Roman was still talking with the elderly woman; he didn't seem to have noticed Kayden and me yet.
"What are you looking at, Apple?" Kayden asked, a small smile on his face.
"The person I came here with," I said, pointing at Roman. "We're here to learn how to make croissants."
Kayden covered his mouth, his eyes widening. "You... have a boyfriend now?"
"No, we're here on a school trip. We need to learn how to make a croissant for one of our activities."
He placed a hand on his chest in relief. "Thank goodness. How could Apple Rye, of all people, have a boyfriend while I'm still single and alone?"
I ignored his remarks, keeping my head down. Why would I even date anyway?
Kayden crossed his legs, smiling. "You still don't talk much, do you, Apple? It was so hard to figure you out back then. You learn things fast, but you always keep silent no matter what."
I raised my hand, now wanting to change the subject. "How is college? How do you get the money for food and other necessary things?"
He grinned. "I make the best croissants Paris has ever tasted, right here at this restaurant."
"I thought you said cookies were your specialty?"
That was what he once told me during our tutoring days. He baked a lot back then, but his cookies were the only things that ever came out edible,
He shrugged, uncrossing his legs. "So I thought, until I made a croissant for the first time, and it was immaculate."
"Congratulations," I said, sincerely, but I knew I didn't sound like it.
He hadn't lost that small smile of his, a smile that made it obvious he wasn't satisfied with my answers, but he felt like he didn't have the right to point that out.
He put his hands in his pockets, bringing out his phone. "Can I get your number, Apple? Your brothers won't mind, right?"
I went silent, not knowing what to say. They never did check my phone, but there wasn't a zero percent chance of them doing such.
His smile dropped before I could say anything. "You know what I told you, back when I was tutoring you, the way you looked at your brothers with fear?"
I clenched my fists, angry, "And I already told you that I didn't know what you were talking about. Please stop bringing up that topic."
"Apple-"
A hand on my shoulder made us both turn to look behind me. It was Roman, removing his hand as quickly as he placed it.
"How have you met him already?" he asked ms. "He's the one that'll teach us what we need to know."
"He is?" I asked. "I knew him once, back when he was in New York."
"It's good you two know each other," Roman replied. "Let's get everything done quicker."
Roman walked towards a door, as Kayden stood up and followed, gesturing for me to do the same once he did.
The three of us walked through a door written 'Staff Only', entering an all-white room with various baking equipment and ingredients arranged strategically.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Kayden beamed. "Welcome to-"
"Can you get to it?" Roman interrupted. "We don't have that kind of time on our hands, you know."
I glanced at Roman, turning away quickly; there was no reason he had to be cold to Kayden.
"I'll gather ingredients," Kayden said. "You can wait here, rich boy."
I stuffed my hands in my pockets as I waited, feeling abit cold while I looked around until my eyes landed on a group of assorted knives.
I wished it reminded me of the fond memory I had with my mother, when I wanted to cut some onions in secret and make her proud, but I ended up slicing my finger instead.
If only that was what came to mind first, rather than the reminder that ticked in my brain.
I had planned to end my life today.
The happiness I felt just thinking about it-leaving this world, leaving this cruel life, and going to my mom and dad.
Would they be waiting, or would they scream at me for what I've done?
"Why are you staring at those knives?" Roman asked, walking toward the table Kayden was at.
"Nothing,I'm just admiring them."
He stopped, pausing my movement too.
"Fuck," he ground his teeth. "I can barely get to you; I thought only nerds acted this detached from the world."
"Don't say that," Kayden interrupted quickly. "I've known her for a while, and that's just how she is; let her feel comfortable."
I grabbed an ingredient from the table, pushing it to my side. "That's enough. Let's get to making the dough."
I could hear Roman hiss under his breath. It almost made me feel sorry for Ariana and her boyfriend; he would definitely go back to his room after this.
Roman and Kayden appeared to be stuck in a different world of their own once we began baking; they seemed friendly with each other, though I had no idea how they met.
Kayden suddenly bent his head, looking at me. "Are you having trouble with kneading the dough Apple? I could come help you."
I shook my head. "I'm all right; it's not my first time baking."
A vibration from my pockets made me look down, my ringtone disturbing the entire kitchen since it was at its' highest volume.
I gave apologetic looks to the other people in the kitchen and turned to my hands, realizing I couldn't use them.
I looked at Roman; he and I were the ones kneading the dough, but he'd already washed his hands after mixing.
"Roman," I hesitantly said.
He answeres sharply, "What is it?"
I pointed to my pockets. Could you help me with my phone so I can see who's calling?"
He stared at me like I had said something abominable, then he dug his hands into my pockets, exposing my phone.
"Make it very quick, Rye."
I looked at the caller, a feeling I had become tired of coming again.
Emmanuel- it was him.
"Can you put it to my ear?" I asked, less hesitant.
I saw the anger in his posture; he probably felt used. Rich boys like him hated that feeling.
He hastily pressed the 'Accept' button, then presses the phone to my ear.
"Hello," I whispered. "It's Apple."
A slight chuckle came from Emmanuel. "Are you enjoying yourself, Apple?"
"Enjoying myself?-"
"The more you play dumb," he quickly added, "the angrier I'll get. You're with Roman Vault, aren't you? You even switched rooms without asking me first?"
"No, I-!"
His voice lowered, as low as a whisper. "I won't wait until we get back, by the way. I'll text you where to meet me; you're okay with that, right?"
Without anything more, he hung up.
I rushed to the kitchen sink, washing my hands urgently to get the dough off quickly.
I could hear Kayden telling me to calm down and asking questions, but it all felt like a blur; it kept fading away.
"Where is the bathroom?" I asked urgently, grabbing my phone. "Please, I really need to use the bathroom."
Kayden pointed to a door, as I hurried toward it, entering without hesitation.
I ran into the women's restroom ,into an unoccupied stall, finally breathing easier once I was inside.
I looked at my phone, staring at the Recent contacts with hatred.
All three of them; their names were the only ones there. Who else did I have, anyway?
Tears involuntarily fell from my eyes. "Where did this all go wrong?"
I sank onto the seat, fighting the urge to break down right there.
Then I turned my phone around, removing it's pouch.
"What use is it?" I wondered. "No matter how many times I cry, it doesn't solve anything, does it?"
I gulped, taking deep breaths; if other people could do it, I could too.
This phone was the key to dying right here and now.