let us eat cake, and make it too! {jamie}

[JAMIE SHOEMAKER]

Jamie was a grinning idiot. That was the best way to describe it. It wasn’t even a bad thing. It was the best thing ever. He was all but holding J in his arms as the music played. She leaned her head against his chest and his heart skipped a beat. He swears it did. Hopefully she didn’t hear that. He stopped swaying as much and just held her. It was perfect. She was perfect. He should make a move... he should... Wait, what?

Then the moment ended and he watched her walk off. Jamie blinked a few times as the music sped up again. What was he doing? They were making cake and being silly. Why did he want so much to just... He let out a silent sigh and looked down at his shirt brushing flour off of it. This was crazy. This was so crazy. Jamie licked his lips and made a face when he tasted flour. It was really everywhere wasn’t it? He probably looked like a ghost. “OoOooOoooOoh,” Jamie said trying out a ghostly howl as he walked over to the oven. “I am the ghost of pastries future. You will feed me all your caaaaake.” He tickled J’s sides again and then just wrapped his arms around her waist. This felt nice. It felt better than standing across the room and watching. It helped his aching heart but didn’t help the feeling he got. Why did he want to kiss her so much?!

They were friends and he wasn’t the other guy. He didn’t make moves. He didn’t play games. He was a good guy. Jamie really just wanted to be a good guy. Jamie’s smile fell and he let go of her again. “J...” he started but couldn’t find the words to finish. Instead he pushed away his feelings and stuck his tongue out at her. “We have a lot of time before this cake is done. Whatcha wanna do?” he asked.

[JEMISSA CROCKET]

Jemissa almost cried. She almost reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek before the song ended, just a gentle little kiss that would have probably evolved into something more, but she didn't want to cover up that silly smile on his face by making it so serious. This wasn't serious, this was just two best friends slow-dancing to a song that fit them perfectly while alone in a kitchen and covered with flour. Nothing serious about the way he held her in his arms or the fact that she felt like she was baking. For some reason, she felt nervous when thinking those things around Jamie, like he could hear her thoughts. That's why she had turned away so awkwardly, breaking herself away from all that so her thoughts wouldn't increase in volume.

"I'm sure he can't read your thoughts, that's ridiculous." Jiminy cocked his head and grinned at her, mocking her and her love for Jamie as if it was going to help. She glared at him and then turned around when she thought she heard a ghost. Jemissa smiled and laughed, then turned mock serious.

"You're going to have to take it from my cold, gloved hands!" she said, and put the oven mitts on, making a scary face and facing Jamie. At least, she tried, but it turned out to just be her sticking her tongue out a little and crossing her eyes and not really scary at all. "You'll never take me a-hahahahaa!" Jemissa turned around right before he tickled her to face the cake again. She couldn't stop laughing and Jiminy was judging her but she didn't care. Ghosts were a little bit of a sensitive subject for the cricket since he technically was made one by Pinocchio, even if he preferred the Disney version when he appeared. Jiminy paled and vanished much like a ghost would, going wherever it was he went when not bothering Jemissa.

She was a bit distracted by arms around her. Jemissa refused to listen to her conscious (is that where he went off to?) telling her not to turn her face towards his, and did anyways. This was probably closer than their faces had ever been before and she was so so tempted to kiss him... No, she couldn't. Not now. Instead, she smiled and giggled again, trying awkwardly to check the cake. This felt nice, indeed. It was fine and as soon as she had the idea that she didn't want it to stop, he let go. Oh.

Deciding not to check the cake, she turned around when he used that nickname she loved so much, her eyes maybe revealing her wants and expectations from what she hoped would follow, but it wasn't what she expected.

Jemissa blinked, looking at her hands and taking the mitts off, smiling to hide her disappointment. Looking back at him with the silliness from before, she suggested, "We could dance again. Or have a dance off with no judge. Or sing a lot. Something musical!"