As though she wanted to say something, but before she could open her mouth, some force pulled her down the cliff.
Dean jolted upright in bed.
“YVAINE!”
His breathing slowly steadied.
It was still dark outside.
Moonlight seeped through the curtains.
He rubbed his face with both hands.
“Just a dream.”
Although, it no longer felt like one.
Unable to fall asleep again, he quietly left his room and walked to the kitchen.
Dean opened the refrigerator, looking for a chilled bottle of water.
As he reached inside, something immediately caught his attention.
A mini strawberry shortcake sat neatly on the middle shelf.
A sticky note rested on the bottom.
DO NOT TOUCH – Ellie’s property!
Dean stared at it for a second.
…
He looked toward her room.
It was all covered in midnight silence.
He looked back at it.
“…Okay fine, I’ll eat you, stop seducing me!”
Five seconds later, the plate was empty as he happily finished the last bite.
“Worth it!”
Just like that, the nightmare faded into the background.
Feeling considerably better, he drank a glass of water before quietly returning back to his room.
The next morning—
“DEEEEEAN!!”
His bedroom door flew open, as Ellie stood there, “You thief!”
Dean slowly peeked out from under his blanket, “let me sleep!!!”
“My mini shortcake!”
Dean covered his face with his blanket, “…Good morning, sweet El?!
Ellie threw a pillow at him, “You are unbelievable!”
“I’ll buy you another one!”
“I made that yesterday!”
“Oh that’s why it tasted better.”
Ellie gasped dramatically, “Wow, you’re just admitting it without any shame!”
Dean sat upright, “Yeah, it was just damn.”
She folded her arms, “Fine.” A mischievous smile slowly spread across her face, “If that’s how we’re playing…” She pulled out her phone, “I’ll just show Mom your new girlfriend.”
Dean frowned, “…What girlfriend?”
He immediately recognized the photo.
It was taken after the Ghost House event.
He and Yvaine drink Cascara side by side.
The post was captioned with: “Unexpected Pairs?”
“Go ahead,” Dean sighed.
“…Are you sure?” Ellie blinked.
“Just like I already ate your property,” he got out of his bed, “…sorry to say, The dumb Ellie news, but she’s just an acquaintance!”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Keep spreading rumors, you untrusted clever fox!”
Breakfast remained as chaotic as usual.
Their mother listened to Ellie dramatically describe how Dean did the thievery, while he defended playfully with no guilt.
Their mother sighed as she focused on eating her breakfast, “You two haven’t grown up at all!”
After breakfast, Dean helped clean the dishes before heading downstairs.
Today was different.
Since several part-time workers had taken the day off, the bakery was much busier than usual.
Dean tied on his apron.
“I’ll handle the front.”
Customers came and went.
Fresh bread disappeared from the shelves as quickly as it arrived.
The warm smell of butter and coffee filled the entire shop.
The entrance bell chimed again.
“Welcome—” Dean instinctively looked up, “…Yvaine?”
She stood just inside the doorway.
For a brief moment, both of them looked equally surprised.
Then they smiled.
“Good morning,” she greeted.
“Morning,” Dean couldn’t help smiling back.
“I didn’t know this bakery belonged to your family.”
“I didn’t know I’d get to meet you like this.”
“It looks aesthetically beautiful.”
Dean rubbed the back of his neck, “…Thanks.”
She stepped toward the counter, “I’d like one strawberry shortcake, that blueberry tart with—”
“Cascara?!” Dean began writing the order.
Yvaine smiled as she nodded softly.
“DEE!”
Ellie suddenly appeared from the kitchen carrying another tray.
She stopped. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Her eyes immediately landed on Yvaine, then slowly back to Dean, as a grin spread across her face.
“Oh hi, acquaintance, I’m his elder sister!”
Dean closed his eyes, “…Ellie.”
Ellie ignored him completely, she looked at Yvaine as she smiled brightly, “Everything’s on the house today.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t—”
“You absolutely can!” Ellie pointed at Dean, “Dee, let her try the exclusives.”
Dean sighed in defeat, “Lets sit at that table, Yvaine.”
A few minutes later, he carried a tray to the table near the window.
Yvaine looked genuinely surprised, “There are so many…”
“These are part of an experimental menu,” Dean explained, “Before we sell them, we taste them or make our old customers give us some feedback.”
She laughed softly, “So, I’m your old customer?”
“You can, there is no deadline that you can’t be.”
They both laughed.
For a while, they both simply enjoyed it as Yvaine gave a review.
The conversation flowed much more naturally than before.
Until, Dean reached for his coffee and his eyes accidentally fell on Yvaine’s wrist.
A small white bandage peeked out beneath her sleeve.
Dean froze as a glimpse of his nightmare started coming back to his mind.
Blood.
Her crying for help!
His smile slowly disappeared.
Yvaine noticed the change almost immediately, she gently tilted her head, “…Dean?”
He blinked as a little amount of sweat started to appear on his forehead.
His phone vibrated inside his pocket.
“Sorry…” He forced a small smile.
“Excuse me for a minute. I’ll be right back.”
Yvaine nodded, “Take your time.”
Dean stepped away from the table and walked toward the back of the bakery, where the noise of customers faded.
He leaned against the wall and let out a slow breath, “…Get a grip.”
His eyes fell to the floor.
It was just a dream…A dream.
He repeated it to himself several times until his heartbeat gradually slowed.
Only then did he unlock his phone.
A message from Joey: “4044??? Oh wait… I remember now. That’s the same car number from your accident the other night, where you got saved. What happened? Why are you interested in a dead man’s car number?”
Dean stared at the screen.
4044…
The dead man’s car…
He immediately shoved the phone back into his pocket and hurried back inside the cafe.
He looked into Yvaine’s eyes, “…Yvaine.” His voice came out quieter than he intended, “How did you hurt your wrist?”