“Good morning,” Jules’s voice rings out above the chatter from early morning customers as I enter.
I give her a little wave, taking my place in line. I pull out my phone to check the time and see that I’ve got thirty minutes before I’m supposed to be in my first class. I fan my T-shirt against my skin, the sweat gathering as nerves set in, and when I make it to the counter, I’m rethinking the need for any caffeine. I feel like the Energizer Bunny right now.
“First day?” Jules asks as soon as I get to the front.
“Can you tell?”
“You’re sweating more than a whore in church.” She laughs as she hands me my coffee, a little hazelnut creamer in it, just like I like it.
“How would you know? You been to church lately?” I shoot her a grin as she holds up a middle finger behind the counter, and I give her a wave over my shoulder.
Twenty-one minutes to go.
Getting in my car, I try to take a sip of my coffee and accidentally spill a little in my crotch. Thank goodness for black pants.
I park on the school grounds and barely make it to class on time. I slide in the door of the classroom with minutes to spare.
“You’re late.” The tone is not friendly.
I grimace.
I pull my phone out to check the time, knowing I had about two minutes left until I was late, but the voice cuts me off, “Take a seat there. Hurry.”
I book it to a seat and sit, eyeing the girl next to me as she gives me a conspiratorial wink.
“I’m Andi,” she whispers.
I smile. “Pepper,” I say before turning my attention to the front, where our instructor sits, glaring at me.
“If you two are done gossiping, let’s get down to business,” he says before turning to the desk behind him and grabbing a stack of papers.
Grumpy professor aside, I’m ecstatic to be sitting here. This seems like it’s finally the first day of the rest of my life. I know that’s so cliché, but for as long as I’ve wanted this, to actually be here, living it, it’s the happiest I’ve ever been. I don’t want to let anything overshadow it. I just want to live in the moment.
The introductory class passes quickly, and we get our course syllabus, showing us what to expect. We have several trained chefs that will teach us and provide demonstrations. They’ll supervise us in the kitchen, and I’m most excited about getting to work with all different kinds of ingredients. I can already tell the baking and pastry class will be my favorite since it’s what I want to do.
We tour the state-of-the-art facilities that we’ll train in and meet the rest of the staff. We will have homework to take home and be able to try out recipes on our own. Basically, I’m in heaven. This doesn’t even feel like actual school.
There are about ten other students in the class, and I think that this could be good, a place to make friends with like-minded people. I breathe a sigh of relief. I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be, and that’s one of the best feelings.
“Gah, that went fast,” I say to Andi as we pick up our stuff. “I wish we had gotten to cook today.”
I’m chomping at the bit to get started.
“I’m glad you ended up coming in. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t get a partner and would have to suffer through Chef Ramirez alone,” she says.
I laugh. “I don’t think you would have made it. He’s a little uptight.”
“A little?” She looks at me, eyes wide.
I snicker. “So, Andi, I’m new to these parts, and I don’t have any friends. Unless you count my cousin and his family or my roommate and his dog.”
“Wait, your roommate is a guy?”
“Yes. He works with my cousin. Unfortunately for me, I think I’m in love with him.” I roll my eyes.
“In love?” She raises her eyebrows. “I thought you just moved here.”
“Okay, I’m being dramatic. He’s just a friend. Anyway, his dog really likes me, so I’m thinking he’ll put a good word in for me.”
I smile brightly, and Andi laughs.
“You’re crazy. I think I like you.” She grabs my arm and pulls me along behind her. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” I scrunch my nose up as I shuffle my feet to slow down.
“To your place, obviously. I’m invested in this soap opera you’re living in.”
Well, that escalated quickly.
“Hold up. You don’t even know me. I could be a serial killer.” I stop and raise my pointer finger. “Or you could be the serial killer.” I narrow my eyes.
Andi laughs and swats at my finger. “The only cereal I kill is my bowl of Cocoa Pebbles in the morning.”
She wraps her arm around mine, and I almost feel normal again since moving hundreds of miles from home. I think that this just might work out.
Andi throws her stuff in the backseat of my car and makes herself comfortable, plugging her phone into my auxiliary cord and starting some music as I navigate us back to my apartment. I’m not sure how I went from zero friends here to picking up two in the span of a week and a half, but I’m glad it happened.
“Okay, friend-audition time,” Andi says suddenly.
I furrow my brow. “Come again?”
“Well, we have to make sure we’re compatible as friends,” she says with a shrug.
“Shouldn’t we have done that before you jumped in my car to come home with me? Speaking of, how are you getting back to your car? I didn’t sign up to drive you all around town.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Okay, rapid-fire questions. I’ll ask, and you say the first thing that comes to mind.”
Looks like she’s someone who talks as much as I do.
“Okay, I’m ready,” I say, gripping the steering wheel and focusing.
“Favorite color?” she starts.
“Purple.”
“Favorite dessert?” She
