"Ms. Garwood!" Lexi greeted me as we were setting up the bake sale.

"Hello, sweetheart." I pat her head softly.

Looking behind her, I saw her parents walking over to our direction holding baskets of baked goods. We talked for a while. They asked how their daughter was in school and asked again where they could start displaying for the bake sale. I showed them where their place was and left to help out the others before we could finally start opening up.

The place was packed. Since the school was near the main street of the town, we put a sign there about the bake sale so anyone can come and buy something. The students were really enjoying themselves. They were tasked to collect the money from the customers. There's a teacher or two to help them out. I was walking around the place, helping here and there, making sure everything is going smoothly. Currently, I was helping with one of the stalls and one the students here was Annie.

"How much for the Snickerdoodle cookies?" A man that looks like he's in his mid twenties asked.

"Two cookies cost $1.50- Uncle Jace?!" Annie's shrieking surprised me with how loud it was. "You're here! You're here! You're here!" Annie exclaimed in a high-pitched voice. She couldn't contain her excitement that she went under the table to go attack her uncle with a hug.

"A little birdie told me that you'd be here, princess." The man took her in his arms and carried her before placing a kiss on her temple. The guy was dressed in a collared blue t-shirt and men's shorts.

So this is her uncle that she mentions sometimes. The first time I heard about him was we were having a show and tell. Annie brought a small music box to class that day. It was a beautiful music box.

"That's my teacher, Ms. Garwood." She pointed at me. "And this is my Uncle Jace, Ms. Garwood."

"Jace Larson." He said, putting his free hand for a handshake.

"Callisa Garwood." I introduced myself, shaking his hand. "You can call me Callie."

"Eww! Ms. Garwood, make sure to wash your hands after. You don't want to get cooties from him." Annie exclaimed.

I laughed.

"Hey, I thought we agreed that I don't have any cooties on me?" Jace said in a fake angry tone, tickling her.

"Callie! Callie! Cal- oh there you are!" I see Tracy looking a little frustrated. "Do you have by any chance a change for a hundred dollars? Honestly, why would anyone pay a hundred dollars for a two dollar chocolate chip cookie? Like it's still early in the day, I don't have enough change for that." Tracy blabbered.

"I don't know if we have enough money for that, Trace. Let me go check." I grabbed the money box and it turns out I have more than enough money for a change.

"Hi, Ms. Stevens!" Annie beamed, waving her hand.

"Hello, Annie..." Tracy replied to Annie, but her voice trailed off when she saw Jace. Her eyes widened in a fraction and she froze for a second.

My brows furrowed. I looked at her for a moment before looking at Jace, who also has shock written all over his face. I looked back and forth between them. Do they know each other?

I cleared my throat trying to get Tracy's attention. "Trace, here's the money."

Tracy snapped out of her trance and snapped her head towards me. "Thanks, Callie. I..uh, need to go. Don't want the customer waiting." She quickly excused herself out of the picture.

I blinked twice, before returning back to my work. "Do you still want to buy those snickerdoodles?" I asked Jace, who was still looking at the direction where Tracy left.

He snapped back into reality. "Oh, right. I'll take four of those." He said, putting Annie down and getting his wallet and pulling out three dollars.

I gave him the cookies and I took the money. Jace asked Annie if he wanted to go walk around with him, she said that she will stay here. He then told her that he will see her later before leaving.

The first day of the bake sale was successful. We sold a lot of baked goods and earned a lot of money.

I was having my short break right now. I was looking for Tracy because she was also on her break. I guess luck was on my side because I immediately saw her walking close by...with Jace following right behind her, chasing her tail?

"Tracy!" I called.

"Oh my gosh, Callie!" She seemed relieved that she saw me.

She fast walked her way to me before grabbing my arm and dragged me inside the school to the faculty room. We caught our breaths when we arrived. I don't have a single clue of what's going on right now.

"Tracy, what was that out there?" I asked.

She pursed her lips before answering. "So I might have hooked up with him when I was visiting my aunt in California. You know the trip I told you about back in the summer."

I nodded my head, following through her story.

"It happened like this: I was staying at my aunt's house. She had a neighbor who was my age and we got along. She invited me to a party at her friend's house and that's where I met him. We talked. I enjoyed it a lot. We got out of that party and went to his place instead. We kissed and tumbled in bed. I really thought that was one of my greatest nights ever. Next morning, I woke up first, took a shower and got dressed. Decided I wanted to wait for him until he woke up, so I cooked breakfast. I was done cooking when the doorbell rang and I opened it. There was a woman outside. She asked me who I was. I didn't answer her question, instead I answered her with another question. I asked her who she was. She said she was his girlfriend. I wanted to kill myself then and there. He practically cheated with me. I quickly left his place with the remaining dignity I still have. Let me tell you, I almost had none. I hid in my aunt's house for the rest of my remaining days before my flight."

She looked like she was about to burst into tears.

"Oh, Tracy," I cooed, pulling her into a tight hug. "Don't worry, it's alright."

I spent the rest of my break with Tracy sitting on our desks and we made coffee, too. We finished our coffee right before leaving the room to go back to the back sale.

Tracy and I went our separate ways. She told me that we will see each other later.

I returned back to my stall and I was back at work. I talked with some of the parents of my students. Thankful that none of them have attacked me yet for stupid reasons like blaming me why their children's grades are like that or whatnot.

"How much for all the gingersnap cookies?" The very familiar voice asked while I was busy with arranging the display.

I only know one person in my life that has always been obsessed with gingersnap cookies.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, completely shocked why Jack was standing in front of me.

=====

A/N: Hi, I know I said I'd be back after my exams but... I couldn't help but write another chapter. Hope you enjoyed reading this!