"So, here's the plan," Ria mumbled to their small posey. "Lilly will go in on the left in ten seconds. The rest of us will pair off and surround them in case the plan goes askew. Everyone got it?"

     The girls nodded. Lillian felt butterflies swarm in her stomach like a monsoon. The plan hadn't felt so real until now. Their target was in their sights a little ways down the street, strolling into one of the small but amazing local bakeries, looking unaware and laid-back, and it was suddenly hitting Lilly that she actually had to walk up behind him in the line she could see through the front windows, and talk to him.

     "Hey, maybe we could catch him when he's less... busy?" Lilly tried hopefully. But somehow she knew in her gut her friends wouldn't let her back out.

     Her gut was right.

     "Does he look busy to you?" Ria — who had taken charge — said, gesturing toward the boy through the window, whose only concern seemed to be picking out the right treat. She did even need to look up from her planning clipboard. "Okay, ten seconds over. Show time. Go!"

     Ria, Jessica, and Raelynn pushed her forward, and she nearly ran into the door. Thankfully, though, she gained control just in time, saving herself a world of embarrassment as she casually opened the quaint little bakery's door, as if she'd been running forward in anticipation and not stumbling forward from a forceful shove delivered by her friends.

     As Lillian joined the line of five people, not including herself, she heard the bell connected to the door to alert employees of customers ring and caught sight of Maddie and Sophia steal in nonchalantly out of the corner of her eye. They went right for a little table in the corner, pretending to inspect the little menu stand to decide what they wanted, but Lilly caught Maddie make eye contact with her, and her little nod of encouragement. That helped a bit. Soon after, Dakota and Jessica copied what the other two had done, positioning themselves on the other side of the room. Ria and Raelynn sat outside the lively little shop on a stone bench, watching people rush by on the sidewalk. They had taken this position in case he tried to make a run for it and they needed to wrangle him into submission. The thought made Lillian gulp.

As the line moved forward at a lazy pace, she realized she needed to do what she came for, and do it fast, before it was too late. She barely heard the bell jingle and another customer stroll up behind her in line as she took a deep breath, stepped forward, and tapped the shoulder of the boy in front of her.

He turned, surprised, and gave her a quick once-over with his eyes before seeming to remember his manners, giving her an awkward "Hi...?"

Lilly felt her cheeks burn. She no longer had the power to look him in the face. "Hi," she mumbled, one foot nervously rubbing the back of her opposite heel.

"Uhhh, do I know you?" he asked, probably attempting to help her out, but only making her want to freeze up more. However, she plucked up what courage she had, and answered him. In her normal voice this time.

     "Nah, not really, but I think you were in one or two of my classes last year. Bradley, right?"

     Phew. That wasn't terrible.

     "Yep, that's me!" Bradley declared, finally giving her a smile (the smile that made him popular), which lifted a weight off her chest. He still seemed vaguely wary, but at least he didn't think she was some random weird stalker now. "And your name is...?"

     He said it in such a friendly, playful "finish my sentence" kind of way, so it didn't worry Lilly too much. She giggled lightly as she said, "Lillian, but you can call me Lilly."

     "Cool," he said, flashing another friendly smile just as the employee behind the counter called for the next customer. That's when they both realized it was Bradley's turn. "Look, I gotta hurry up and pick up my stuff here right now, but maybe I'll run into you later and we could talk more then." He paused to give his order and pay.As he started heading for the door, he waved, that good-natured smile never leaving his face. "Nice to officially meet you, Lilly!"

As he neared the door, Lillian heard Sophia sigh, and saw her give a discreet slit throat signal to the two girls outside, indicating the mission was a failure. Lilly felt her spirits fall as he walked out, but she didn't have long to linger on it, because a slightly wild-eyed woman hurried in, letting the door slam behind her, and rushed up to the line.

"Do you mind if I go ahead of you two?" the woman asked, clearly nervous, distracted, and in a hurry. "I'm so sorry, I never usually do this. I just— I completely forgot to pick up the cake for my son's birthday party, and it starts in less than an hour—"

"Say no more, ma'am," the boy behind Lillian — about her age — said, moving aside for her to get through. Remembering she wasn't just a spectator, Lilly gave the poor woman a quick smile and moved to the side as well. They were given a short but sincere "thank you" before the lady hurried past them up to the counter to retrieve the cake.

"That was nice of you," Lillian commented spontaneously, turning back to face the boy behind her. Not a lot of people would've let the poor mother by.

"Thanks," he replied, giving her a shy but not unfriendly smile. "You weren't too bad either."

Lilly returned his smile and did something quite rare: she accepted a compliment. "Thanks!"

That's when she finally got a good look at him. This boy had milk-chocolate brown hair, styled carefully into subtle waves, he had smoky green eyes, pleasant facial features that made him look like the type of person who always took an optimistic outlook, and his build was pretty average for the typical high school sophomore. He looked vaguely familiar...

     Ah! It clicked into place surprisingly fast (it's funny how we remember the most random things, but never the things we should actually be trying to remember): this was the boy that Raelynn had pointed out in the cafeteria last school year, joking about how she planned to marry him! He was pretty new in these parts.

     "Hey, do you go to Lincoln High School?" she asked, just to be sure. She didn't want to embarrass herself any more today.

     "Yeah, I do actually. How 'bout you?" he asked, clearly as curious as she was now.

     "Yep! Wow, that's crazy. I just ran into another guy from school a few minutes ago. That's a new record!" Outwardly, she giggled, but on the inside she cursed herself for being cheesy, using the most clichéd line she possibly could have used. No wonder she had such a hard time making friends.

     "Ha, that's so weird!" he said, thankfully not seeming to think she was weird. Abruptly, his eyes widened, and he facepalmed. "Oh geez, I'm stupid. Mark," he said, introducing himself, and stuck out his hand. For a second, Lillian forgot to shake it. When she did after a short pause, she felt her cheeks warm again, embarrassed, and stuck her hand out as well. He just chuckled.

     "Lillian— er, Lilly," she corrected, hoping her nickname would be easier for him to remember.

     Mark's hand was warm when she shook it. "Lillian? That's pretty." They realized at the same time they'd forgotten to let go, and pulled their hands back quickly. Mark laughed nervously, scratching behind his neck. "Sorry, I'm usually way slicker than this, I swear."

     He flashed the lopsided grin reserved for popular guys. Lilly laughed.

     Suddenly, an idea hit her. An awful, terrible, doomed-to-fail idea. Her smile fell, and she stared at the wall, avoiding this boy's eyes.

     "Did I say something wrong?" Mark asked, forcing her to look at him again. He looked genuinely afraid that he'd offended her.

     "No no, not at all!" she assured him quickly, but was unable to procure a smile as she said something in a much quieter voice. "Okay, um, I know we just met, but... can I ask you a HUGE favor?"

     His eyebrows shot up, but he didn't say no. Lillian hoped that was a good sign. And that he wasn't assuming she meant something else.

     "Next, please," the girl at the counter said cheerfully, reminding Lilly of where she was.

     "Okay, uh, after we both order, would you mind meeting me at that table over there?" She motioned awkwardly toward a random table near a potted plant. This could not possibly go well. There was no way. He was going to think she was weird and psycho forever.

     She barely registered his uncertain nod as she stepped up to the counter and ordered the bakery's signature brownie, topped with almond shavings and hot fudge. There was also a secret ingredient in it that no one could seem to figure out that made these brownies the best in the county.

     After Lillian paid, as she moved to wait for Mark at the table she'd pointed out, Maddie caught her attention. What she was mouthing was no surprise.

     What. Just. Happened?

- - -

You're welcome lol.