A. Gardner - Poppy Peters 01 - Southern Peach Pie and A Dead Guy by A. Gardner

her textbooks as I cut my rolls. I shape them on the pan and let them rise a little longer.
    As much as they can rise since I seemed to have killed my yeast.
    "You know, I stand by what I said our first day," Cole says, walking up behind me. He glances at my baking project. "If you need help, I'll tutor you."
    "I keep offering, but she's stubborn," Bree comments.
    "I know," Cole says. "I don't get it. She's so close to academic probation, and yet she lives with the buttercream queen."
    Bree smiles at the compliment and slowly shakes her head like I'm hopeless.
    "Hi," I cut in. "I'm right here, and I am trying my best to get through this semester on my own."
    "You've got to stop freezing up when you're asked to do demonstrations," Cole says.
    "I did nearly set the building on fire my second day here, remember?"
    "That wasn't your fault," Bree says.
    "No, but… day one . Remember day one ? My horrific peach pie?"
    "Is she serious?" Cole says, looking at Bree. "Poppy, you need to let that go. For as long as you let that memory haunt you, it will."
    I take a deep breath and face the inevitable. Cole is right. I do need help if I'm going to pass all my basic level courses. I frown. Grandma never mentioned that this program was so hard. Maybe I just don't have the talent for it that she did?
    "Fine," I agree. "I'll meet you here tonight after dinner."
    Cole grins and straightens the collar of his light orange button-down. The color reminds me of an orange Creamsicle.
    One of those sounds really good right now.
    "Don't keep her too long, Cole." Bree smirks as she gathers her books and places them in her bag. "She's got a date ."
    "With who?" Cole looks a little disappointed. "There's no time for dating at CPA. Are you crazy?"
    "Chill," I respond. "It's just dinner. I think."
    "That's how it starts anyway," Bree quietly comments. I stare at her for a moment, but decide against asking her to elaborate. We have all had boyfriend issues at one point or another. I don't care to bring mine up. Ever.
    "I'll keep that in mind," I say. I turn back to Cole. "Give me an hour."
    "You got it."
     
    *   *  *
     
    Cole is a genius.
    We practice for one of our upcoming tests by re-creating a few pastries that the student bakery sells. I fill my éclairs, pleased with myself for finally getting the dough right. Cole watches me to make sure I don't overfill them.
    It is getting late, and the two of us are alone in the student kitchens. I am so proud of myself for making the perfect éclairs that I forget all about the past couple of weeks, and how I was almost expelled for something I didn't do.
    "You know," I comment. "I think I can tackle that peach pie again. I don't know what was going through my head that day."
    "I do," Cole replies. He changes his expression and attempts to mimic me using a high-pitched voice. "Is there AC in here? There better be AC in here or I'll—"
    I hit his arm.
    "What?" I take a bite of my finished éclair and lick the chocolate from my lips. There's nothing better than being able to taste your success. "It's hot here. Maybe I'm cold-blooded and just never noticed it before?"
    "My aunt makes these sometimes in casserole form," he says, taking another bite of his éclair.
    "You're kidding."
    "Nope." He takes another huge bite and nods. "She calls it éclair pie. It's basically graham crackers, French vanilla pudding, and chocolate sauce layered in a casserole dish."
    "Your aunt sounds amazing."
    "She doesn't live far from here," he says. "I think I'll be going to see her during our holiday break."
    "Nice. I'll be flying back West and, unfortunately, staying with my parents. My apartment there is being rented at the moment." I sigh and gaze around at the empty classroom. The storage room is dark like the halls outside. The only light around us is coming from the fixture right above our heads. "Should be interesting."
    "Three days is my max when I go see my mom. Once that line is crossed she goes back to hollering at me