There was a soft mist rolling over the campus grounds as Gizel walked up to her school building. Her breath is visible in the cool air as she lets out a sigh. “It’s to early for this.” She pouts before opening the large doors and finding her classroom.

Once there she sets her things to the side and adornes the apron on the table. Mari’s replacement just watches her from behind a Women’s Health magazine. “Good morning, Miss Greenwood.” The replacement, Chef Walker, says in her breathy and semi-annoyed tone. “Early as ever I see.” Gizel just gives the woman a smile and pulls out a book from her messenger bag.

They both read in silence until other students start to flood in. “Good Morning everyone.” Chef Walker says in a monotone voice. Gizel only looks up when a shadow casts over her page. She looks up to the person who’d chosen to sit beside her. He was tall, even when sitting he towered over her five-foot-four self. If her math was correct he was probably... six feet tall? “U-um. Hello.” She says, putting her book back in her bag. “My name is Gizel. Gizel Greenwood. You must be a new addition?” She asks, putting a hand out to him. “Or maybe you’ve just been sitting behind me all this time?” She gives him a smile as she watches his green eyes look from her hand to her face. His gaze was striking, like lightning flashing through trees, only to be sightly hidden by his chestnut hair, to which he’s tied up into a ponytail. He makes a huffing noise and turns to face the front, ignoring her hand. “Fang.” He says in a monotone voice.

Gizel slowly lowers her hand and her face drops a tad. “Ah. Then you must be new then.” She tries to sound chipper and not hurt, though she could understand putting up a wall and being shy. “Well, if you need help, just tap my shoulder, alright? I don’t want to brag but I’m pretty good at this stuff.” She jokes. He lets out another huff, grabbing the apron off their shared table and tying it around his large frame. Gizel furrows her brow, opening her mouth to says something when Chef Walker speaks up.

“Alright. Today’s skill test is on Black Forest Cake. You have your recipe in front of you. Make sure you share and remember, I’ll be eating them once you’re done.” She crosses her small, but mighty, arms over her chest. Everyone nods and then gets to work.

Gizel blinks at the man beside her as she takes in his full appearance. As previously established, the man was tall and most likely older than Gizel was. She could see some stubble on his tan face and his ponytail had a curl to it, which she found oddly cute as she starts to put the ingredients out onto the table.

She turns to her work, finally done gazing at the hunk of marble beside her when someone taps her shoulder. She looks her her side and there he is, staring down at her. “Sugar.” He says, pointing to the sugar on the other side of Gizel’s body. His voice was gruff and ridged, almost like a rough growl. “Ah, yes, of course.” Gizel stutters out, moving the sugar closer to him.

He squints at the bag and then the recipe. “D-do you need help?” Gizel asks, watching him struggle.

“No.” He barks at her. “I can read.” He grumbles.

“Th-that’s not what I was trying to imply, I swear.” She stutters out. “But if you forgot your glasses or something then-”

“No!” He barks again before taking off his apron, throwing it onto the table, and storming out of the room. Gizel was shocked to say the least at his abrupt exit. There’s a silent pause in the room before the noise picks up again, however, Gizel just stays still, as if frozen in that moment.

“-eenwood?”

“-s Greenwood?!”

“Miss Greenwood!” Chef Walker yells, snapping the poor girl out of her shocked state.

“Y-yes?” She stutters out, looking to her teacher.

“Get back to work. If he chooses to leave, which he has, then he can.” Chef Walker says before going back to her magazine. Gizel takes a deep breath and goes back to work.

✿❅✿❅✿

Gizel moves swiftly towards the tree she and Malcolm were supposed to meet at. He told her not to worry about getting him food, but she also remembered how he’d said his mother was a bad cook, so she’d made an extra lunch for him.

She makes it to the tree and see the outline of someone leaning on it, she smiles, thinking it to be Malcolm. “Malco-” She stops herself as she comes face to, well, chest with the man who’d stormed out of her classroom earlier. She held her breath under his piercing gaze.

“Do you want something?” He asks in a low tone. Gizel tries to say something when she notices smoke coming off his lips.

“Is that a vape pen?” She blurts out before her brain could register her words. Her face goes bright red as his goes into a look of shock.

“I’m sorry, but what?!” He shouts. “No this is not a vape pen! It’s an E-cigarette! Who in their right mind tries to quit smoking through a vape pen?!” Hot tears of embarrassment fill Gizel’s eyes.

“I-I’m sorry.” She blubbers out, her bottom lip quivering and small tears start to roll down her cheeks. Fang’s eyes go wide.

“O-Oh shit. I’m sorry.” He mutters, running his hand through his hair.

“Y-You shouldn’t swear.” She stutters out through her tears.

“Fuck. Sorry. I mean-shit-AH FUCK!” He gives a string of curses as he tries to apologize to the red headed girl. She sniffles, trying to wipe away the tears. “Hey.” Fang’s voice was soft for how gruff it was as he takes her small wrists in his large hands. Even through her teary haze she could see how drastic their skin tones were. It was like putting white chocolate next to caramel, or peanut butter. Lord she was hungry.

“Calm down. I’m sorry I scared you.” He says, looking down at her. “It’s just that I-”

“Gizel!” Malcolm's voice rang in her ears. She takes her wrists from Fang and turns to the sound of her boyfriend’s voice.

“Malcolm?” She continues to wipe away the tears.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Ember? Did something happen?” He asks, putting his hands on her shoulders. Gizel shakes her head.

“He-” She turns back to look at Fang only to find him not there. “There was a man here. He scared me and started yelling and-” Malcolm cuts her off by turning her back to look at him and brings her into a hug.

“I’m so sorry you got scared. Come on. Let’s eat.” He pulls back and gives her a smile. Gizel finally gets her tears to stop and nods, managing a smile.

“Yeah. I made your favorite.” She reaches into her bag and gives him the packed lunch she’d prepared for him, which was full of all kinds of goodies.

“Smells great, my little Ember.” He teases, wrapping his arms around her for a moment before taking the food from the blushing redhead.

“It was nothing. Really.” She says with a shy smile, swaying from foot to foot, biting her lip to hold back her girlish laughter. Malcolm laughs and sits on the stone that surrounds the large tree beside them.

“It’s not just nothing.” He smiles and pats the space beside him for Gizel to sit, which she does. “It’s a delicious meal made by my adorable girlfriend.” He pats her shoulder before digging into the bag of food. Gizel looks at her boyfriend with a soft smile.

“Well, I’m glad you like it.” She cheers before opening her own lunch. She takes a deep breath as a soft gust of wind blows through her hair. Yes. This felt right. This was right. This was her proper life, nothing could take this away from her. This was her peace and perfection. Yes.

Perfection.