1 Chapter 1

Nate's POV

The most important meal of the day is breakfast, to start your day off with a delicious meal is the best feeling in the world no matter where you are. What's the best breakfast meal you may ask? Well, none other than a french toast with a blueberry muffin on the side paired with freshly-squeezed orange straight out the carton, of course. Not that it's what I actually had today or anything.

But that's not the only way to start your day with a smile, an obvious answer would be some good news. That way, you're already happy once you've left your bed before you even have your breakfast. There are a million things to be happy about in life, you just gotta find out what it is.

Waking up at 4 in the morning could be a heavy task to some but for me, I couldn't wait.

I stood in front of a small establishment building in 5th Street, looking through the frameless glass doors. A smile appeared on my face as I imagined the future of its business, full of people lining up at the cash register and people at the stock shelves picking their pastry to buy. A happy greeting at the front door and smiling cashiers and staff workers.

I come back to my senses when an elderly woman suddenly stood beside me. Her white, long braided hair instantly made me recognize her and assured myself.

"How long have you been staring at this?" she asked me, also looking at the same building.

I let out a small chuckle,"About 15 minutes," I answered honestly,"I can't wait." I expressed.

"How much did it cost you?" she asked me, both still looking at the building.

"Just a little over $50,000." I said, finally looking at the woman beside me, her short stature and gray crown coming to my full view.

"I'm glad you've finally achieved what you always wanted, Nathan." she deeply stated, I was surprised at her sudden message to me and slightly annoyed by her calling my first name,"I'm sure that if your parents can see you right now, they'd be proud of what their son had become." she acclaimed.

"I surely hope they do." I lowly phrased.

It's been a while since I've contacted my parents, ever since I moved to Aeredale I haven't heard anything from them in the city. I hope they're doing fine even if their son isn't with them at the moment.

Even after our argument about me dropping out of college for my own interest, I've always thought about them and how they are. It broke my heart when I decided to leave the house to find my own way. I wanted to do what I want but that's not what they wanted for me.

I couldn't agree to their terms of judging my life and controlling my decisions, I wanted to live my own life and I knew what I had to do to get it, even if it means breaking their hearts.

An hour later, I entered the empty building, walking through the shelves and getting a feel for the place. I went behind where the cash register is supposed to be, already imagining myself working at my own pastry business.

I wiped the counter with my hand and felt the satiny light brown tile countertop and smiled to myself, I looked up to see my best friend enter the building as well.

"Can I get a sandwich?" she joked, opening the glass door.

"Erin!" I gleefully exclaimed. She walked up to the counter and looked around,"What do you think?" I asked her.

"It looks good, can't wait for it to officially open." she stated, making a giddy laugh.

"Yeah," I leaned on the counter and looked at her,"Once my business starts to get recognized, I'll make sure to mention you as my biggest inspiration." I declared, earning a gasp from her.

"What? No, don't do that. Are you crazy?" she hit my right arm and so I pretended that it hurt.

I stood upright,"What? It's only fair, you're the one that introduced me to baking after all, and if I do so your grandmother's coffee shop might gain recognition too." I explained to her.

"No, you really don't have to. We don't need everyone to come to our coffee shop, it's strictly for Aeredale alone. You don't need to involve us in your success." she refused.

"You say that but once more people come to COCOasis, you'd be thanking me especially if they're from the city." I told her.

"Oh wow, such a gentleman you are," she teased, I grin and let out a small chuckle,"By the way, what are you gonna name this place?" she suddenly asked.

"I forgot about that, I don't know yet," I can't believe I haven't thought about the name of my own bakery,"Got any ideas?" I asked Erin.

"How about...Sweetie Pies?" she suggested.

"Hell no, that's the cheesiest thing I've ever heard." I rejected.

"You can totally put cheese on a pie." she joked and made me laugh.

"How about...The Pastry Corner?" she suggested, raising her eyebrows.

"The Pastry Corner? Hmm, it's not bad." It sounds generic but it's got some style to it.

"Alright, I gotta head in the shop. Grandma's probably pissed at me by now for being late. I'll see ya later." Erin said before leaving.

Erin Gardner is my best friend ever since I moved in Aeredale, I met her in the local church when I sat beside her during a mass. I bumped into her again when I went to her grandmother's coffee shop in 5th Street, she was very charismatic and open-minded so I thought about asking her if she could tell me about the town.

I was surprised when she agreed and actually did it, her eccentric approach to life got me interested in a lot of things I've never thought about before. She was the one that introduced me to baking in her workshop, I never thought baking would be a good hobby so I decided to put it to good use and make my business about pastries and baking.

Her grandmother owns the coffee shop beside my building called COCOasis, a portmanteau word of "cocoa" and "oasis". I thought it was cute and catchy, that's why it was the one I entered in and it's very close to my apartment unit.

I should probably head there too and get myself a cup before I check out the back room.