On a beautiful spring day when you were having fun preparing delicious desserts, getting your hands dirty with flour and dancing to the music, the birds took off, bringing with them every bit of sadness. Your fingers dug into the sticky mixture, the jar of jam next to you just waiting to touch your honeyed lips, little soft pads. You innocently raised your gaze and a little further from your house and beyond the now growing hedge, with its small yellow and violet flowers, you noticed a figure standing in front of the basketball court, in all its solitude. Her muscular arms immediately passed under your eyes. Her tank top was sweaty and her hair was perfectly slicked back with gel. She looked down, wiping sweat from her forehead with her wrist, breathing heavily. And you were holding onto the counter as if only her strong shoulders were enough to make you faint. Your fingers caressed the soft dough while you tried not to look at her too much, so she wouldn't turn around and feel uncomfortable, then they dug into the jam jar, awkwardly. Your cheeks turned red. Lips caressed the soft skin of your fingers. And Ellie realized it. She had abandoned the basketball and sat on the wooden bench, passing her arm over it, with her legs wide open. Her gaze remained glued to you the entire time. A mixture of confusion and perceptive malice crept into her eyes as she knew exactly why you were watching her. You regretted having only realized her presence that moment, even though the woman came daily immediately after the part time job she had found. And like a naughty child, you bent down to be able to put the dish in the oven. You promised yourself you'd bring her a piece. “She must like it,” you thought. But the way she looked at your shiny lips like a hungry lion, it wasn't because of the jam awkwardly smeared at the sides of your mouth, but rather from the temptation to sink her tongue into them. And once the dessert was ready, you tied your hair and walked out with a tray richly filled with food.