Present Day

One Week Later

"Good job, Jace, you're really getting the hang of this. I know this computer system can be a nightmare," Scarlett said, giving her newer employee an encouraging grin. He beamed back at her, bouncing a bit behind the register. Scarlett had just hired two boys from the city who went to high school. They both needed jobs and when she saw how well they were able to follow her recipes and connect with customers, she hired them immediately.

The boys said they didn't know each other, but Scarlett saw them sneaking glances at each other during their training. She had worked the schedule so they had a few shifts a week together. She had to call Jace in as an emergency when Maeve didn't show for her shift. He lived in the area and came ten minutes later when he was promised double pay for the day.

"Hello, welcome to-" Jace began excitedly before the customer rudely interrupted him.

"Medium hot coffee and a... just give me a jelly doughnut," the man said and hadn't even looked up from his phone as he ordered.

"Sure, coming right up," Jace said, seeming slightly deflated. Scarlett saw this and followed him to the coffee where the customer couldn't hear. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and offered a smile.

"I always say that this city has it's mood automatically sent to crabby, but we don't have to be that way. You're doing really well here and this city could use more of your positivity," Scarlett said and was glad she said something because his face lit up again.

"Thanks, boss."

"We've been over this, Jace. Just call me Scarlett."

"Sounds good, boss."

Scarlett was about to walk away when she felt a hand grab her wrist. She stopped and turned back to the boy, eyebrow raised in question. "Yeah?"

"Ethan didn't get fired, did he?" the boy asked, doe eyes wide.

Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "No, of course not. Why do you ask?"

"Well, you always put us on together and I'm working today and he isn't, I know you called me in last minute, but I was sort of worried that-" Jace rambled, clearly nervous.

"I didn't fire him," Scarlett assured gently, "he just wasn't available when I called him in. I know you guys like working together, I tried to get him in today but he had plans. You guys are friends, huh?"

Jace looked flustered, mouth forming a small circle in surprise. "Oh! Well, he's nice!"

Scarlett couldn't help but grin, not wanting to pry on their relationship or suggest anything that might make the timid boy uncomfortable. She just gave him a small nod before she went back to the back to bake the next batch.

Scarlett checked in on her doughnuts, humming in satisfaction that they were nearly done. She had already made the glaze for them and put it in the fridge to cool. She was grateful one of the new boys showed up to the shift on time to work the register while she baked in the back.

Normally, Maeve would be working this shift with her, but someone hadn't even texted her to let her know she'd be late. She was about to send Maeve a text to see where she was when she heard her friend shouting, "Sorry I'm late!".

Scarlett let out a breath of relief. Normally, Maeve would text her she would be late and typically it would only be a few minutes past her shift- at most twenty minutes. This time she was over an hour and a half late to her shift with no texts. Scarlett had sent a few texts to make sure she was okay, and she was getting worried when she got no response.

"I know I'm really late, but I have a really good reason this time!" Maeve tried, holding her hands out as if to defend herself.

"All right, let me hear it," Scarlett braced herself, propping her hand on her hip.

"Nate Cameron."

"Who?"

"The singer Aster was telling us about on Friday! I listened to his album all morning, he's amazing!" Maeve gushed, showing her phone out to show her friend the album.

Scarlett rolled her eyes, pushing the phone away from her face. "While I'm sure it's great, care to explain why that would make you late to work?"

"I just got like, really, really emotional listening to it. It sounds like a story the way the album is set up, the songs are amazing!" she continued, following Scarlett to the front as she helped Jace with the orders. Her hand shot out and grabbed Scarlett's shoulder, spinning her around. "Oh! I almost forgot!"

"What?" Scarlett whined.

"He's gonna be on an interview for Ellen! Right now, actually. I'm putting it on," she said, walking around the counter and pulling a seat from one of the small tables, sitting in the middle of the bakery while customers stood around her. They had a small television propped on the wall where they sometimes projected the menu. This time, it's showing The Ellen Show.

"Maeve! You're meant to be working!"

"Jack's totally got this, right kid?"

"It's Jace."

"Right on, little man."

Before Scarlett could stop her, Maeve had already turned the television on and switched it to the right channel. Scarlett groaned and went to the back. She carefully took the doughnuts from the oven and made her way to the front of the bakery. They were perfectly brown and fluffy, making her smile. They were easily her best batch of the day.

"And now, we have the up and coming singer, Nate Cameron! He released his debut album a few months ago and is currently touring the states. His music took off recently when..." Scarlett's attention began to drift as Ellen continued to introduce the singer who had yet to appear on the screen.

"Now, let's give a warm welcome to Nate!"

Scarlett turned around when she heard how loudly the fans in the crowd were screaming.

She wished she hadn't turned around.

Immediately, she dropped the doughnuts to the floor when she saw his face.

"Damn, I thought I was a bad employee," Maeve commented with a whistle, eyeing the destroyed doughnuts.

