Chocolate

Ramona had the day off from work so after school, she began the slow trek home. The snow was abating, but the ground was still icy in some places. She clung to the walls of the shops, avoiding all the pedestrians passing the clumsy girl.

"Ramona!"

Ramona looked up to see Anita waving at her, accompanied by Miles' sister. She hadn't worked much with Leigha now that Miles worked different hours than his sister. And Cyrus scheduled Ramona to work with Miles to save her from her nasty trips. So they hadn't spoken much. Ramona returned the wave and then continued walking towards them.

"Heading to the grocery store?" asked Anita, coming up alongside the girl. Leigha followed behind, but still able to look at Ramona.

"No, Mom doesn't have me go to the store in the winter."

The two other girls looked at each other before turning back to Ramona, confused.

"So you aren't going to make Valentine's chocolate?" asked Leigha.

Ramona stopped, feeling her face heating up. All day at school, her friends had talked about giving chocolates to the boys they liked. Ramona had declined since there was no boy at school that interested her. But with her co-workers present, they reminded her of Miles. She should give him chocolate, at least as a thank you for saving her so many times. But no declaration of romantic feelings.

"I...uh...well...um…," she stammered, words failing her as Anita and Leigha's eyes widened in surprise.

"You're not making chocolates for Miles?" asked Leigha, leaning in and raising her eyebrows.

"I thought for certain you were soulmates," added Anita, looking to Leigha for confirmation. They both looked back at the younger girl who was now turning bright red.

"No, no, no, no, no, not soulmates. Just co-workers. Friends. Who helps save me from falling."

"And spends Christmas with you," chimed in Anita, pulling Ramona away from the wall.

"Aw, they spent Christmas together?" asked Leigha. Anita nodded in affirmation, keeping a firm grip on Ramona's hand.

"She also took care of him when he got sick at the beginning of the year."

Leigha looked at the smaller girl as if she had found the most adorable doll, wrapping her arm around her.

"Maybe I could buy him some chocolates," murmured Ramona, Leigha shaking her head and tsking.

"You don't buy the boy you like chocolate. It's all about handmade, "corrected Leigha.

"Don't you want him to know how you feel?" asked Anita.

"We're just friends."

"You say that, but do you feel that way?" asked Anita.

"And how does Miles feel? He doesn't catch anyone else as far as I know."

Ramona could feel her face heat up, an unintelligible whine escaping her lips.

"Tell us how you feel around Miles," pushed Leigha.

"W-well," she started, even quieter than usual. The two other girls were leaning in closer to listen.

"Lately whenever he catches me, I feel warmed up inside, embarrassed and happy all at the same time. And my heart sometimes beats faster, like I can't breathe right when I think about him. It leaves me confused."

The two other girls looked at each other.

"Girl! You are in love," squealed Leigha.

"I-in love?"

"Well, crushing at least. How long has this been going on?"

"At least a month."

Leigha nodded. "it might be more than a crush, but we need to make sure it is the real deal."

"And the best way to do that is to make him chocolate," added Anita.

"Exactly. We're going to make friend chocolates for the guys so you can make one for Miles," offered Leigha. She led Ramona inside the store with Anita. "Or in Anita's case, a special district manager," she teased.

Figuring this was a good change of subject, Ramona took it. "You found your soulmate?"

Anita was turning bright pink, avoiding Ramona and Leigha's gaze.

"Well, I don't know, I haven't seen his hand yet. But he's been so nice to me when he comes to the restaurant. It makes me hope he is my soulmate."

"Daw," Leigha cooed, leading the girls over to where the chocolate was on display.

"So that makes two potential couples based on this chocolate," announced Leigha. Anita and Ramona each took one bag while Leigha took two.

"Women, we will not let this holiday go in vain. Today is the first step forward to love!"

Anita cheered in agreement. Ramona was less enthusiastic as the two other girls dragged her over to the counter to buy the chocolate.

"If chocolate is a declaration of love, then why are you making friendship chocolates?" asked Ramona.

The two older girls looked at each other, then down to Ramona.

"So, the other guys don't feel left out."

Ramona nodded, paying for her bag of chocolate. She moved next to Leigha as they waited for Anita.

"So you know, if you ever get together with Miles, you have my full support as your future sister-in-law."

Ramona felt herself combust on the inside. Too much teasing for one day. Leigha steadied her as Anita came over. Both girls linked arms with Ramona as they left the store.

"Since I have my place, it would be safe for us to make the chocolates there," explained Anita. The trio made their way in the same direction Ramona had been heading but made a left turn at the next light.

Ramona remained in a daze for the rest of their walk. She came to when they had to climb the stairs of a two-story apartment complex.

"How did we make it here?" whispered Ramona.

"We walked, although it was a little difficult keeping you between us so you wouldn't fall. You made it safely, so you should be fine."

Ramona furrowed her brows, uncertain what that meant. How far away from home was she, and would the chocolate she made stay safe all the way home?

