Sweet sixteen, and we had arrived
˚₊‧꒰ა🍂🍁🧡 ໒꒱ ‧₊
It had been a few weeks since Noel’s arrival, and Ava couldn’t believe how quickly the otherworldly girl had adjusted to her new life. From learning how to use the internet to figuring out how to take care of herself, Noel was fitting in better than Ava had expected. In fact, Noel seemed to be thriving, always exploring new things with her usual curiosity—like how humans interacted with their technology, or her fascination with the strange food they ate here.
Noel’s apricot-colored hair had started to grow a little longer, and she had taken to tying it up in a small ponytail to keep it out of her face. Her wardrobe had evolved, too, from the strange, almost ceremonial clothes she’d arrived in to more Earth-appropriate outfits—though her taste in fashion was... unique. Ava had managed to convince her that dresses and skirts were far more practical than flowing robes, and they suit her more!
This morning, the two were lounging on the couch in Ava’s apartment, the sunlight filtering through the blinds as Noel read an old Earth magazine Ava had handed her. The room was filled with a sense of calm, the familiar hum of everyday life, until Ava’s phone suddenly buzzed.
She picked it up without much thought, glancing at the screen. "It’s Lorelai," she muttered to herself, frowning slightly. Lorelai was an old friend, if she can call her that, from high school—a bit eccentric, always getting herself involved in random projects, and this time was no different. Ava hadn’t heard from her in months. Considering she also has other friends, it's not really surprising. Ava herself never really had a good rep in high school.
“Hey, Lorelai, what’s up?”
A voice full of energy erupted from the other end. “Ava! I need your help with something. It's urgent, and you’re the only one who can do it!”
Ava raised an eyebrow, leaning back on the couch. “Urgent? What is it this time?”
“You’ve heard of the bake sale at the community center, right? Well, I’m in charge of the booth this year and—surprise, surprise—I’ve somehow ended up with way too many pastries to sell. I need a hand with the setup and... okay, fine, I need help with the baking too. But mostly, I need someone who knows how to organize chaos.”
Ava couldn’t help but chuckle. Lorelai had always had a knack for taking on more than she could handle. “I’m pretty sure you’re the only person who could turn a simple bake sale into a ‘mission impossible,’ but fine, I’ll help. When do you need me there?”
“This afternoon! I’m at the community center right now, setting up. If you bring a friend along, that’d be great too. More hands, less work, you know?”
Ava glanced at Noel, who was curiously peering over the top of the magazine she was reading. “Yeah, I’ve got a friend with me. I’ll bring Noel along, she could use some time out of the apartment.”
“Perfect! See you soon, then!”
Ava hung up the phone, standing up and stretching. Noel had already noticed the conversation and was eyeing her with mild curiosity.
“What’s a ‘bake sale’?” Noel asked, her voice genuinely intrigued.
Ava smirked. “It’s a kind of event where people sell homemade baked goods—cookies, cakes, pies, you name it. It’s a community thing. People gather, talk, eat sweets. It's simple fun, but... with Lorelai in charge, it’s probably going to be chaotic.”
“I see. I can help,” Noel said confidently, standing up from the couch and walking over to the door. “I believe I could... assist in the preparation. I have learned many things about food.”
Ava raised an eyebrow at her, amused by Noel’s enthusiasm. “You’ve learned how to make scrambled eggs, yeah. But baking is a whole different beast. I’m not sure you’re ready for that.”
Noel shot her a playful grin. “I will be fine, Ava. I promise.”
Ava laughed, shaking her head as she grabbed her jacket. “Alright, alright. You can come along. Just... maybe don’t try to use magic to make the cake rise, okay?”
Noel gave her a blank stare. “I will not use magic. That would be unfair to the other participants.”
“Good,” Ava replied with a grin. “Come on, let’s get going.”
˚₊‧꒰ა🍂🍁🧡 ໒꒱ ‧₊
The community center was buzzing when they arrived. Ava spotted Lorelai immediately, standing near a large table piled high with pastries, cookies, and pies. She was wearing an apron that said “Bake Sale Queen” in bright, bold letters, and was frantically attempting to organize the chaotic display.
“Lorelai!” Ava called, waving her hand to get her attention.
Lorelai looked up and grinned. “Ava! And... Noel, right? So glad you two made it!” She walked over and gave Ava a quick hug before looking at Noel with curiosity. “I see we’ve got some extra help. You’re the one she was telling me about, huh?”
Noel nodded politely, her apricot hair shimmering under the fluorescent lights. “Yes. I am Noel. It is an honor to assist with the bake sale.” She gave a small, formal bow, much to Ava’s surprise.
Lorelai chuckled at Noel’s seriousness. “I like her already. Alright, enough chit-chat! I need help putting these cookies into cute little bags, and I can’t handle this pile of cupcakes alone. You two up for it?”
Ava rolled up her sleeves. “You got it, Lorelai. Just... try to keep things from spiraling into complete chaos, okay?”
“Chaos?” Lorelai grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “That’s the fun part!”
Noel, meanwhile, had already begun examining the baked goods with a critical eye. She picked up a cupcake and raised an eyebrow. “This creation is peculiar. Is the frosting supposed to be so... colorful?” she asked, her voice full of wonder.
Ava laughed. “Yeah, it’s called ‘funfetti.’ It’s supposed to be bright and... fun.”
Noel looked at the sprinkles on the cupcake and then glanced back at Ava. “It is certainly... fun, yes. I think I understand.” She grinned and picked up another cupcake, carefully placing it into one of the bags they were preparing.
Lorelai watched the interaction with a laugh. “Ava, she’s adorable. You didn’t tell me you were hanging out with someone who could make cupcakes sound philosophical.”
Ava chuckled. “She’s definitely unique. You’ll get used to her.”
˚₊‧꒰ა🍂🍁🧡 ໒꒱ ‧₊
The hours passed quickly as they helped Lorelai set up. Noel, despite her inexperience with human baking, was impressively meticulous, organizing the baked goods and stacking them in neat rows. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Ava couldn’t help but smile at how well she was fitting in.
By the time the bake sale officially opened, the table was a masterpiece of cakes, cookies, and pies—each one more colorful and inviting than the last. People started to arrive, picking out their treats and chatting with one another.
As they worked the table, Ava looked over at Noel, who was handing out cookies with a radiant smile. There was something about the way she interacted with people—her innocent curiosity combined with her sincerity—that made Ava feel more at ease than she’d ever expected. It was almost like they’d always been this way, like it was just... natural.
"You seem to be getting the hang of Earth things," Ava said, smiling softly.
Noel met her gaze, eyes twinkling. "I like it here. The people are kind, and I enjoy... helping. Even if it is with something as simple as these cookies."
Ava grinned. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”
And in that moment, as she watched Noel laughing with a child over a cookie and Lorelai gushing about her latest project, Ava realized that this chaotic little event had become something more than just a favor to an old friend. It was a reminder of how far Noel had come, and how far they both still had to go together.
˚₊‧꒰ა🍂🍁🧡 ໒꒱ ‧₊