★ LOVE STORY ★
MORNING TEA

          elaine was a totally morning person, but not by choice. It was almost as if the sunlight captured her like a moth to a flame, entranced by beams of light that glittered across the water's surface. And trapped in those rays were her own musings; grief, ache, utterly horrendous, traces of a life long past that could pass you in the blink of an eye.

     The emphasis is on could. Because Elaine's past life didn't pass her by quickly. She thought about it constantly. She couldn't help it. She found no peace. At no time, except in the morning when baking.

Baking in the small pastry shop at dawn was peaceful because the morning was quiet. There were no noisy customers , no orders or documents that she had to take care of that only gave her a headache. There were no dark dreams that she always had when her eyes were closed, but as she stirred the frosting she couldn't help but think about it.

     Yes, even in the morning when she found herself in peace for a few hours, these thoughts came. They always came. Any time and Elaine couldn't stop it. She didn't know how. She couldn't get away from these thoughts.

     Why hadn't they told her? Why wasn't she inaugurated? Why was she always treated like a little child? Elaine could have helped. She could have done something, she would have been there sooner, she could have done a crucial point differently. But that hadn't been the case. She was to late. She had only found darkness, death and sadness.

     The snow had been soaked in blood. The sky was almost black and Elaine was crouched in the middle of it. Her bare knees were already completely red, burning from the cold snow. Her eyes filled with tears and her hair stuck to her aching face. Elaine sat there for a long time. She didn't moved, she just sat there. The snowflakes settled in her hair and the scent of dried blood filled her nose. The smell of a fight that you could only lose.

She hated him. She hated everything about him. They were all just test subjects for him... not people. He had never done anything for them. He had never wanted to help them, he had always just wanted to help himself. His experiments.

     The last thing Elaine could remember from that night were beautiful white wings. A gentle wind and a melodious voice. It was suddenly warm and she felt peace, freedom. She looked up at the sky and an Anemo Vision appeared before her eyes. A gift from the gods. A gift from the Anemo Archon. Barbatos, the God of Freedom.

Freedom, yes, that was actually always what Elaine wanted. And now she had this freedom. She had his gift arrive and of course she hadn't managed to defeat him, but she had managed to escape.

As mentioned, all of this was quite a while ago. But Elaine always thought about it. Every night she saw the same scenes, felt the same pain. She had traumatic experiences behind her, but they weren't really in the past. For Elaine, they were still present.

»Pardon..?«

     She jumped in shock and almost dropped the packet full of sprinkles. Had she forgotten to lock the door behind her? Actually, she always did. After all, the store didn't open until three hours after she arrived

    Elaine put down the packet of sprinkles and walked from the small kitchen to the front of the counter. A young man stood behind it. Light blonde beautiful hair, dreamy purple eyes and a big black hat. Lyney. Everyone in Fontaine knew him. He was a magician, did a lot of shows and her grandfather didn't like him or his sister.

Elaine didn't know why, what the reason was. Lyney was always nice to her. Too nice. Too charming. Too flirty. Not that Elaine minded. Oh no, it didn't bother her at all, but every time she talked about him or when her grandfather saw the two of them talking, Elaine could clearly see the ever-growing vein in his neck.

     So you could say that Elaine knew him from both good and not so good experiences. He had also been to the pastry shop a lot lately. Every now and then he bought a few tarts, cookies, pies, muffins or even tea. Weird that he was there so early. He should know that they weren't open yet.

»A wonderful good morning Miss Elaine.« He smiled politely, had one hand behind his back and tilted his head slightly downward. He always greets her like that. Always polite. Always with a smile. »I'm early, aren't I?«

He was indeed too early. Elaine glanced at the clock hanging on the wall to the right. One hour before the store opens. »Well, a little bit, yes.« But she didn't mind seeing him so early. She really liked looking at him.

