Cross turned his head, a ghost of a smile still on his face and tilted his head again, "Yes?" Out of the corner of his eyes he could see Aki nudging Marth in what Cross supposed was supposed to be a nondescript manner. In all truths it just made Marth annoyed with the other boy and ended with the two having a shoving match. Really, and they were supposed to be in high school...He sighed softly before returning his attention to the girl before him, "Did you need something, Chloe?"

Chloe nodded simply, smiling to him and holding out a small plastic container, in which held some piece of cake or another. "We had a test this morning in cooking class with a theme of being grateful. Since I was already grateful for your helping me, I'd used that as a base for it. I wanted to give you a piece as thanks. I hope it's okay for you- I don't know what you do and don't like, after all."

"Oh." Cross blinked and reached out to take the container in his hand. He peered at the cake inside and smiled, "Strawberries...I haven't had those in a while." He looked back up and his smile softened ever so slightly, "Thank you Chloe."

The last time he had eaten strawberries...it had had to have been when his grandmother was still taking care of him. She always did make the best sweets and she was always there for him when his parents were not. "You have no idea how much this means to me..." Cross murmured before giving the girl one last smile and turning to his two friends and telling them to stop their childishness and the three headed back to the changing rooms.

((hey do you think you can join my new group roleplay? I've only gotten one other person interested so I'm kinda desperate now ^^"))

((Group RPs and I don't mix well. There's a reason I don't join them ^^; Sorry ;-; Though I do try on occasion, I tend to fail at actually sticking with them. Groups make me nervous. Sorry...))

Chloe smiled in return, glad he'd accepted it, and more-so that he seemed to be happy about receiving it. She watched him turn back to his friends and walk off to get to the changing rooms. Melissa called out to her, and so she nodded, rushing the opposite direction to change and get ready for another class she didn't want to go to.

"You seem happy," Melissa noted on the way. Chloe simply smiled, nodding.

"I am. So it makes sense."

((ah it's fine, i was just wondering ^^))

Cross changed quickly while his friends stood outside the door to the changing room making sure nobody walked in on their friend. Cross had assured them that it wasn't necesaary buit the two hard headed boys had insisted. When Cross was done the three headed off to Math. Cross' worst subject. It was a wonder he was getyting passing grades at all. Marth and Aki kept joking about Cross' real ethnicity before they reached Aki's history classroom and the red head waved a farewell.

After that Marth had to leave when they reached his English classroom and Cross continued on alone once more. The sudden silence was deafening to say the least. It really was starnge that he was even able to put up with those two when he himself barely made any noise. He stepped into his math classroom right when the bell rang and casually settled into his seat as the teacher began the lesson. Hopefully, he wouldn't fall asleep during today's lesson.

Unfortunately, any class they'd have after gym was something Chloe dreaded. A hater of having to sit still, Chloe looked forward to no class beside cooking and physical education. Though she was okay at most classes, particularly math, science and even history, she hated English the most, and had to deal with it right before lunch. Thankfully, they didn't have to wait too much it felt like. Class ended fairly fast for once.

Lunchtime. In other words, the only time of the day when Cross could get onto the roof of the school. He yawned into his hand and then laid down on the rooftop, staring up at the sky. The vastness of it always did fascinate him. Next to him sat his bag along with a bento box and the container with the cake in it. He got back up slolwy and opened his bento right when the door behind him opened. Aki and Marth spilled onto the roof along with some other people. Cross only spared them a glance before he bagan to eat (afer saying thanks of course). The group settled down and eventually the only sound that could be heard was the occasional trading of food and people eating. A passing breeze ruffled his hair and he closed his eyes to savor the feeling.

Chloe took a bento box out of her messenger bag as she followed some of the many people going onto the roof. In reality, she wasn't planning on sitting with anyone- Chloe just liked to eat with fresh air. As she took a seat on her own, she placed her rather advanced meal in front of her. She'd made sure to put a bit of every food group into her meal again, and was very proud of the way it came out aesthetically. Taking a bite of a dumpling, she smiled. It tasted good too. Savoring the flavor of each piece of food, she began to think to herself about what her plans were for after school. Work and then some house-work. That was all she had in mind, anyway.

After finishing with his bento, Cross cleaned up and placed the box away in his bag before glancing at the container again. He fiddled with the lid for a moment to get it off before twirling his fork a bit and spearing a piece of the pastry. He brought it to his mouth and closed his eyes as he chewed slowly. He was almost instantly assaulted with memories as the taste of strawberries filled his mouth. A tear trailed down his face and he hurriedly bent forward to make it look like he was digging through his bag. How he missed the past...

"Let's see... So I have work right after classes until six... What should I make today? Mister Richard said today was my cooking day. Let's see... Some tarts? Yeah. Tarts! That'll work!" Chloe smiled broadly to herself, glad to come up with an idea for herself. afterward, she took a bite of cake from her test that morning and frowned. "It needs less sugar next time..."

"I'm going first." Cross murmured, bending down so that his mouth was next to Marth's ear. The blue headed boy nodded, telling Cross with a glance that he hadn't been fooled by his act. Cross smiled sadly before nodding slightly and then straightening up. He needed some quality time with his music before classes started up again...now to find an empty classroom...

