Tillie smiled and looked at the one she was pointing to. “That is a strawberry and cream cheese mousse entremet. So kind of like a strawberry cheesecake redesigned.”
“Now I have to admit, that sounds really good,” Lottie remarked, looking back at the cake with more interest. “You know, I’ll take both. I have a long night ahead so it won’t hurt to have some extra sugar to keep me going.”
“No, no chemistry for me. I’m taking a math class, a physics class, and a design class. Still waiting to hear which of my engineering classes might help get me out of some of these, plus my experience in construction too,” Cade admitted. “So what’s going on exactly with what year you’re in?”
Nodding at the list of classes it was clear he would be around the same campus as her at times but not her actual classes. She let out a deep sigh at the question, “I missed the last three days of lab work last semester and now my professor is saying I either submit an additional assignment or resit the year. It’s just ludicrous and totally just him throwing his weight around.”
“An entremet. Its French. I specialize in French pastries. Its a fancy word for a mousse cake but its more complex with different layers and textures. The mini ones are typically called petit gataeux.” She pointed out the chocolate pastry she had in the cooler display. “Its more of a one serving size dessert. Not so mini just one serving. I also had full entremet cakes that feed anywhere from four to twelve people depending on what size you get.”
Lottie wanted to ask what was wrong with making chocolate muffins but she had to admit the cakes the woman pointed to looked good. “What’s that one next to it? Is it strawberry or raspberry?”
Nadia was behind Lottie and she noticed the letter in her hand, not sure exactly what was on it, just that it was from the University. “Most of the people over there are idiots these days.” She quipped, remembering her time at the institution and this distaste was obvious. “I know a good lawyer if they’re trying to kick you out of school for some bullshit reason.”
Lottie’s eyes widened as the woman behind her began to talk and talk but she couldn’t argue with her sentiment. “Thanks but I have a really good lawyer myself,” she replied, her thoughts wandering back to how Spencer had solved her last legal issue. “Anyway they are not trying to kick me out, just make me submit some extra work due to missing three days last semester.”
In response to the ‘fabulous as always’ Celia simply blinks, determining if the response is sarcasm or not, deciding it is? She keeps her mouth shut, before seeing the peek of the letterhead of the crumpled paper in the girls hand. “It’s okay. I don’t have other places to be. My shopping took 45 minutes less than I planned, and I can’t pick my dog up from the groomers until 4″, her eyes flick over the menu, deciding what she wants before gesturing to the peek of paper. “We attend the same University, what are you studying?”
The other girl’s response is far more measured than Lottie would have expected but the calm reply is strangely comforting. Finally stepping forward to place her order Lottie turns back with wide eyes hearing they were both at the university though it shouldn’t really be that much of a surprise. “I’m a chemistry major, what about you?”
“Nuh uh,” Luan replied with a shake of her head and she began to nervously twirl her hair around her finger as her anxiousness increased a little. She was worried she might say something that revealed how much of a not-normal life she had lead to this point – or just something stupid which she believed was just as likely. “I ummm I’ve n-never thought about getting f-fit,” she confessed with a shrug. “I… I’d have n-no idea what shoes to b-buy so they couldn’t get lost in the b-back of my wardrobe.”
Lottie may not have been the most obviously caring person but she could pick up on the other girl’s body language. “I wouldn’t worry, I would imagine at least half the people who have sports shoes in their wardrobes have never worn them. You’re just cutting out the clutter part.”
Pan recognized Lottie but it had certainly been a little bit since seen her. “Hey, what’s up? Something with school?” he asked, seeing her look of frustration.
Lottie jumped in surprise as she was aware of someone talking to her. “Oh hi Pan,” she murmured as she saw the photographer behind her. Waving the letter at him she huffed, “My dumb professor is trying to claim I need to do an extra assignment because I missed three days of lab work at the end of the last semester.”
Text: When you have completed one months worth of classes. That was the deal. I’m not changing it now Charlotte. Be grateful I am letting you have it back at all.
@lottieberdini
Text: You’re the one who made the error in the first place. All steps I have taken were appropriate under the circumstances.
Text: Not that I can recall off-hand.
Text: I didn’t make an error, the idiot I was doing a job for did.
Text: But fine – I’ll throw away the chance to make some much needed money for no reason.
Nero stood in the queue, waiting like a good rule-abiding citizen, keeping an eye on all the people that he was slowly recognising as regulars. The person directly in front of him he didn’t recognise and tried not to get involved in whatever debate she was having quite loudly to herself in a pubic area. But when she scrunched and unscrunched some paper, her movement dropped something out of her pocket and it tapped his boot. He bent to pick up up and tapped her elbow gently “You dropped this… everything alright?” He dared to ask.
Lottie jumped at the simple tap and turned fiercely, ready to shout but almost immediately say her student card and her expression immediately softened. “Thanks,” she replied, reaching out to take the card back and sighing dramatically at the question. “Just my professor throwing a tantrum, same old story really.”
Tillie smiled and nodded. “We do have a lot of sugary things here. How about our chocolate mousse mini entremet? I use a dark chocolate to make the mousse and it has a cake bottom and a crunchy hazelnut center?”
“A mini what?” Lottie asked in confusion. “I mean it sounds interesting but the word mini is worrying me, I’m looking for something to simultaneously get me through a lot of studying and change my life. I’m not sure something mini can do that!”
Lottie's wild adventure 