Francy's p.o.v

Tuesday

Upon entering the cute bakery an instant wave of sweetness hit me. Ah.. it smelled like pastries, apples and cinnamon. And something else I couldn't put my finger on.

From mini croissants, cinnamon rolls, apple tarts, loaf breads,milk breads, bagels, sesame biscuits, sea salt pretzels, baguettes and breadsticks, the little bakery also had a whole row of different types of sweet muffins, Valrhona brownies, cream cheese muffins, eclairs and cupcakes.

There were also many other types of things that didn't even get the chance to see when the owners came out.

Lea's mom and dad, the Silvans, were the same age as mom and dad. Dad had summed up his friends with two words. Town's troublemakers.

While that might have been their reputation in the past, and they solely focused their work now in the bakery, they apparently still had a bit of flare left in them.

Dad was best friends with Lea's dad as kids and it was only years later he met Lea's mom. But dad says he saw every bit of mischief in her, that he saw in his friend. They were made for each other.

Life however was busy on both ends and they rarely saw each other these days. But that didn't stop them from helping out when they heard I was staying at the house for two months.

"Francy you could be by the desserts and..." Mrs Silvan started but Remi shook her head."No, no, no. Mrs. Silvan. There's no way Francy can be amongst deserts and not eat them. I'll take this part."

"Then I'll work by the bread and the savory pastries." I smiled.

Mrs. Silvan laughed. "Okay girls. As you wish. Tim is here to help you both as he works with us all year long. You can ask him for any type of help."

She walked over to Tim. He was an average tall guy with brown hair and a cute smile.

He seems nice. I looked at Remi. She had the same idea.

"Tim, these are Francy and Remi. The girls I told you about."

"Hi." He smiled.

We smiled back .

"You get ready and I'll tell you everything you need to know."He said politely.

We went in the back to change into our uniforms. Remi got the pink dress and the white apron and I was wearing the pale blue dress with the white apron.

"We should definitely get some pictures in front of the bakery with these uniforms on. We look adorable." Remi said slicking her ponytail back.

"I'll add that to the notes." I was playing with my uniform in front of the mirror and sighed.  "It's exhausting looking this good even in a uniform."

"Ugh same." Remi waved her hand.

We both laughed, walking back out hand in hand.  And so our work began.

There were four parts in the store. The cashier position was Lea's job but also Tim's job when Lea couldn't make it. The savory pastries part and the sweet pastries part was Tim's original job and the kitchen who was run by Mrs. and Mr. Silvan and few other bakers. So with Remi and I, we were really helping out during the tourist season.

Tim explained really well all we should be doing and how to do it.

When people started coming I was panicked a bit but they were kind enough to point at the bread they wanted, instead of just saying the name.

I had no doubt we'd fit in well.

Lucy's p.o.v

We entered through the same neon hall we had visited a few days before and made our way into the enormous gaming room. Now it officially looked like the underground gaming competitions I've seen before. There were already plenty of spectators that were here for some of the gamers.

We got our tickets checked and they handed two external drives to me and Ace while Halo got a smaller USB that looked like a key that contained a code for the game.

There were over 20 teams in the room. Every team had 5 people. That was a lot more from the small gaming competition I saw two years ago.

I felt the familiar tingles on my neck when someone was watching me. I glanced to the left and the guys instantly averted their eyes but remained unbothered.

Look like they haven't got the slightest idea who they're up against.

I observed the other teams as well. I didn't see familiar faces that I know or that would know me, then again there were way too many people. I doubt that any of these low-rate hackers had what it takes to go against me. It was the strategists I worried about and their influence over the gamers.

I didn't know Halo that well and I wasn't sure if she could handle the pressure once they pressed on her weaknesses.

"I'm going to need only the gamers to step forward from every team." The guy who ran the competition spoke in a loud but friendly voice that echoed in the room. You know those typical guys that run talk show kind of style.

Hallo stepped forward along with the other gamers.

"Take any seat please." He told them.

It was the elimination round first. Every gamer had to compete in a game. The first ones to pass the levels were going to go through the finals with the hackers.

It was why we needed someone really fast.

"Get ready.." The man said.

Halo cracked her fingers.

"Go."

The screens turned on with the game and Halo along with the other players started playing on instinct. Everyone had tensed up as the gamers played as fast as they could to pass the level.

