"And then you see her, waiting by the store's door.

And suddenly you can't think anymore.

She looks at you with that same pretty smile,

And maybe this could be simply worthwhile."

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE: CHAPTER ONE.

heart drops, time stops.

By: striped-heart.

"Mornin' Clark."

The said girl smiled up at her grandfather and greeted him with a soft, slightly groggy, "g'morning". She placed two mugs on their table, one containing coffee and the other containing hot chocolate. He yawned loudly as he flipped another page of his newspaper and reached out to get his hot chocolate. She shook her head at him with an amused smile. He caught this action and raised a brow, not being able to hide his own grin.

"What is it?"

"Nothing." She answered with a shrug, "Just thinking, I suppose."

"Thinking? 'Bout what?"

"Stuff."

"Stuff, eyy." He repeated with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Not some random girl you've met in one of those--what you all young people call 'em nowadays? Dating sites?"

She scoffed, "Of course not." She said, "Thanks for reminding me of my almost non-existent love-life."

He rolled his eyes, "Honey, it is non-existent." He said matter-of-factly, "When was the last time you went and had some fun with your friends? Or the last time you took a girl out for some dinner or something? I really don't understand why you waste your time with an old geezer like myself."

She frowned, "You're not that old."

He rolled his eyes again, "Yeah right. I suppose that sixty five is the new twenty then?"

She smiled at him, "It could be."

"So, what is it?"

"What's what?"

"The thing that's got you thinking." He said, "What is it?"

"I don't know, how I'm so lucky to have you, I guess."

"Huh," He uttered in an amused tone, "Imagine that. My own little Clark, being as sweet as she was all those years ago." He then faked a dramatic sniff, "I always wondered where my sweet, kind, gentle granddaughter had gone to. I'm glad you found your inner-child."

She giggled, "Well, I did now." She said then sipped her coffee, "But seriously, I don't know what I've done without you."

"Really, now."

"Yes," She said, "Really."

With that, he continued reading, a small smile forming on his lips.

And that was the last time she saw him.

The last time she cried was when she accidentally cut herself with this huge knife while helping her mom in the kitchen; and that was when she was twelve. She didn't cry when her first serious girlfriend left her for another. She didn't cry when her schoolmates found out about her sexuality and when they teased, taunted, and called her names. Nor did she cry when her parents found out, screamed at her, and kicked her out. No, she didn't cry because she always had someone to comfort her. Someone to tell her that everything will be alright. Someone to gently stroke her hair as she fell asleep.

That someone was her grandfather.

And now, as she stared at the big white casket, realization slapped her in the face. Hard. Everything came crashing down on her, and she could feel herself hyperventilating. Oh god, what was she going to do now? And fucking hell, why the hell is it always her?

Suddenly, a hand clasped her shoulder. She turned her head around and her eyes softened.

It was her brother.

Yeah, she had a brother. He was two years younger than herself and was the only one in the family, besides their grandfather, that accepted her sexuality. He smiled sadly and wrapped his arms around her small waist. Her knuckles brushed against her eyelids and his chin rested on her shoulder.

"I know how much you love him."

"Do you really?"

"...yeah."

They stayed in silence until she decided to speak.

"Ben?" She called out.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know what I regret?" She asked and didn't give him enough time to respond, "that I didn't spend more time with him."

"You're kidding, right?" He chuckled softly, "You spent every single day with him."

She closed her eyes and whispered, "I wish the time I spent with him could've been more then."

"Me too," He agreed and held her tighter, "Clark?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you," He said, "Even if you are who you are, I don't care. You're my sister, no matter what, and I love you."

"I-I..." She choked, "I-I...l-love you too."

And then she realized that she was, in fact, crying.

She ran away from the cemetery, clad in a pretty black dress, the high-heels she wore at first were disregarded along the way. It was too much of a bother. Those things hurt like hell. She would often wonder why women (or sometimes even men) would wear those horrid things.

Somehow, she found herself staring at the small cute cake shop her grandfather owns. Ah, wait. Owned, she meant. The name of the shop, "Joanie&Richard's" lighting up in bright neon blue. What will happen to this? She thought to herself. This is the most important thing to her grandfather.

She had to save it somehow.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a bell-like voice, "Excuse me?"

She turned around to see a girl, probably a few years younger than her. She had blonde hair and green eyes, rosy cheeks and long eyelashes. It was obvious to Clark that this girl is absolutely gorgeous. It was odd though, for a girl her age to be out alone at this time of day.

The girl tilted her head to the side, "Is there anything wrong?"

And just like that, Clark's breath was taken away.

Please review.

I would be utterly grateful for thy kindness.

:D