#wabriel

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The smell of sugary baked goods permeated the air. Gabriel started and ended his day by inhaling this addicting air. One would think he would eventually tire of this, that this would get old after a short amount of time, but this was Gabriel's heaven on earth and there was no other place that could possibly make him as content as working there did. Literally no other place could make him willing to stand hours on end manning the counter.

It was a slow day, and Gabriel found himself with his head resting on his hands, elbows on the counter, listening to the chatter of the few patrons/customers distractedly. The bell over the door rung, signalling customers. The sound of guitar playing was quickly muffled as the door closed. Gabriel straightened as two of his regular customers came in.

"May, Sara. What can I get for you today?" He said with a smile.

"How about that hot guitarist outside? Can you get me his number?" May giggled.

"Oh, don't listen to her. One look at someone and she falls in love." Sarah said.

Gabriel barked out a laugh.

"Anyway, what do you suggest, Gabriel? The blueberry cupcakes and cream cheese, or the vanilla cupcakes with gummy worms?" May asked.

"Well, if you take the gummy worm cupcakes today, I can make some with little guitars for you when you come in next." He said with a smile.

May let out a squeal. Gummy worm cupcakes it was.

Not long after May and Sarah left, the door to the little bakery opened again. It was mostly empty this time of the day and Sophie and Gabriel were chatting, waiting for customers. A man with thick unruly black hair entered the shop, dropping something and bending over to pick it up. He straightened, flashing a bright smile, and approached the counter.

"Hi," Sophie said. "What can I get for you today?"

Gabriel got a better look once the man was closer. He couldn't have been much older than Gabriel himself. He had stunning blue eyes and high cheekbones and, paired with that dazzling smile, Gabriel felt more and more breathless in his presence, this oddly pleasant, fluttery sensation settling in his chest.

"Hi. It's my parents' anniversary and I want to surprise them with some baked goods. They don't really have a preference, so I'll take whatever someone as pretty as you will suggest" he said, charming as ever, making Sophie laugh.

"Well, I'm not really an expert here in anything besides scones, so Gabriel here would be more than happy to help you" she said.

The man then turned to face Gabriel and it was like all the air was sucked out from his body. Gabriel just prayed he didn't stutter too much.

"W-well, if you want basic flavours, we have chocolate and vanilla among the most popular ones. Some specials include the mango and cream, vanilla cake and peach syrup, carrot cake, some red velvet cookies, blueberry muffins and gummy worm c-cupcakes." Gabriel recited off, feeling unnerved under the man's intense stare.

"So," the man started, "which one's your favourite? I'll take that one."

"Yeah, Gabby" Sophie asked, thoroughly amused at how flustered Gabriel was. "What's your favourite?"

"Y-you can try the blueberry cupcakes. They go with your eyes." He turned a furious shade of red as soon as he said that, praying to anyone who would listen to give the reins of his tongue back to him.

While Gabriel wished for the ground to open up and swallow him, the stranger laughed, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Well, I can't argue with that logic. Not when someone as cute as you is saying that." The man said, leaving Gabriel impossibly redder.

The man took his two dozen blueberry cupcakes and left the shop after flashing them a dazzling smile, and Gabriel could finally breathe again. He hoped he didn't have to see the man again, no matter how much he wanted to, because it would be bad for his lungs and sanity.

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Taglist: lmk if you want to be added or removed

if you responded to this post saying you wanted to be tagged, you have been tagged

@ganseys-jane

@agnesandmina

@daggxrsanddrxamers

@nia-storm-but-its-happening

@this-is-me-trying-andcrying

@dark-artifices-only

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It was frustrating. gabriel would try to come earlier and earlier everyday to catch sight of that elusive musician that had taken his little neighbourhood by storm, but to no avail. he would try to time his breaks accordingly, trying to put a face to those beautiful melodies, but it was always too crowded. the little flashes he got here and there were not enough to sate his curiosity. it was, however, enough for him to develop a small crush on the guy.

sophie had already told him that there wasn't much to see; the guy wore a hoodie and a mask. but still, gabriel, (and at least 20 other girls), got the vibes that he was cute. anyone who played an instrument, especially a guitar, was instantly hot, everyone knew that. didn't they? maybe gabriel needed that break now, he was going insane.

the handy little bell that alerted a customer's presence chimed and grabbed gabriel's attention. and made the cozy little bakery 10 times smaller. at least it seemed like that to gabriel. the cute guy that sophie had been mercilessly teasing him about since his visit a couple of weeks ago was back. and gabriel was alone in the shop. oh dear fucking lord.

"hey gabby," the man smiled, striding into the bakery.

"h-hey" gabriel replied, stuttering only mildly and not being as suave and nonchalant as he had hoped to be. this man gave him gay panic sure, but he didn't need to know that!

"what can i do you for today?" gabriel asked.

"my, oh my, aren't we straight forward?" the man laughed while gabriel flushed. "well, firstly, you can do me anytime you want," he winked, "and secondly, i want some cupcakes for my boss but i don't know what she likes. help out a guy? please?"

what was gabriel supposed to say to that? refuse? and even if he could, he couldn't resist those blue eyes looking at him like that. so, even with him feeling his face heat up and burn from the man's stare, embarrassment, and the overhead lighting, he pointed towards the case and began reciting pros and cons of each choice.

all while the man looked at him in a mixture of amusement and fondness, and he was oblivious.

"the more unusual flavours are almost always a hit or miss, so i would recommend going for safer options. we have the chocolate, the vanilla, and the red velvet, although a few people don't like that, can't even imagine why. you can also try other pastries? although you did say you don't know what she likes..." gabriel finished.

the man was leaning on the counter, still looking at him with that bright, fond smile.

"what would you recommend?" he asked.

"can i tell you a secret?" gabriel asked, leaning in with a teasing air, surprising himself with his confidence. "the vanilla here is to die for." he whispered into the charged space between them, holding the man's stare, green eyes poring into blue ones. "it's probably my favourite after the blueberry ones." his gaze flicked to the man's lips.

just when he thought the man might have been looking at his lips, the bell above the door chimed as a customer walked in and they broke away.

just as the man was walking away with his dozen vanilla cupcakes, gabriel called out.

"wait! what can i call you?"

the man turned, slowly walking backwards.

'where there's a will, there's a way" he grinned as he walked away.

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