89

Sophia’s POV
One Week Later
I had somehow managed to survive the week. Not only was I baking on my own, but Bia also let me create some new desserts myself. I experimented with puff pastry, sugar icing, and fresh fruit. Some things turned out better than others, but Bia had a knack for selling. Bryan was supportive as always, though his sarcastic commentary never ceased. The moment he tasted the chocolate croissants I made, he was hooked.
While Bia had known my real name for a week, she never pushed me for more. Bryan took my sudden name change with a shrug and a lopsided grin, saying he liked Sophia more than Sarah. Initially, I just listened to their jokes and bickering, but now I was joining in. Each night I left the store, I smelled like roasted cinnamon and freshly baked puff pastry. I couldn’t imagine a better smell-well, I could think of one, but I refused to dwell on my life before this little town.
Countless nights I dreamed of the twins searching frantically for me. Each morning I’d wake with a new pain in my chest, just another thing to spend the day ignoring. True to her promise, I hadn’t heard from Silver since the day I left. Not that I’d ever admit this to her, but I was beginning to miss the annoying voice in my head. She felt like an extension of myself. Some days, when I was feeling particularly down, I’d try to reach out to her, fumbling through the dark recesses of my mind. It felt as though she were just out of reach, avoiding my outstretched hand.
On my last day at the motel, Bia managed to find me a little house to rent. She was familiar with the owner, a big burly guy named Ray. The house was practically falling apart, but I couldn’t argue with the rent-three hundred dollars a month. It had withered boards, cobwebs in every corner, and a kitchen big enough for one person. The furniture was minimal, a bed and a couch older than my grandma, but it was mine. I loved that I could come and go as I pleased without fear, not having to worry about drunk step-dads or insane ex-girlfriends.
The bakery was open Monday through Friday, as Bia and Bryan were both in college. Bia had just turned nineteen, while Bryan had turned twenty-one a couple of months ago. Their parents owned many stores in town and got Bia her own bakery as a birthday present. While their parents were often busy, they treated Bryan and Bia kindly. I hadn’t met them, but Bia had told me enough.
“Crap, Sophia, I need a huge favor,” Bia sighed, tossing a bag of cannoli filling onto the prep table. Her phone was pressed against her ear, her white apron covered in a healthy spattering of cinnamon and nutmeg.
“What’s wrong?” I called out, pulling a tray of miniature cherry pies from the oven and placing them on a table to cool.
“I just got a last-minute order from Kelly at the nursing home,” Bia groaned, pulling off her apron and tossing it on an empty prep table. “I’m not going to make it back for closing. If you need any help, Bryan can walk you through what to do.”
Kelly managed the small but fancy nursing home in town, and I had learned of her three days into working at the bakery. She often placed large orders for the employees and residents, usually at the last minute, causing Bia and me to scramble.
“I don’t mind,” I shrugged, giving her a genuine smile. “I’ve helped you close enough times to remember.”
“Just don’t turn the freezer off,” Bia sighed, patting the flour off her dark jeans. “The last time Bryan closed, we had to come in at two in the morning to replace all the melted cakes.”
“It was one time, Bia!” Bryan yelled from the register, “One time!”
“Yeah, and I learned my lesson,” Bia snapped, then mumbled to herself. “Can’t trust him with anything important.”
“Don’t worry,” I chuckled, grabbing the piping bag to continue filling the cannoli shells. “Everything will be just fine.”
“Alright,” Bia sighed, giving me a reassuring smile. I continued where Bia left off as she piled assorted pastries into a large cake box. When she finally finished, she called out to Bryan before leaving the shop with a wave.
“Take Sophia home tonight, Bryan!” Bia called out, the door jingling as it closed.
Bryan and I spent the next hour dealing with the dwindling crowd. As soon as the sun began to set, the crowd walking the streets would thin out. After placing many trays of tarts, cookies, and little cakes into the refrigerator, I tossed my apron onto an empty prep table. While Bryan counted the till, I wiped down the tables and booths.
Just ten minutes before Bryan and I prepared to leave, a girl walked through the door. Jake had long ago flipped the open sign to closed, but he seemed to recognize her. Long chocolate hair with deep honey highlights, she looked around Bia’s and Bryan’s age. The smile on her face was light and contagious, her hazel eyes ringed with a deep green.
“Bryan!” The girl grinned wildly as she caught Bryan’s eye. “Already forget about me?”
“Actually, I did,” Bryan chuckled. “Let me finish counting the till really quick. Carmen, meet Sophia, Bia’s new pastry minion.”
I rolled my eyes at Bryan and gave Carmen a small smile. Once Bryan finished counting the till, he slipped his jacket over his shoulders and walked over to us.
“You forgot about our date, didn’t you?” Carmen raised her eyebrow at Bryan but seemed unsurprised at his forgetfulness.
“I did,” Bryan grinned sheepishly, making Carmen chuckle. “I just got to take Sophia home first.”
“Our movie starts in ten minutes,” Carmen frowned.
“Don’t worry about it,” I shook my head and gave them a reassuring smile. “It’s a ten-minute walk at best, nothing I haven’t done before.”
“Are you sure, Soso?” Bryan frowned, using the nickname he called me by.
“I’m sure,” I chuckled, “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“Don’t tell Bia,” Bryan called out, a pleading grin on his face. “She’ll kill me if she finds out I let you walk.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” I smirked. “Don’t forget to lock the door.”
“You’re just as bad as she is!”
I left the bakery with a smile on my face, wondering how Bia managed to be younger yet more mature than Bryan. I had always found Bryan attractive, with his sun-kissed hair and dimples that appeared whenever he smiled. There had been plenty of customers that caught my eye, but none seemed to evoke a response within me. My hands would no longer sweat, and my stomach would no longer erupt in butterflies.
The street was nearly deserted as I walked past the darkened shops. A few stragglers lingered on the streets, most likely heading back to one of the motels down the block. This town seemed quite the tourist attraction during the day, but lacked any kind of nightlife. The air was crisp and thick with humidity, making little beads of sweat form at the back of my neck.
I walked past the darkened shops, the bright colors washed out by the darkness. I hadn’t noticed the heavy footsteps behind me until I turned the corner and walked a couple more feet. Not wanting to fully turn around, I tilted my head and glanced out the corner of my eye.
Two figures-much too large to be women-were walking behind me. I told myself not to be worried; there were still a few stragglers walking down the road, and they could be headed anywhere. There were a couple of motels and gas stations by the little shack I lived in; they could be heading there.
My stomach dropped as another dark figure turned the corner farther ahead of me, walking in my direction. Normally this wouldn’t have phased me, but all three were dressed exactly the same. Each wore dark-colored jeans and thick boots. A dark sweatshirt covered their torsos, the hood pulled up around their heads. Each of them walked with purpose, unlike the tourists that meandered from shop to shop. Not only were they dressed the same, their scents were nearly identical-male musk combined with something… different.
“Shit, Sophia, run!” Silver’s voice echoed in my head for the first time since I had left.