Anita unlocked the apartment door. A small hallway led to a large room with a bed covered with a pink blanket and a table in the middle. A small hall doorway led to the kitchen that also opened to the big room. There was a laptop sitting on a little nightstand near the bed. The opposite wall held a bookshelf with books on photography, hands, and assorted photo albums. On the shelf below were several cameras, a few old and well used.

"Oh, let me pull in the laundry; you both feel free to use the kitchen. Make yourselves at home."

The other girls took off their winter gear and Leigha put their supplies in the kitchen. "I love your place," she commented.

"Thank you. It's between my parents' houses so they visit."

Anita disappeared onto the balcony to retrieve the laundry while Leigha and Ramona went to the kitchen. Leigha pulled out the bags of chocolate as Ramona searched the cabinets for the kitchen utensils they would need.

"So you are making chocolates for the staff at Tormino's?" asked Ramona as she pulled out a bowl.

"Yep, and you can join in too. That way it's like a gift from all the girls, except for Sierra. We asked her to join, but she had work and said she didn't do chocolate for co-workers. Said she was going to buy chocolates for all the people she had borrowed instruments from."

Ramona nodded, seeing Sierra's point. But the men at Tormino's had been helpful, in their ways, since she had started working there. So making appreciation chocolate would be nice.

"Norman and Miles will get special chocolates."

"What about Shasta?"

Leigha looked down at Ramona as they prepped the ingredients.

"What about Shasta?"

Ramona's eyes widened as she realized that Leigha didn't know about Shasta liking Anita.

"Nothing," she said, looking around for more things to help them make the chocolate.

Leigha scrunched her eyebrows, much like her brother as she thought.

"Right, he appreciates her as floor chief…or something."

"What?" asked Anita, coming in with the basket of laundry.

"Shasta appreciates you as floor chief," informed Leigha. Ramona really felt like hiding at the misinformation. She looked back to Anita, who seemed quite giddy at the idea.

"That's lovely. I'll add a little something extra to Shasta's chocolates."

Leigha nodded in agreement as Anita joined them in the kitchen.

"Let's start baking, or whatever you do to make chocolate," announced Leigha. She rolled up her sleeves, while grabbing aprons and tossing one over to Ramona and one to Anita.

The girls started making the chocolates, deciding to form it into squares. It was strange yet fun for Ramona to hang out with her older co-workers as they chatted and giggled. Leigha teased Anita about Norman. Anita encouraged Leigha to find her soulmate. They would need to figure out her soul mark, though. By late that night, Ramona's chocolates had set and were cooling for the night. They all took a momentary rest before for a light dinner, leaving the girls to finish their chocolate close to nine.

"I'll bring them by on Valentine’s Day," offered Anita as Ramona put on her coat.

"Alright," Ramona looked back at the two girls to see that Leigha wasn't making any move to leave.

"Are you not leaving?"

"Naw, I'm going to hang out a bit longer. Get home safe."

Ramona nodded before leaving. Satisfied that the porch wasn't slippery, she made her way down, touching the walls for support where she could. When she made it to the sidewalk, she pulled out her phone and typed in her address. Luckily, it wasn't too far. Tormino's was almost the halfway point between their houses. With a nod, Ramona set out in the right direction, only to trip on the ice and grabbing for the wall.

"Stupid ice," she muttered, wishing that she had prayed for the ice to go away on New Year's.

She crawled along the wall, checking her phone now and then to make sure she was going in the right direction. She stopped at an intersection, looking both ways before crossing. A sharp honk startled her and Ramona lost her footing as the blinding lights of a car approached. She felt someone grab her wrist and pull her out of the way. She went crashing into a firm chest as a car sped past, hearing the familiar grumble of, "Idiot."

She looked to see Miles Sonata glaring at the car before turning back to Ramona, eyes softened in concern.

"You alright, Ramona?"

Ramona realized how close they were for once and that his arms were wrapped around her. Her cheeks heated up as she looked down to where his jacket parted, revealing his school uniform. She nodded, feeling Miles breathing a sigh of relief.

"That's good. What are you doing out here?" Miles asked, letting go of his tight hold. He took her arm as usual as he led her across the street.

"I was heading home from Anita's."

Miles nodded. "I didn't realize we lived so close."

"What?" Ramona looked at her phone to find instead of her address it was Miles' address where she was heading. When that had changed, she didn't know, but it did make sense since she hadn't passed Tormino's.

"Do you know how to get back to your house from mine?"

Ramona shook her head. "I had to use a map. I can only remember places after visiting them for a long time."

Miles nodded in understanding. "Want me to help you get home? It will be a lot faster."

Ramona looked up at Miles, her eyes sparkling with hope. Miles felt his face warm up as he looked away. Why did she look so cute when lost? Why did he think Ramona was adorable? Now was not the time to be thinking about this, even though she looked pretty in her oversized winter coat and scarf.

"Ok," she whispered. She held Miles' arm tightly with as she typed in the correct address. She showed Miles the map. He nodded and headed in the opposite direction. To make sure she didn't trip, she grabbed Miles' arm with her other hand. Ramona felt her heart beat wildly the whole time, but it was a good feeling that she knew what to call.