Chapter Text
Jack fumbled with the keys. It was only 5 AM and most of the world was still asleep. Tomorrow was the grand opening of his fathers new Tim Horton’s and Jack was supposed to meet him at the store today to help set everything up. If Jack had decided to come in extra early to appreciate the empty store one last time, well, that was up to him.
The lock finally clicked open and Jack felt a zing of pleasure as the little bell tinkled above him. He took a deep breath, expecting the smell of freshly cut wood and paint, but instead was overwhelmed with the smell of bread. Jack frowned and looked to the back of the shop. There was a light on and a trickle of pop music playing.
“Hello?” He called out.
Someone yelped, something banged, and suddenly a little blonde kid emerged from the kitchen. There was a smear of flour on his cheek and his hands were wringing a dishtowel.
“Hey! I’m sorry I didn’t realize anyone else was going to be coming in so early. I haven’t met any of the other bakers yet. My name is Eric.” The kid stuck out a hand for Jack to shake.
“Um…I’m not a baker.” He said stupidly. The kid was real cute and kind of nervous-awkward in a very endearing way.
Eric flushed pink immediately and his eyes widened with recognition.
“Oh my lanta! You must be Jack! Mr. Zimmerman told me he would be in with his son closer to 8! I just wasn’t expecting anyone for hours, I only just got started!”
As soon as he started speaking he started to bustle around. He hopped the counter in one smooth movement and began pulling things out of the espresso station.
“Let me at least make you a cup of coffee or something! I was planning on having a whole spread of breakfast ready for the crew for today.”
The kid had quickly turned into a whirlwind of small talk and coffee. If Jack weren’t so annoyed the shop wasn’t empty, he would probably have found it endearing…unfortunately, annoyed trumped endearing.
“No thank you” He said a little to sharply. He pulled his protein shake out of his backpack and sat down. Eric eyes widened and he froze. “You can just go back to work” Jack turned away and waited for the kid to leave. When he didn’t go away immediately he took out his laptop and put his headphones back in for good measure.
Jack eventually glanced up. Eric had a disappointed look on his face as he replaced the coffee and walked back to the kitchen. Jack felt something drop in his gut. This kid couldn’t be older then 17. It made Jack think back to when he was 17… he flinched and took a deep breath, he had made it through rehab and had gotten picked up by the Falconers after only 2 years at Samwell. But… 17 wasn’t exactly easy… maybe he should try to make nice.
The music in the back started again and he could faintly hear Eric singing along to it. Maybe he would try to talk to him again later.
Later turned out to be the next day for the grand opening. Everyone was exhausted but the first day had been a huge success. Jack hadn’t expected to run into him since he was the baker and would only be there in the early morning but round 2pm. His dad pulled him from an interview he was doing with some TV crew.
“Jack! I think this is the only new recruit you haven’t met yet! This is our new baker Eric!”
“Hey Jack” Eric said softly. He didn’t look at Jack when he said his name. The hand he held out for Jack to shake was lacking all the confidence of the day before.
“Nice to see you again Eric, sorry I surprised you yesterday.” Eric afforded him a tiny smile that looked more like a grimace.
“Its okay.” He glanced around. “I’m going to see if my aunt found a parking spot. Nice to see you both.” And with that he ducked away from the two of them. Jack tried to look for a quick getaway too… but didn’t quite make it.
“Jack!” Bob said. “What did you say to that boy yesterday?”
“Nothing really” Jacks brow furrowed “I was surprised he was here when I got here. I didn’t really feel like making friends.”
Bob sighed. “Jack that kid’s had it rough. He said in his interview he just moved here from Georgia for his senior year of high school. He wouldn’t say exactly why he moved but whatever it was must have been rather nasty, he was really uncomfortable when I asked him. He lives with his aunt. Apparently he moved in with her for a shot at the hockey team at the high school.”
“What does this have to do with me?” Jack was starting to get annoyed.
“Just you can be a bit intimidating when you’re in one of you moods. Try and make nice with the kid. I mean your three years older and a whole foot taller… go easy.” He patted Jack on the arm and disappeared into the crowd.
Jack didn’t see Eric again until he was about to leave for Providence. He couldn’t stop thinking about the hurt and nervous expression he had when Jack had seen him last. He jogged around the corner of his dads shop and shoved a key in the lock.
“Hey its Jack!” He called out loudly.
The music from the back was paused and the door to the kitchen swung open slowly. Sure enough Eric came nervously walking out from the back. He was wearing a new apron. It had Tim Horton’s Best Baker embroidered on the front, and a nametag that read Eric Bitwell.
“Hey Jack…” He looked hesitant to say anything else, though Jack saw his eyes flash to the coffee pot.
“A cup of coffee might be nice.” Jack tried to make it sound nice and warm, not like a demand.
Eric looked up and smiled a little. “Yeah, sure” He started making the coffee as Jack sat down.
Shit, Jack was really bad at small talk. “Euh…so… you play hockey?”
Eric looked up surprised “yeah, I played for a co-ed league in Georgia. How did you know that?”
“Papa said something.”
“Oh… “ Eric walked over with a full cup of black coffee. “I would offer you cream and sugar but something tells me you’re on some sort of NHL diet so…” Eric trailed off nervously.
Jack couldn’t leave with this kid still terrified with him, so he tried one more time.
“Eric.” Eric looked up at his name. “I’m sorry if I scared you when we first met. I’m not really good with people. You seem like a nice guy, I just…” Jack sighed, “Anyway, I didn’t really want to leave before apologizing right…”
Jack stared into his coffee. That was so dumb. Why did he have to be so awkward, he should have just left well enough alone.
Silence stretched between them until Jack finally chanced looked up. Eric was smiling down at him and … wow wasn’t that something.
“Well Mr. Zimmerman! I suppose I will have to forgive you. You making a special trip down to the store and all, I might even forgive the terrible way you drink your coffee.
Jack smiled and Eric beamed back at him. Suddenly Jack wished he had come in and to talk to Eric sooner.