I took the bus in order to avoid walking past the bakery. The constant playing scenarios in my mind all ended with you seeing me and asking me if I liked the one cupcake I couldn't eat. I stared out the window, trying to distract myself from the feeling of butterflies in my stomach turning to gnawing confusion. 

What was it about you that was causing this feeling? How could I be falling for a woman? Is that what was really happening?

My mind also couldn't up with a scenario where this all made sense. It started to rain, as if to match my current mood. I sighed, I had forgotten my umbrella at work.

Maybe the rain will clear my head

The bus stopped just before the bakery, I allowed myself a quick glance but then disciplined myself to watching a man playing the guitar under the overhang to the coffee shop across from the bakery.

“Wow it really started to pour out there! Do you mind if I sit here?”

It was a strange feeling, that velvet song of yours causing me to melt and panic in the same moment. I stared at you for what felt like a lifetime. The rain touched you just enough to force your clothes to hug your body close. A few drops of rain ran down your face, one following the line of your neck and down over your collar bone. I blinked before I could watch it slip into your shirt, but my mind didn't have any problem deciding how that would look.

“O-Oh, no of course not”

You smiled as you sat down beside me, carrying the perfume of baked goods. Drops of rain continued to highlighting your body, causing my face to flush. I fumbled to grab a few napkins from my bag and offered them to you without a word.

“Thank you! Of all the days to forget an umbrella huh?”

I could hear your smile in your voice, but I couldn't bring myself to look at you. I simply nodded and gave a feeble smile. You dabbed the napkins along the spot where the raindrop suggested I look, but this time I didn't look away. Not even when you lifted the hair that was stuck to the back neck and ran the napkin over it, with such a look of relief.

“You haven't told me how you liked the cupcakes. I've been waiting days to see you!”

I shot up like I just recieved an electric shock. Another lifetime passed as I looked at your shining brown eyes, eager to hear my response. I had to swallow my heart before I could answer you.

“They were wonderful! I've never had cupcakes that good”

I answered you louder than I meant to, granting me a couple of looks from the other passengers on the bus. Your face lit up and my heart was back in my throat.

“I'm glad you liked them. I worked so hard to get that white chocolate raspberry recipe just right.”

Your proud face was just as fascinating as your determined one. I wanted nothing more to cup your face into my hands in the hopes that I could etch the feel of your skin with that expression in my mind. A sting of guilt dissolved that feeling, I couldn't tell you that I didn't eat the cupcake you were most proud of. I couldn't ruin that expression. 

“Truth be told, I've been working on that recipe for a competition that's coming up. I want to beat out a local rival of mine, Betty Fox. I always manage to lose to her but I think this year I can beat her, I just need the right recipe.”

Your words were strong and confident but there was a flash of doubt. I felt like I saw an expression I wasn't really supposed to see, one that you don't even show yourself much less the world. I searched my brain for something to say to make sure that flash didn't settle on your face.

“Do you need any help?”

Do you need any help?! What was I going to do? All I knew about cupcakes is how to eat them.

“Yes! I could really use a second opinion! I have so many ideas that I just can't seem to decide on anything.”

“Well, I would like to help...if I can.”

“Of course you can! This will be great.”

We exchanged numbers and you promised to text me later. You disappeared off the bus with a parting wave and smile. I was left feeling like I had seen a unicorn. Something you didn't think to be real until it was in front of your face but when it was gone, it left you wondering if it even happened. I stared at the number to put into my phone, it was my only proof that I had seen a unicorn after all. The rain didn't bother me as I walked the short distance back home from the bus stop. In fact, I twirled around in the rain as I took the steps to my door. My mind was too happy to be confused, my heart too light to carry the weight of worry and doubt. I grabbed a towel to dry my hair and thought about the raspberry cupcake still sitting in my fridge. I opened the door and gingerly pulled the box out. Guilt sparked inside me as I stared at the cupcake, this was the most important one to you and I didn't want to eat because I wanted to keep you close.

I want to keep you close?

My heart and mind began to get heavy. I shook my head and picked up the cupcake. As much as I wanted to keep that cupcake, I didn't want to be a liar. I wanted to see your smiling face. It truly was a delicious cupcake, bright and flavorful. I could tell you poured your heart and soul into making this cupcake and you gave it to me. Before I could take another bite, I heard the ding of my phone.

Hi! Would tomorrow be ok to meet up?

I almost dropped the rest of the cupcake. My mind had believed you when you said you would text me but my heart didn't. There had been many times that someone said they would text or call me and never did. Leaving me to question what I had done wrong. The ball of butterflies began to grow inside me as I began my text back to you. It almost erupted after I had deleted what I typed three times before hitting send.

Sure.

Sure?! I was so ashamed I put the rest of the cupcake back into the box. That's the best you could come up with?, I thought with my face sitting in my hand. I stared at my phone, more convinced with each passing second that you thought I was as much as an idiot as I thought I was. Then I heard the ding might confirm my thoughts

Great! Then the bakery at noon?

Sounds good.

It's a date then! :)

My heart pounded, I felt my eyes grow. Wait. A date?