I don't know if it was the pressure of time hanging over the heads, but I couldn't tell how much time had passed.

Suddenly a sound went on and the huge display of rankings showed Halo's name. She got up and turned around with a smile.

Yes!!!

"Yes." Ace hit my shoulder laughing. "First placement at that."

We passed through the elimination round with ease.

After we had cut down numbers to ten teams, different bodyguards took us to our seats and we were instructed to use the personalized items we were handed.

They served as keys to enter the system.

I glanced at Ace but he wasn't nervous at all. He had plugged the key in and was ready for whatever was to come.

I couldn't help but smile. Yep. I had the right team alright. I was going to find the bastard who made me do this and bury him deep into the depths of hell.

"I don't know why you're making that face, but I like it."

Hallo popped her bubble gum and winked at me.

"Get ready.."

The man said.

The gamers and the hackers were ready to start while the strategists were standing next to them ready to interfere.

"And go."

The screens turned on and the game had popped on Halo's screen. The game was always new and something they haven't played before to make it fair. It was incredibly difficult to play fast on an unknown game, but Halo was doing great.

I had gotten a few attacks from the other hackers but they were weak. I figured the really good ones were playing on defense today."

Hallo played as fast as she could, her fingers hitting the keyboard, her eyes scanning the screen and following the game.

She suddenly started murmuring something.

"What?" I asked.

"I said I almost got it." She yelled playing even faster and before I could react she hit the last three moves on the keyboard getting up and laughed at everyone. "Take that!"

Beeeeeng. Her name got extra points and she got the title of first ranked player.

"Yesssss." Ace got up and hugged her.

The second-ranked, the third-ranked and so on started popping up. But we didn't care about that.

We were first.

"Do I get an award?" Halo smiled at me proudly.

"Hell yes." Ace tapped her shoulder. "And It's on me."

"Good job." I told her and she just smiled happily.

I pulled out my phone and went outside to make a call.

As soon as the fresh air hit my lunges outside I dialed Francy's number. I wanted to tell her about the win and to brag about our rank.

The phone rang and rang but there was no answer.

Ace and Halo came outside in the meantime.

"Let's go eat. I'm going to buy anything you guys want. " Ace was still high on adrenalin with a huge smile plastered on his face.

"Yes, let's celebrate," Halo added.

"I'm um.." I looked down at the phone. "Sorry I have to go. Have fun."

I put the phone back into my pocket and then hurried to my car. I don't know what came over me but I drove over to Francy's house instinctively.

Shit. Why does this always happen when I'm upset?

I just drove over to her house hoping to see her, but she wasn't here and wasn't answering her phone either.

I still went over to the door and rang the doorbell..

Kai opened the door holding a bag of snacks.

"Hey."

He moved from the door so I could come in.

"Hi." I took off my shoes. "I'm here to check on the cats."

"I told Francy I was gonna take care of them." He muttered stuffing his mouth with snacks directly from the bag.

I laughed. "Yeah but you favor Pierre."

Kai just shrugged and headed for the living room.

I went straight to Francy's room knowing where to find the cats. Dorian was lazily spread on his cushion while Momo was staring outside the window.

"Momo." I called out to her and she instantly turned around and approached me, twirling around my legs. I picked her up and cuddled her. She closed her eyes and purred as I petted her in my arms.

I made my way to the bed and sprawled over Francy's bed with Momo on my chest.

"You miss Francy don't you." Momo opened her eyes and squinted sleepily then closed them again and nudged her head towards my hand to be petted.

Don't be so cute damn it.

Dorian suddenly noticed me and came over to be petted too.

He laid down next to me, leaning his head on my arms and went back to sleep.

The room has the smell of a scented rose candle. Here it feels like Francy only ran out for a moment and would be back before I blinked.

I closed my eyes just for a second. Other than the competition, these days all I could think about was the night of Francy's birthday when just for a second the world seemed to stop.

I went back and forth if I did the right thing.

Maybe I should have just let her have her way with me..it was the first time she has attempted undressing me and really going for it.

That must have taken courage.

Her body on top of mine on that dark night...

I opened my eyes and gave myself a slap in the face. I cannot be thinking about those kinds of things now.

Nope. I did the right thing.

"I did the right thing Momo." I told her. " Otherwise I would be in a different hell right now."

Momo ignored me.

I checked my phone again but there was no answer from Francy.

That damn network.