at carnival games could win.

“Holy Plumbobs, what did you do to the kitchen?” They heard Alarie ask and Alanna quickly sat up straight in surprise at the sight of her sister and Leona coming into the house.


Alarie threw her duffle bag onto the dining table and walked into the kitchen to survey the mess they had yet to clean. Leona was dragging a rolling suitcase behind her. Their father appeared, hugged Alarie, and then slightly chided her for putting her duffle bag on the table and told her to take it upstairs, which she waved off and assured she would. Leona waved out a brief greeting at them before heading up the stairs.

“We’re baking,” Alanna answered matter-of-factually.

“Are you spending the night here?” Alarie asked and crossed her arms, completely ignoring Franz. It was nearly uncomfortable the way the guy stared at people.

“Yes, why?” Alanna responded. It was uncanny how Alanna looked at her with nearly the same, neutral expression. It was just one of the mannerisms Franz always had that seemed to rub off on her over the last few years.

“Leona is sleeping over, but I was going to have her use your bed. If you are staying over too, where is she going to sleep?”


“Why are you even home?” Alanna asked. She hadn’t seen her sister in months. They went to school at different campuses and Alarie hardly ever picked up her phone when Alanna called.

“We’re going on a road trip tomorrow and have to wake up early. Illyana is picking us up. I’m consolidating!” Alarie explained, “Why are you home?”

“I come home nearly every weekend,” Alanna reminded her, though it wasn’t like her sister paid attention or cared about that fact no matter how many times Alanna had heard her parents complain that Antoine and Alarie never visited. Alanna just found it a better studying environment during the weekend, being in a familiar place and not having to be interrupted by the girls in her dorm.

“Of course you do,” Alarie sneered, “I’ll just grab one of our old sleeping bags for Leona then.”

Alanna disliked how her sister unfairly suggested through tone that it was Alanna’s fault that Leona had to sleep on the floor. If they’d just asked, she would have let Leona sleep in her bed.

The timer went ’ding’ signaling the cookies were ready to be taken out.

“What was that about?” Franz asked and slid down from his seat on the counter to get the cookies.

The unnatural frown on Alanna’s face lifted and she looked a bit sheepish for being caught in a mood other than her usual cheeriness. Her tone, however, was not indicative of cheer.

“Alarie thinks I’m perfect.”

“What’s wrong with being perfect?” Franz asked as he crouched in front of the oven to see how the cookies looked.

“I’m not perfect!” Alanna insisted and turned her back on him, her frown reappearing.

“Okay. You’re awful. Absolutely horrid,” Franz said evenly but she could tell he was being sarcastic.


She appreciated that he was trying to find humor in it but it was serious. All her life people seemed to think she could do no wrong. The truth was she hated disappointing others and tried not to do wrong by them, but then somewhere along the way she became one too many teachers’ pets, a regional science fair winner, or the chess club president, and then people thought she was too good for them, too intelligent, too pretty, or too kind—and it made it difficult to try and make friends or any meaningful relationships. Franz was the only person who seemed to see her for who she truly was and engage with her in a normal fashion. Not like Reggie, her sister, or their acquaintances.

“I’m serious. Perfect is just an impossible expectation,” she grumbled.

“That you have somehow achieved,” he said, again his voice was a deep monotone that most would take for seriousness but it was pure sarcasm. “Even when you can’t eat cookie dough without it getting all over your face.”

She had to grin at his snark. How could anyone accuse Franz of being boring, emotionless, or robotic? All they had to do was spend a little time with him and see he was full of character, and in fact, was really amazing.

--------

Alarie had dug out an old sleeping bag for Leona and placed it in the middle of the room between the two beds. She didn’t ever think she would have to share a room with Alanna after high school but here they were. Alanna had finished up the dishes and had gone out with Franz, probably to do boring nerd things like read books to each other–leaving Alarie and Leona to pick through Alarie’s surplus of clothes.

After finding a decent amount of options for Alarie to choose from to complete her vacation outfits, they changed into their pajamas and sat on the sleeping bag in the middle of the room. Leona brushed Alarie’s hair behind her shoulders and began parting it out for braiding. It was something it seemed like she had done a hundred times since they were little girls. Her father had braided her hair when she was a child and she didn’t like the way he had done it so taught herself better ways since Alarie had roughly the same hair type, just a bit thicker, Leona would practice different braids on her friend.

“You sure you want the milk-maid style?”

“Yeah, and make it as tight as possible too. I don’t want to have to do anything with my hair over the weekend,” Alarie instructed.

Before Leona could start in on the actual braiding, they heard knocking. It was so loud that it drifted up to the second floor where they were.


“What’s that?” Leona momentarily let go of Alarie’s section of hair and stood up to listen closer from the doorway.

“I think someone is at the door?” Alarie guessed, not seeming very curious.

“Who?”

“Well, why don’t you go down and open it and find out?” Alarie leaned backward onto her elbows and smiled.

Leona frowned, “It’s your house, why don’t you answer it?”

“You’re closer to the door,” Alarie replied.

Leona arched her eyebrows, thinking it ridiculous that Alarie was so lazy that she wouldn’t open her own front door when only a few feet further away than Leona was. Mr. and Mrs. Thackery were already settled in their bedroom, and they were a floor higher and probably didn’t hear the knocking. Alarie had on a grin, which could have meant anything at this point.

“Fine, but it’s probably just Alanna and she locked herself out,” Leona rolled her eyes and went downstairs. The knocking was consistent and heavy. A lot heavier than she would have suspected Alanna of. If she thought about it more, Alanna was much too responsible to get locked out and probably had her own house key. Leona had a sudden, definite doubt the person knocking was actually Alanna.

She hesitantly turned the knob, not knowing who to expect and as she opened the door her body seemed to freeze—all except for her hands that flew to her face in utter surprise at the sight of him.

“Hey there, songbird.“

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