With another yawn, Chloe finished her food and went back into the school building to head to the cooking room. "I don't want to be up late again making dinner, so maybe I can make it now if the teacher will let me..." Tripping on the stairway, of course, she managed to fall flat on the floor for what seemed like the tenth time, though she hadn't really counted after five. Sighing, she got up, looking at her books and the like. "At least I didn't make a mess this time... Oh well, time to make a run for it!" She began to flee to the cooking classroom on the other side of the school, when the bell stopped her. She groaned. "Time for math. Oh, goody..."

Cross couldn't hear the bell through his music but he could definitely see the people walking past the classroom he had taken refuge in. he pulled his headphones back down and got up and off of the windowsill he had been sitting on. He left the room and then started for his English class.

Chloe let out a deep sigh. If she couldn't get some cooking in during work, now, there was no way she'd get sleep that night. Falling into her chair in math class, she let out a deep sigh. "I'm doomed... There's no way I can go another night with minimal sleep..."

Cross read out loud from his notebook, his classmates listening with apt attention. even the ones that had been falling asleep at the beginning of class perked up as he read in his soft voice. He didn't really see why they thought his writing was good but whatever suited them. When he was done the room erupted with applause and Cross smiled minusculey. After this would be history, another class for him to sleep in.

Chloe went to her later classes in a daze. When the day was finally over, a wave of relief washed over her. Suddenly, she could see perfectly again. Perhaps it was just the boredom she felt of school in general causing her fatigue? She didn't know, but she wasn't worried about it. She left the building and waved to her worrying red-headed friend.

"Are you sure you should go to work like this, Chloe? You barely slept for the past couple days..."

"I'll be fine! Besides, I can't miss my kitchen day, can I?" Giggling, Chloe waved a bit more, simultaneously tying on her apron to her work clothes that she'd changed into before leaving the building. "Later!" With that, she fled down the street to the local bakery, starting her after school job with cheer.

Cross exited the school with Aki's arm slung over his shoulder. The other boy was now sporting a black eye and holding an ice-pack to the head while Marth trailed after the two, shaking his head. "Let's go get you something to eat..." Cross murmured, remembering that there was a bakery nearby that his grandma used to bring him to. "Really, have you not learned a single thing all these years at this school?" Marth chastised as they all walked/limped down the sidewalk. Aki could only offer a smile before groaning in pain once more.

After she finished putting a number of different pastries in the oven, since she had to use some of her time to keep busy while one of the other workers needed to do some work in back anyway, Chloe stood at the cash register, sighing to herself. She loved working in the kitchen, but was told she had to stop for a half an hour shift in the front of the shop. She liked that part of the job too, of course. Whenever the bell on the door chimed, she would greet the people. The next time it did was no different. "Welcome to Richard's Baked Goods! What would you like today?"

Cross looked up sharply at the familiar voice and quirked an eyebrow. He motioned for Marth to order as he somehow managed to maneuver around the other customers and deposit Aki at an empty table.

"One slice of tiramisu, a Chocolate Profiterole, and a slice of Cherry Zabaglione Tart." Marth ordered quickly, still watching his friends, "Oh, and anything with green tea in it...Cross looks like he's gonna drop at any moment now..." Of course, the last part was muttered.

"By something with green tea in it, do you mean you want a pastry with green tea or the beverage?" While she waited, she also went to the various display cases and took out one of each of the items she was told was part of the order. "Just to make sure what you mean."

Marth paused for a moment and then turned to face Chole completely, "Well, what would you suggest then?"

Cross sat down across from Aki and glanced over to see Marth chatting with Chloe, he must have been having trouble ordering or something... When Aki groaned again Cross rolled his eyes and turned back to his friend, "Really, when I say I can handle myself, I mean I can handle myself. There really was no need for you to get beat up for standing up for me." Cross chastised calmly. "Dude, if I thought you could stand up for yourself I wouldn't have bothered." And amused look appeared on Cross' face, "Really? And this is coming from the guy I beat into the ground for trying to steal my snack in kindergarten?" Whatever part of Aki's face that wasn't bruised turned red almost instantly, "Sh-shut up."

"I believe we have a very special green tea roll-cake out today. Would you like to try it?" Giggling a bit, Chloe smiled more cheerfully. "Since I'm giving it to you as a taste-test, though, it's my treat. Kay?" She went to the display cabinet and put some green tea cake on the same order as the other three things, marking off that it was on the order, but a freebie. "Anything else? Would you like some water or something?"

"One water, a coffee, and...the green tea sounds good too now that I think about it." Marth smiled, pulling his wallet out of his pocket. He could see Cross moving to get up and he needed to hurry or Cross would insist on paying again, "How much would that be?"

She simply told him the price, minus the part she was paying for herself. Then, she held the order out to him after the transaction managed to be completed, putting the drinks on a tray for him as well. "Let me know if you need anything else, 'kay? Enjoy your order!"

"Thank you very much." Then he turned to Cross, who had appeared at his shoulder, "Too late, I've already paid." Cross frowned but took the tray with the drinks, "I'm guessing you won't let me pay you back then?" Marth shook his head and started for the table. Cross hung back for a bit and turned his head to offer Chloe a smile, "Hey, do you mind telling me how much he just paid? It's a bad habit of mine."