Scarlett didn't bother answering, because all she could focus on right now was that 'Mason', the boy she met two years ago, was on her television.

"Oh, my god," she murmured, not even caring about her doughnuts or the growing line of customers. "Jace, you got this right?"

Jace frantically protested but Scarlett moved around the counter, taking a chair and placing it next to Maeve. "Knew you wouldn't be able to resist! He's hot, isn't he?"

Scarlett nodded numbly, not believing her eyes.

"Thank you for having me, Ellen," Nate said with his charming smile that Scarlett had missed those two years.

"Of course! Glad you could make it. So, tell me about... this!" Ellen said, gesturing to him on the couch. His head dipped and he let out a chuckle, the crowd laughing with him.

"My career?" he specified with raised eyebrows, a large smile painted on his gorgeous face.

"Sure, yeah- that." The crowd laughed again at her antics. "Been a crazy few months, huh?"

He nodded, rubbing his hands together. "Right, well, I released my debut album 'Quinn', a few months ago and I had about a hundred thousand followers at the time from posting a few EPs, but they didn't really stick. Then I released 'Quinn', and everything really just changed from there. It was crazy, really," Nate gushed, leaning forward on the chair. "These huge artists that I grew up idolizing were posting my songs. Everything really took off from there, I'm close to about two million followers now."

The crowd cheered and Ellen nodded while smiling. "What do you think made the difference with this album?"

Nate took a second, licking his lips. "It tells a story. It- it's really personal to me and I feel like my listeners felt everything I felt. The EPs were fun to make, but they weren't my story."

"So, if this is your story, is 'Quinn' a real person?" Ellen asked with a gleam in her eyes.

"Well, that's complicated. So, I won't answer that," Nate said with a tilt of his head. Ellen groaned and everyone laughed again.

Maeve was smiling and laughing along, completely oblivious that Scarlett's jaw was nearly hitting the floor at this point. Ellen had asked a few more questions about what being on tour was like and when to expect more music. They talked for a bit more and Scarlett barely heard a word of it, completely in awe that she was seeing him after so long.

"And now, you're gonna perform your recent single from the album, right?"

"Yes, I'll be singing 'Don't Let it be Never', which is, for sure, a favorite of mine."

Nate had gotten up and walked over to the band. He looked amazing. He was wearing a black leather jacket with black jeans and a light blue t-shirt. His hair hadn't changed at all, but he had some scruff on his chin. He looked a bit less clean-cut than he did two years ago and Scarlett was so happy about that. He looked so comfortable and at ease.

The band began to play a very upbeat song. He grinned into his microphone, looking directly into the camera and, what felt like, directly into Scarlett's soul. He bounced a bit as the song began, singing the beginning of the song.

"Here we are... we've only got tonight," he sang in a low tone, continuing on with the verse. The verse was slow and she could feel the build-up. "You are... all I see."

The pre-course had the band playing a bit more quickly, continuing to build the song, Maeve squealed and frantically grabbed onto her friend, jumping slightly in her chair. Scarlett was wide-eyed and speechless. The song had a bit more edge to it than Scarlett had expected, having more of a rock sound to it.

The band stopped abruptly. Nate glanced around for a moment with that damn charming smile. He took off his jacket and tossed it to the side, making his fans, and Maeve, scream. Scarlett wanted to roll her eyes at his dramatics but couldn't help but stare at his arms. Nate picked his electric guitar up and began to play with the band, his grin only widening. He suddenly punched the air once as the band began to play again.

"Clocks move onwards, but," he sang loudly and held the last word as the band rocked on behind him. "We can't be bothered, no."

"Won't stop searching and," Nate sang on, his eyes darting down to his guitar every once in a while to adjust his fingers, "our love is burning now." Nate continued to shred on the guitar, shaking his head slightly in exhilaration. "Watch as you walk away- oh. You know, what they say."

Nate paused again as he smirked directly at the camera which had Scarlett's stomach fluttering. He quickly threw the guitar over his shoulder, spinning it right back into his arms. Scarlett swooned as he did that, he really was as smooth as ever. "They say that it's now or never. Though it can't be now, don't let it be never."

Nate looked like a natural on the stage, as if he was born to do this and this only. His smile told Scarlett everything she needed to know- that this was what he was meant to do with his life. Itwas incredible that he had found his calling so early on in his life, and now got to live doing what he was born to do. The song eventually ended and Maeve was clapping wildly next to her.

"Wasn't he amazing? I told you!" Maeve exclaimed.

"Holy shit," Scarlett managed to breathe out.

"I know right, I loved when-"

"He's 'Mason'. He was the guy I met at college our senior year when I was coming back from my Dad's funeral. I'm 'Quinn', the album is named after me and that song was about me. That's all about our story," Scarlett rushed out breathlessly with wide eyes.

There was a pause.

"Holy shit."