»And if I say very kindly please?« He pulled out a rainbow rose from behind his back and held it out to her. Lyney had that certain smile that was difficult to return. »I just need two small cups of black tea. Add a little sugar to one.«

The one with sugar was for him. His sister drank tea straight. If you had the same customers every day you knew something like that at some point. And even if Elaine knew that her grandfather didn't like them and even if it was still far too early, her grandfather would still serve Lyney. A customer was a customer. And you had to keep loyal customers.

»Of course, two teas. One moment.«

»Wait.« His voice made her pause. »You forgot something, Miss Elaine.« Lyney still held out the rose. It wasn't the first rose she got from him. Did she feel good every time he gave her one? Yes. Was that ridiculous? Yes! »For your trouble early in the morning.«

Elaine gratefully accepted the rose. She couldn't let him notice that his flirting attempts of the last few months were having an effect. »I wouldn't say trouble, but thank you.« She took one of the glasses, filled it with water and put the rose in it. Then she made the tea. One with and one without sugar.

»Why are you here so early?«

»Someone has to take care of the cakes.« Elaine poured the tea into two to-go mugs and turned to Lyney. »How can it be that you're already awake so early after that long show yesterday?«

A smirk crept onto Lyney's lips. »Do you know this so well because you were there or because you stalk my life?« If she hadn't had such good self-control, she would have been blushing right now. He leaned against the counter and rested his right hand on his head. "I wouldn't mind if you stalked me, my love."

My love. Yes, she liked it when he called her that. She got goosebumps every time and had to try hard not to show him. But no Elaine wasn't stalking him. Not really. And she hadn't been to the show either. She had never been to a show before. Not because she didn't like magic. She was sure Lyney looked great on stage! More because she didn't have time and her grandfather probably wouldn't like it. And her grandfather was all Elaine had left. She couldn't lose the last member of her family for an extremely charming, handsome guy.

»There are flyers all over town,« she said amused, putting the to-go cups on the counter.

Lyney shrugged. "I still wouldn't mind being watched by you."

Elaine swallowed. He always knew exactly what to say to leave her speechless. »I-is there anything else you want?«

»Oh, yes.« A mischievous smirk crept onto his lips. "But I'll tell you that another time.. I was wondering if you still have those little raspberry tarts. Lynette loves eating them.«

»I hmm no, I still have to bake them, but.«

»You still baking some today? Fantastic! I'll pick up ten of these at the evening, alright?« Lyney talked so quickly that Elaine could barely keep up. She liked that about him. When he got excited. »See you later, Miss Elaine.« He smiled and Elaine... she now had to bake ten raspberry tarts. As if she didn't already have enough to do.

     But first, Elaine finished baking the cake she had started before Lyney disturbed her peace. Not that he had really bothered her or that he had annoyed her. No, Lyney was the most exciting thing in her entire life. Exciting but unattainable. And apart from all that, he was also one of the tolerable customers. Someone you were happy to serve, even a few hours early. But that's probably just what Elaine thought.

So Elaine prepared the frosting for the cake and distributed it evenly over the cake. She sprinkled the sprinkles on the cake that she had almost dropped earlier. Then she cut it into small, straight pieces and placed it at the front of the cooled display cabinet with the already finished baked goods.

     She turned on the radio that was in the left corner and turned the sign on the door to "open". She knew from experience that the first customers only arrived in half an hour. That was enough time to make the dough for Lyney's raspberry tart. She actually didn't want to do this today. She wanted to bake mango tarts, but she barely got a word in with Lyney.

»I see you've been busy.« It was her grandfather's voice followed by the small bell above the door. »Please don't tell me you were here four hours early again.«

Elaine shrugged. »I couldn't sleep anymore.«

Her grandfather sighed. He knew all too well about her nightmares. »Then you finish today a few hours early and enjoy the sunny day.« It was actually pointless to argue, but Elaine couldn't leave early today. She had to give the tarts to Lyney.

