I turn on the TV and flip to the weather channel.

"Today, 90% chance of rain with temperatures in the 80's." The lady announces, and I turn off the TV, going to text Flanna.

Hey, want to come over for a sleepover? If you do, bring a swimsuit.

I walk to the kitchen, going to make myself a loaf of butter bread with the recipe Flanna loaned me. She's a baking genius! She made me copies of all her favorites, under one condition, I don't give them to anyone else. Or let anyone else taste them- especially not the Coopers.

Apparently, there's a huge baking festival/competition every year, and Flanna and the Coopers are bitter rivals. The Coopers are geniuses, and after a few slices/pieces of baked goods, can go home and replicate it by taste alone. It's freaky.

My phone bings and I see it's a text from Flanna.

Sure! Why the bathing suits tho?

It's supposed to rain, and summer showers are great when it's hot like this. I reply, going back to making the dough.

I'll be over in an hour Flanna replies, and I hum, going back to the bread, not bothering to reply.

Sure enough, in an hour, Flanna is at my door, a bag in hand.

"So, I was thinking. If it's gonna be a sleepover- then we movies! I brought my faves, and some other ones 'cause I don't know what you like. I also brought all the candy I could find! Is that bread I smell? Oh my god- you're using my recipe! That's great!" Flanna exclaims, jumping up and hugging me. I stumble and take a half-step back to keep us from falling. "Sorry for jumping suddenly! I'm just so excited! That's amazing! Do you like baking? Isn't it so rewarding?!" She laughs, bouncing on her heels.

"I just put the loaf in the oven a little while ago. The timer is set- so we have time to do other things. What first?"

"It's already raining, so let's get changed and go outside!" Flanna exclaims happily.

"Bathroom is under the stairs," I instruct. "I'll go change upstairs."

"Sure! See ya in a sec!" Flanna skips to the bathroom, and I follow her, climbing the stairs to my room.

I change into my swimsuit and find Flanna in hers, waiting in the kitchen. It's a one-piece, striped in bright, neon colors, with matching flip-flops.

"Wow, Linnie~ You're so pretty! How are you so pretty in everything?" Flanna whines jokingly before grabbing my wrist and running for the backdoor.

It's pouring out, but the sweltering heat makes it feel like a giant shower. The grass is soft and wet, and I can hear frogs happily croaking in the distance. I don't know what it is- but the rain just makes all my stress melt away. I can't help but smile.

"Oh my god, Linnie! You're so pretty when you smile!" Flanna gushes, and I chuckle.

"I think everybody is! C'mon, tag! You're it!" I boop Flanna before running off into the field, laughing. She chases me, yelling for me to slow down so she can catch me, laughing along.

"Almost, Flanna!" I shout, dodging her last second, and immediately slipping in the grass. I fall into a mud puddle and burst out laughing. "I guess this is what I get for teasing you!" I giggle, and Flanna laughs along before booping me.

"Come and get me, Linnie!" She shouts before running off into the field. I laugh and slip and slide while I try to stand up. I do, eventually, and continue to chase Flanna in the rain.

This goes on for a while until both of us are tired and we go inside and get cleaned off. Lucky for me, the mud stayed wet and washed off fairly quickly. I change into one of my nightdresses and come downstairs to find Flanna in one of her own- purple and fuzzy, with a unicorn and rainbows patterned across the front. She's sitting at the kitchen table, swinging her feet.

"Hiya, Linnie! I think we came in just in time, the bread's almost done! Doesn't it smell delicious~?" It does, in my opinion, there is no better smell than freshly baked food- no matter what it is, cookies, cake, bread, croissants, anything. And this was heavenly, light and buttery, I could practically smell the heat emanating from it.

The timer goes off, and I grab my oven mitts, opening it up and pulling out the loaf of bread. I take it out of the tin and put it on a drying rack to cool for a minute- so it's still warm, but won't burn us.

Once it's done cooling, I cut us both a slice, and the butter melts when it touches the bread, making it ridiculously easy to spread. I sit next to Flanna, and give her a slice, we eat them, melting in out chairs. It's delicious... Light and fluffy, but filled with flavor, soft and squishy, and the butter compliments it perfectly... It's heavenly, I don't think I'd ever had anything like it.

When our slices are gone, I look over at Flanna, and she shrugs.

"A few more slices couldn't hurt." She says, and I nod, getting up to cut us a few more.

It's a shame that loaf of bread didn't get the chance to cool completely.