It was less than a 20-minute walk to the bakery. The first few minutes were complete awkward silence. Denver glances to Ben again. There is a curious sensation in her. She wanted to know Ben, know everything she could.

"So, is it just you and your mom?" Ben asks her.

"Yeah,". Denver shrugs. "There is my mom and I. Robin too. She is my mom's best friend. She is kind of like my adopted aunt". She pauses. "What about you? Do you have family in town?".

"My parents and my little sister Ella" Ben replies.

"Must be nice, having a complete set of parents" Denver states.

"Your dad would be proud of the person you are" Ben assures her. "I'm sure of it because I'm pretty impressed with the person you are".

                  In front of them, a couple cars carefully direct themselves around the corner of the road. Some cars were pulling into the school parking lot and other cars were venturing downtown. Another car appears and pauses, allowing them to cross the crosswalk.

"Hey baby" Emma greets, while they enter the bakery. Emma completes cleaning off another small oval table by the window.

"Hi mom". Denver continues to hold the door for Ben. "I brought a friend from school. Is that okay?".

"Yeah, its fine. If you two are hungry, there are cookies in the back" Robin answers.

"Chocolate chip. D's favorite" Emma adds.

"There are enough for both of you. I promise" Robin tells them, while Denver leads Ben into the backroom.

     Denver collects a clear plastic tote, while held spare silverware and napkins off the shelf. She places two napkins on the big metal table, besides the round metal Christmas themed cookie tin.

"You know, I think I just hit the friend jackpot" Ben comments, while she lifts the lid up on the tin. "I never tasted such awesome baked goods like these before".

"Not a real baking household" Denver assumes.

"Well, most of the baked goods are premade and from Pillsbury" Ben informs.

"Lucky for you, everything here is handmade and from one of the top bakers in town" Denver replies.

"Do you bake? Make anything here" Ben asks.

"Yeah, I help stock things and bake sometimes" Denver answers.

"What do you assist in baking?" Ben asks, curious.

"Uh, I....I help make cookies" Denver answers, quickly. She collects another cookie from the tin and keeps her view down at the table.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to put you on the spot" Ben apologizes, noticing the inquire bothered her.

"No, its fine. I just lied. I don't know why I did that" Denver replies, quickly and anxiously.

"Hey. No problem. I'm just here to be your friend. I'm not here to judge you" Ben explains.

"You desire to be my friend.... interesting, I believed you were here for the yummy baked goods" Denver half jokes.

"The cookies are just an added bonus" Ben classifies, collecting another cookie.

"You should take some cookies home for Ella. I'm sure Robin wouldn't mind". Denver relocates to collect a Ziploc plastic bag for him.

"As long as it's okay with her. Sure" Ben replies.

A couple minutes later, Robin enters the kitchen.

"It's okay if Ben takes some of the cookies, right?" Denver asks.

"Sure. Less for me to pack away later". Robin ventures over to the sink and begins to tend to the few dirty dishes residing there.

"Do you need help? I usually do the dishes at home" Ben half asks. A phone buzzes from his pocket. He checks it.

"No sweetie. I got it handled" Robin answers.

"Okay. Look, I should head home. See you at school D" Ben states, while he collects the Ziploc bag off the table. "Thanks for the cookies".

"Anytime" Robin replies, while he leaves.

Then Denver returns to sitting at the table.

"Did Ben leave?" Emma asks.

"He had to head home. He seemed like a nice boy" Robin answers, turning off the sink.

"He is a good guy" Denver confirms.

"Ben seems like a potential first boyfriend. What do you think Em?" Robin half asks.

"It's up to D here. Are you in love D?" Emma asks her daughter.

"In love with Ben? I just meant him, today actually. Being in love with him would be a quicky ridiculous response" Denver explains.

"Being in love isn't ridiculous. It's amazing" Robin corrects.

"D, please don't be so serious. Robin and I are just teasing you. You'll find that special someone eventually. I did" Emma explains.

"Do you think you'll find a second special someone?" Denver asks.

"Maybe. Right now, I just want to focus on you. You're my priority" Emma answers.

"But I'm growing up. You don't need to put your life on hold, like before" Denver points out.

"That's true," Emma replies, knowing Denver was right.

