touching ( me )

                    𝐒𝐡𝐞     𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬     𝐡𝐞𝐫     𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝     𝐭𝐨     𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞     𝐚     𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩     𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡     𝐢𝐧     and     it     warms     her     from     her     head     to     her     toes.     Like     a     hug     ,     the     scents     of     the     kitchen     have     engulfed     her     quaint     flat     ,     triggering     both     welcome     memories     and     nostalgia.     She     wishes     they     could     stop     ,     take     this     moment     of     time     and     stretch     it     out     across     days     ,     weeks     ,     even     years     if     she     could.     Jolene     was     truly     alive.     Snapping     out     of     her     reverie     by     the     ding     of     a     timer     ,     her     eyes     dart     to     the     oven.     She     crouches     down     to     peer     into     the     window     ,     heat     streaming     out     of     the     appliance     ,     as     she     eyes     the     risen     cake.     ❝     I     think     it’s     done     ,     ❞     There’s     a     slight     hesitance     in     her     voice     only     because     she     was     no     longer     the     master     baker     of     the     house.     Looking     up     at     the     blonde     ,     she     shoots     her     a     bright     grin.     ❝     Then     again     ,     you’re     the     Martha     Stewart     here     ,     maybe     you     should     take     a     look.     ❞

Back     on     her     feet     ,     she’s     already     inching     closer     to     the     freshly     decorated     cupcakes     Caroline     had     just     finished.     ❝     I     don’t     know     how     you     do     it     ,     ❞     Her     eyes     are     level     with     the     counter     as     she     squints     at     the     tiny     treats.     Light     pink     and     white     ,     the     only     frosting     colours     she     had     left.     They     remind     her     of     the     soft     cotton     candy     clouds     after     a     lazy     sunrise     ,     if     she     closes     her     eyes     ,     she     can     see     them     drifting     across     the     horizon     with     the     start     of     a     new     day.     It’s     with     pure     admiration     that     she     gestures     at     the     her     friend’s     work     ,     ❝     Like     actually     ,     Caro     !     How     are     they     all     so     perfect     ?     What     do     you     do     ?     Don’t     tell     me     –     ❞     Classic     mischievous     glint     is     back     in     her     eyes     as     she     looks     her     friend     up     and     down     before     stepping     closer     to     her.     With     her     nose     practically     pressed     against     her     cheek     ,     she     nods     ,     satisfied     with     her     examination.

❝     Secretly     a     robot     ,     aren’t     you     ?     There’s     truly     no     other     explanation     for     how     everything     you     make     tastes     like     a     grandmother’s     love     bundled     into     a     pretty     package     !     ❞     Her     laugh     fills     any     chance     of     silence     between     the     two     and     with     a     quick     motion     of     her     finger     ,     she     swipes     a     layer     of     frosting     off     the     cupcake     closest     to     her.     The     worst     part     about     baking     with     Jolene     was     her     inability     to     keep     her     hunger     satiated.    

                        caroline    blushed    at    the    compliments,    shrugging    with    a    shy    smile.        she    didn't    really    know,    but    she    always    had    thought    anything    made    with    love    was    beautiful.        it    helped    having    𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎    you    love    with    you,    of    course.        and    jolene's    smile    would    always    brighten    her    spirits,    no    matter    𝖍𝖔𝖜    the    day    was    going.        she    reached    over    to    squeeze    her    hand,    practically    beaming.        "    no    way!        nobody    can    top    your    apple    crumb    cake,    jo.        i    don't    care    what    you    say.    "

                        a    slight    wrinkle    of    her    nose    at    jolene's    not    so    subtle    theft    of    frosting,    but    she    knew    that    just    meant    that    jolene    would    end    up    eating    that    one    before    the    others.    it    wasn't    as    if    she    minded,    though,    because    they    were    only    baking    for    the    fun    of    it,    a    few    imperfections    didn't    really    𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛.        "    a    robot?    "        pink    lips    part    in    surprise,    but    blue    orbs    shine    with    amusement.    a    glance    to    the    frosted    candy    floss    colored    cupcakes    makes    her    grin,    and    she    swipes    a    finger    at    the    edge    of    the    piping    bag    she    had    set    down.        a    𝖘𝖜𝖊𝖊𝖙    spot    of    cream    sits    on    the    tip    of    her    finger,    smile    turning    playful.        "    c'mon    sugar,    you    know    i'd    never    let    a    machine    like    that    near    my    baked    goods.    "        she    giggled    and    pressed    the    frosting    to    jolene's    nose    quickly,    an    almost    squeal    of    fear    leaving    her    as    she    moves    back    to    the    oven    to    escape    the    inevitable    𝚠𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚑    of    her    sweetheart    friend.    

                        she    lets    herself    be    distracted    by    the    oven    for    a    moment,    peeking    in    at    the    cakes    baked    nearly    to    𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖋𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓.        caroline    grinned    and    stood    back    up,    forgetting    the    frosting    on    jolene's    nose    would    definitely    lead    to    a    mess,    if    she    stayed    still    for    too    long.        "    they're    almost    done,    might    need    a    few    more    minutes,    though.    "