the art of falling for you (bxb)

one - meeting you

the art of meeting you

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Dexter's Bakery had been the main hotspot for any sort of savoury snacks since before I was born. I could remember all the childhood trips into the city with my parents and brother, sitting on a stool near the exit as we devoured cake after cake. So when I started at NYU, I knew exactly where I wanted to work. Before lectures, I'd always stop by to help Mrs Dexter with the morning shift and baking, before returning back in the evening for rush hour. The old lady always tried to pry me away, but I truly enjoyed the time I spent here, and I cherished those memories even more after she died.

I'd been two years into my degree when she got sick, and the bakery's future was uncertain. I couldn't let it go to waste, and neither could her family. Her granddaughter, and my best friend, Hendrix fought her parents endlessly for the lease, swearing to keep up her grandmother's legacy even after she died. We worked endlessly for months, coercing all of our friends into joining our endeavour to save the place that we both adored. We invested in new furniture, advertisements, everything to try and give our safe haven the name that it deserved.

And now three years down the line, I could proudly say this place was my second home. Both Hendrix and I co-owned Dexter's and the business was insane. We'd managed to hire some more students to help run it while we committed to extra occupations and work.

Today was one of the rare days that I was alone. Hendrix was busy annoying her girlfriend and attempting to finalise her art piece for an auction coming up, while I was certain the others had just made up any excuse to not have to work.

I preferred it like this, though. The familiar aroma of the building felt peaceful, relaxing, which was almost certainly needed after the morning rush.

"Are you done sniffing the air yet?"

I jumped, almost falling into the cabinet as I turned to glare at the person who'd entered without my knowledge.

"Fuck off, J." I muttered, not being able to hide the smile threatening to spread across my face even though I tried. "Bitch."

"Wow. I've fully blessed you with my presence and that's the response I get? Rude." They laughed, shaking their head as I kissed my teeth.

Jem tends to have a flair for the dramatic at times, but I loved them all the same.

"Blessed? More like cursed." I bit back a smirk, shaking my head.

"Where's Drizella today?" Jem hummed as I made up their usual order. They handed me the usual seven dollars as they started to eat one of their cookies.

Drizella, also known as Hendrix Dexter.

Hendrix Dexter was my best friend. It's that simple. We met in College officially when she punched someone in the face because they were making fun of Jem and, alas, a great friendship was formed. She stuck to me from the start, like glue. It didn't matter how much I tried to shake her off, she wouldn't leave. But, in all honesty, I wouldn't want her too. Hendrix was loyal and dramatic and chaotic, she brought entertainment into my once very dull life and her grandmother provided me with my own little safe haven. I started working at Dexter's long before I met Drix, not knowing her family connection to it. So when Jennifer died, I knew I couldn't let that place go so easily. We bought it together, we ran it together. She's more of a sister to me than a best friend and damn was my life better with her in it.

"Ali's got a day off work so Hendrix wanted to see her." I explain, cleaning the mantlepiece. Jem had arrived just after the morning rush so I got a few moments to just relax. "And she's got an art piece to finish for the Gallery, so good luck with dealing with her tonight. You'll need it."