Denver departs her seat and hugs her mom. "I love you mom. I just want you to be happy. I'm going to head home and start on some homework".

"Okay baby. I'll join you in a little bit" Emma tells her.

       Robin and Denver exchange a goodbye. Robin waits till Denver is out of earshot. A white dish towel is set on the table.

"You raised a wonderful daughter, who by the way makes a good point. How long has it been since he passed?" Robin half asks.

"Almost 4 years". Emma pauses. "I know D makes a good point. But I just can't get myself to move on without feeling guilty".

"He'd desire you to move on. You know that" Robin reminds.

"Yeah, I know. God, can we end the conversation here? Coming back was supposed to be a fresh start for my daughter and me. Not a reason to be stuck in the past" Emma explains, snappy.

          Robin cleans up the few remaining items around kitchen. Emma stands there, quietly. Robin collects her coat, shuts the lights off and says good-bye to Emma for the evening. Hours later, another morning begins. Denver departs her room, prepared for another day of school. Emma is found to be sitting on the couch with a mug of coffee in her hand.

"Good morning mom" Denver greets, setting her bag on the other end of the couch.

"Morning honey" Emma replies.

"Are you okay?" Denver asks.

"After you left last night, I wrongfully snapped at Robin. She didn't deserve that" Emma answers. "I'm just a crappy friend".

"Robin knows whatever was said, you didn't mean. You're stressed from moving and originally we had a plan. We'd all come back. Now its just us" Denver expresses.

"We were given a cruel dose of life" Emma decides.

"We did and we're going to get through it. Just apologize and everything will be fine. You'll see. Now I got to get to school". Denver heads into the kitchen.

"Leaving early, aren't we? Seeing Ben, are we?". Emma leaves her coffee mug on the coffee table and relocates to standing in the kitchen doorway.

"Yes, I'm leaving early, and I'll probably see Ben. I'm leaving early to get in some extra studying" Denver replies.

"You know, he is welcome to come over to the house" Emma tells her.

"I'll let him know". Denver grabs her bag from the living room and heads off to school.

          When Denver arrives to school, she sees Ben hanging out with Monica. She questions their relationship. But then she decided it wasn't her business. At the picnic table she spots her old friend and decides to try at a reconnection.

"Hey Riley" Denver greets, nervously. "How are you?".

"Fine". Riley collects her bag, which sits on top of the table. "I have to get to class".

"School doesn't begin for twenty minutes. Please don't leave. I want to talk to you" Denver tells her.

"You've been gone for a long time. After you moved, we lost contact. You didn't bother to reconnect. So, you moved back. Great. But don't believe you have the right to decide if our previous relationship is revived. I decide that" Riley explains. "Bye Denver".

       Denver stands there, aware she needs to take some of the blame for the recent structure of the friendship. But the cold welcome didn't sit well with her. A couple minutes later, Ben appears and greets her. He asks if she is okay.

"Yeah, just trying to reconnect with an old friend. We lost touch and I didn't exactly inform her, that I was returning" Denver explains.

"I'm sure your friend just needs to settle with you being back" Ben decides.

"Probably" Denver agrees.

They both venture into school.

"Ella really liked the cookies, that you were nice enough to let me take home" Ben informs.

"Really, that's good. My mom desired you to know, that you're welcome to come over to the house anytime" Denver replies.

"Cool. But I'm usually babysitting Ella after school. So, I might have to be a weekend venture" Ben tells her.

"Ella could come over. I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind" Denver suggests.

"Well, I'd have to check with my mom and Ella" Ben replies.

"Hey, its fine. No pressure" Denver assures him.

Monica appears in the hallway and presents them each with a greeting. "So, Ben. I was curious if you'd join my friends and myself at lunch today. Jess desires to chat with you. Sorry Denver, invitation only".

"C'mon Monica. Don't be so petty" Ben tells her.

"I'm not. I'm just respecting my friend's wishes". Monica walks around them. "See you at lunch".

"I'm not going to sit with them" Ben decides.

"Sit with them. I don't care". Denver adjusts the way she happens to be carrying her books.

"No way. They aren't getting the satisfaction. I'd rather sit with you anyway" Ben replies.