      »I appreciate your concern for me, but in the evening... well Lyney ordered some raspberry tarts.« She could tell by the look on his face that he didn't like it. But Lyney was a customer like any other, she couldn't have said no. And yes, she didn't want that either. »A customer is a customer, right?«

     »He's been here a lot lately... the rose is from him?«

»Hu?« Elaine followed his gaze. Oh! Yes, the Rose was from Lyney. »Lyney was already here and bought two teas.«

A snort came from her grandfather. »Put it away, I don't want it here.« Elaine had long ago given up asking why. She just accepts it. »All right, make his order, give him the tarts later, but tomorrow I don't want to see you here until 11 a.m, understand?«

     Elaine nodded. She placed the glass with the rose at the back of the kitchen and continued baking while her grandfather served the first customers. She had been in the kitchen all day because she had a lot of orders to complete today. And! She had to deliver all these orders. But Elaine was happy to do that. This gave her some fresh air.

It wasn't until the evening, when all the customers had already left and her grandfather had gone home, that Elaine arrived from her last delivery. The sun was already setting and the streetlights of Fontaine glowed dimly. It was warm outside and many people were still out. Elaine had seen children playing at the fountain, lovers sitting on the lawn and talking, friends going for a walk. Some people ate ice cream, others drank chilled drinks and others came back from a long day at work like she.

Shit. Lyney's tarts! She quickly went to wash her hands, took the dough out of the fridge, shaped it and then put it in the oven. As soon as she had closed the oven and climbed onto the small stool to reach the upper shelves and tidy up, the little bell above the entrance door rang.

»Miss Elaine?«

»One moment!« As soon as she said it, there was a loud rumble and a quiet Ouch. Her long pink hair, which reached down to her knees, stood disheveled in all directions. Her bangs was full of flour, as were her white gloves that reached just before her elbows. Her white pink dress with purple and gold ornaments was covered in frosting and her stockings that went up to her thighs were a bit dirty from the floor. Her pink, purple hat that she always kept pressed to the left side of her head lay on the floor among the colorful sprinkles. And Elaine herself, yes she also was on the floor.

»Are you hurt?« Elaine raised her head. Lyney knelt down on the floor next to her. This has actually happened to her several times. She shook her head. »So not hurt, great!« He offered her his hand, grabbed her hat with the other, and helped her get up from the sticky floor.

»Thank you.«

»Oh, not for that, Miss Elaine.«  He blew the flour from her hat and placed it on her disheveled hair. »Pretty as always.«

A tiny smile crept onto her lips. »Your raspberry tarts are almost ready, I'm sorry but I didn't manage to bake them in time.«

»Oh, that is no problem! I can't wait spending a little more time with you.« He gave her a smile. »So tell me! How was your day, a lot to do? I've been here a lot now and you looked more and more tired every day.«

»Is it my imagination or is that actual concern in your voice?«

»Hmm of course, my love!« Lyney put his hand over his heart. »I'm so worried about you, I come to check on you every day.. Which leads me to my question! Do you want to come tomorrow?« Elaine looked at him with a raised eyebrow. »To a show, everyone likes magic.« She didn't answer him. She simply turned away from him and walked to the oven. She couldn't look at him when he invited her. He would just notice that she definitely wanted to come. He was not allowed to see how much she wanted this.

»I could reserve a ticket for you and then we also could.«

»Lyney,« Elaine interrupted. »I'm sure a lot of pretty girls would be delighted with such an invitation, but you and me?«

»You and me.« He placed his hand gently on her shoulder and turned her to face him. Elaine was frozen. Lyney ran his hand down her right arm, down to her hand. Locked it with his. »That sound's lovely don't you think?«

Of course she thought so too. But she couldn't admit that. And she couldn't be this close to him any longer. Elaine let go of his hand and took a step back. »L-let's just be the charming customer and the friendly baker.«

He smirked. »All I got from this is that you find me charming.«

Elaine laughed. It was a nervous laugh. A laugh that should cover up all her other feelings. She packed the little tarts in a pastel blue box. »So here, ten raspberry tarts.« She handed him the box. And Lyney? He accepted the box and push his fingers against hers.

»I'll still leave a ticket for tomorrow evening, just for you.« He bowed slightly and saw her trying to suppress her smile. »I look forward to tomorrow, my love.«