Varlouise pinned her long bang up out of her deep indigo eyes.  A small smile spread on her face as she began to hum, breaking two eggs into the batter.  Her song was contagious, catching on with everyone else at the bakery immediately.  They watched the 19-year-old spin happily as she skillfully whisked the eggs into the chocolate batter.  Her light blonde hair, with odd brownish red streaks, flounced as she spun and hummed.  The sunlight timidly shone in through the small window of the old bakery, lighting up her face.  Each worker could not help the bright aura her presence brought, smiling joyfully.  A loud slap made everyone stop and turn, Varlouise stopping midwhisk and midturn, awe on her beautiful face.
"And what is going on here?" A harsh American accent stabbed from the tightly pulled lips of Mrs. Dubose.  "Why are you not at your station, Var-louis?" Varlouise cringed at the pronunciation of her name, but silently went back to her station.
"Excuse moi, Madame.  I apologize." Varlouise thick French accent poured from plump, pink lips as the French girl apologized for the third time that day.  "I got carried away." Mrs. Dubose huffed, her gray hair pulled into a bun as tightly as she pursed her lips.
"Get carried away one more time and you'll be taking out the garbage for the rest of the week." Mrs. Dubose sniffed snobbishly as Varlouise gasped.
"B-But Madame!  Est le lundi!  I mean...it is Monday!" Varlouise saddened at the thought of not being able to bake anything for a whole week.  Not to mention how much less she would be paid.
"That is not my problem Var-louis.  Now back to work." Mrs. Dubose sniffed one last time before turning and exiting the kitchen, her sharp heels clacking as she made her way back to her office.  Varlouise's grip on her whisk tightened as she pouted her lips, turning angrily back to her cake batter.
"Varlouise?"" The girl turned to see her friend, Matt smiling weakly at her.  She sighed but still glared as she floured her pans.
"Elle est une sorcière!(1)" Varlouise angrily patted the pan to cover it with the whole grain flour.  Matt sighed and leaned against her station's counter.
"I know, I know Varlouise.  But, she is like that to everyone when they begin working here." Matt tried to comfort Varlouise, but his feeble attempt was unsuccessful.
"Mais elle harcle beacoup moi (2)!  J'ai mal à la tête (3)!" Varlouise furiously poured the batter into the floured pans.  Wiping her hands quickly on her apron, she opened the oven.  Matt sighed this time, looking at her pitifully.
"I'm sorry for that Varlouise.  I hope she gets that stick out of her—" Before Matt could finish his sentence, Mrs. Dubose walked out of her office, her eyes focusing in on Matt.
"Matt.  Get back to your station before you spread your disease." With that remark, she marched past them and into the front of the bakery, where the early customers were waiting.  Matt's face was laced with hurt.  Varlouise pecked his cheek and patted his shoulder.
"It's not a disease.  I know it, you know it, and your partner knows it." Varlouise smiled, pushing back her problem, which was very small compared to the insult Mrs. Dubose had served to Matt.  Matt smiled at her weakly, his face laced with only slightly less pain.
"At least she didn't say anything worse." Sighing Matt pushed away from the counter.  "I'll be at my station if you need anything.  Varlouise smiled at her blue haired friend as he swayed to his station.  Varlouise giggled lightly as she began mixing together another batter.
By the time lunch break came around, Varlouise was worn out from her morning of baking.  Picking up her ebony purse, Varlouise hung up her apron and went to Matt's station.
"Matt, I'm headed to lunch." Varlouise smiled lightly when Matt nearly spilled some glaze he was heating.  He looked at her, a light flush to his cheeks.
"Oh!  Let me finish up quickly and we can go to lunch together!" Matt grinned and hurriedly finished the glaze, drizzling it over his small round cake.  Hanging up his apron and grabbing his messenger bag, Matt dusted off his jeans.  Varlouise took his arm and led him out, giggling at his need to be perfectly neat.
"You know, since you look so nice today Matt," Varlouise noticed Matt's smile and continued, "I was thinking you could invite your partner out to lunch with us.  That is, if he isn't busy today."  Varlouise smiled as Matt's face completely lit up and he nodded vigorously.
"Would you really let Tim along?" Matt's face was nearly too much and Varlouise could barely hold in her chuckle.
"Oui oui, mon ami." Varlouise squeaked as Matt hugged her tightly.  She straightened out her turtleneck as Matt pulled out his cellphone, speed dialing his partner's number.
"Tim?  Yeah.  Would you like to join Varlouise and me for lunch?  What?" Matt's face fell slightly and he nodded.  "Yeah I understand.  No it makes sense." Varlouise frowned, a sympathetic look falling on her face.  "Yeah.  Of course.  See you at home." With those finishing words, Matt clicked his phone shut.  A small sigh escaped his lips and Varlouise leaned on his shoulder.  A small tear rolled down his cheek and Varlouise brushed it away.  "He didn't even say I love you before hanging up.  Do you think he doesn't love me anymore?" Varlouise punched him lightly on the arm.
"Don't even joke about that mon ami!  He definitely adores you!  Who wouldn't?" Varlouise said.  Matt frowned and shifted his bag.
"Well obviously Mrs. Dubose.  I don't think that Ginger is too found of me either." Matt stated, his face grim.  Varlouise huffed and stopped him.
"Now see here mon ami.  Madame Dubose is just a  sorcière.  Now Ginger, she is but an insignificant bug whose opinion should not matter.  She can't even bake a cake as well as you, and she's been working there for 3 years.  You've only been working there for a year."  Varlouise lightly hugged Matt before playful hitting his cheek.  "You know just how much you mean to Tim." She sighed and smiled.  "And of course, how much you mean to me mon ami."
"Alright Varlouise, you've convinced me." The small girl's contagious smile spread onto Matt's lips as he began to walk towards the street.  "Now let's hurry so we can get good seats at your favourite restaurant before the lunch rush arrives!" Matt took the blonde's hand and she giggled excitedly.  But the two stopped, looks of awe and hurt on their faces as a scene met their now dull eyes.

To be continued...