       Now the lunch period begins, Denver claims a seat at an empty table in the middle of the room. She sets her lunch pail on the table and opens it. A couple tables away, the three queen bees eagerly wait for Ben to join them. Jess catches Denver's eye and nods.

"Hey. How has your day been?". Ben sits down, claiming the seat beside her.

"Dull. I got a pretty good grade on a history test" Denver answers.

"Yeah. What'd you get?" Ben asks.

"B minus" Denver answers, proudly.

"Wow. Really? That's great" Ben half asks.

"Yeah. I thought I earned at least a B. How was your morning?" Denver half asks.

"My first period was a study. So, I completed some homework. Then I went online. Of course, before Monica hijacked my time. She desired to show pictures of her Instagram feed from last weekend".

"People can be addictive, when it comes to their social media accounts. I mean, I have a few. But they aren't very active accounts" Denver explains.

"I don't have any social media accounts. Not my thing". Ben leans back in his chair. "Though Monica keeps trying to express social media has a positive affect".

"You spend a lot of time with Monica," Denver notices.

"School, family outings" Ben lists.

"Oh, she has meant your family. That's nice" Denver replies.

"Of course. She is my family. We're cousins" Ben half informs. "What? Did you suspect Monica was my girlfriend?".

"Slightly. Only because you two seem to spend so much time together" Denver confesses.

"We both promised our mom's, we'd watch out for each other. But the promise labels me nosy" Ben explains.

"Are you coming on a bit strong? That can sometimes cause tension" Denver half asks.

Ben shakes his head. "She is just mad because I informed, I don't trust Jess".

"I don't trust Jess" Denver confesses.

"Really? But I'm so harmless" Jess comments, appearing at the table.

"Mind if we sit?" Monica asks, while Jess and Amanda each pull out a chair. "Great".

"Go ahead, sit" Denver tells them, after exchanging a look with Ben.

"So, Benny. Jess desired to know if you fancy anyone here at school" Monica informs.

"Looking to play matchmaker Jess" Ben assumes.

"No, just curious" Jess replies.

"Oh, Jess. You so want to play match maker". Amanda picks up her carton of chocolate milk from her tray.

"I wanted to ask you Ben. If you'd be interested us hanging out together this weekend. Just us" Jess replies, unconfinedly.

"Well, um I don't know what I'm doing yet" Ben tells her.

"Jess is up for anything" Amanda assures.

"Yeah, we can just hangout downtown" Jess suggests.

"Alright. Sure" Ben agrees.

        During Saturday afternoon, Denver sets down her Kindle Fire on the table. She begins collecting ingredients for completing a simple sugar cookie recipe. Emma joins her daughter in the kitchen. A black Kitchen Aid mixer is set on the table. Then she collects a couple of metal mixing bowls. Emma hovers in the doorway.

"I never thought of you as the baker type" Emma comments, while Denver collects materials.

"Not true," Denver replies.

"You only bake if you are stressed, bothered about something or unwilling to accept the truth about something. What is the issue babe?" Emma half asks.

"There is this girl, Jess. She is like the queen bee, I guess. She desires to hang out with Ben this weekend and that's fine. But I worry because he seems like such a good guy. He doesn't deserve to be taken advantage of". Denver opens a bag of flour.

"Sounds to me, like you might be developing feelings for Ben" Emma understands.

"He is just a friend, that I care about. I don't want to see him get hurt. Besides, he doesn't judge me like Riley" Denver explains. "I tried to reconnect with Riley and failed".

"Carmen stopped by the other day, suggested we should all have dinner together. But nothing is concrete. I can cancel".

"I'm sure Riley just loves that idea". Denver goes quiet as she proceeds to measure the amount of flour she requires. "Speak to Carmen. Maybe, I'll have a better chance at reconnection outside school". Then she begins to measure something else.

          A few weeks past and Denver finds herself to be standing on the doorstep of her previous best friend's house. The doorbell rings. There is the sound of footsteps, nearing them.

"Emma, Denver. Come in. Carmen is in the kitchen, finishing up. Riley is in her room" informs Carmen's husband.

"Okay, good. I'll go see if Carmen needs help" Emma states, after hanging up her coat on the coat rack beside the entrance. Emma collects the plastic Tupperware of brownies from Denver. "Why don't you go talk to Riley?".

"Sure," Denver replies, heading toward and up the staircase.