"Accidents happen"

"Axel, can you give me a hand and help me with this bag of flower please. I need to put it in this container." Axel jumps into action and he lifts it with ease. These guys are ripped.

I'm getting ready for the baking competition at the little fair the town is having. I'm going to make my dads famous chocolate cake. It's a layered cake with three chocolate sponge cakes and cream cheese frosting.

I don't want it to be too plain but I don't want to go overboard either. So this seems like the right path to take. I just need to impress them so I get some customers. I don't want to let anyone down.

"Hey Nova, Madz just called and he said he is heading over, but he sounded pissed so I wanted to warn you he might be in a foul mood." I've only ever seen him mad once and that was when I was attacked.

I wonder what happened to make him so upset. I give Axel a nod of my head and get together the ingredients I need for my cake. I hear my door bang open and a grumble coming from the front.

"This door is to be locked at all times. How many times do I have to say that to you Axel." Madz stomps over to him and starts yelling at him over something that's my fault.

"Relax Madz, I opened the front door to get our lunch delivery and I must have left it open. Don't treat Axel like that. It was my fault." Madz lefts out a grunt and heads to the apartment. He stomps up the steps and I hear the water heater kick on. So he must be getting ready for a shower.

"Sorry about that Axel. I wonder what set him off. I'll go ahead and send you home for the day. I'll lock up and try to talk to him. I hope you have a good day. Go do something fun." Axel comes over and gives me a hug.

This is the first time he's given me a hug and I hug him back tightly. "Thanks Nova. You are the best. I can't wait to see what you bake for tomorrow! I'll see you in the afternoon." Axel heads out the back door and hops on his bike.

I lock up the doors and put my wet ingredients in the fridge for now. I head up to my apartment and see that Madz is walking out with a towel wrapped around him. "What happened?"

"Nova look. I'm really not in the mood to talk about what happened today. Can we just relax and have dinner please?" I already planned on ordering dinner since I need to make my cake.

"That's fine but I went ahead and ordered from Bocca. The Italian restaurant that's a few blocks over." Madz gives me a nod and starts to get dressed.

I head back down to the bakery so I can start on my cake. I pull out everything I need and get to mixing. I've got music playing so I don't hear the footsteps behind me.

"What the hell Nova? You didn't tell me you were coming back down here." I don't know why he's so upset today but one thing I know is that he won't be taking it out on me. Madz sets his drink down and starts to head towards me.

"Madz, I understand you are mad but please don't take it out on me. I've had a busy day and I'm still not done. I still have to bake this cake for the fair. Just head up to the apartment and I'll let you know when the food comes." I get back to mixing the ingredients.

"Nova I'm not leaving you down here alone. I've already told you that you are not to be left alone at any time. Day or night. How many times do I have to remind you of that?" Madz voice rising with every word.

He walks closer to me and starts to go at it again when he flings his arms out and knocks his coke into my cake batter. "Oh shit Nova. I'm so sorry." I've had such a long day the tears just fall.

Madz starts walking towards me, his face letting go of all the anger. "Nova sweetheart don't cry." I motion him to stop walking towards me and try to speak.

"Madz I really need you to leave me alone. I need you to walk away and let me have a moment alone. Please." He starts walking again. "STOP!" I yell and he flinches. I didn't mean to yell at him but I can't handle this right now.

I was almost ready to bake the cake and it was ruined. I'll be up all night making this cake all over again. He seems to understand that I need my space and he heads towards the doors.

"I'll give you some space but I'm not going far. I'll walk over to the shop and stay there tonight. Please keep the doors locked. I'll call one of the prospects to watch over outside." Madz goes back to the apartment.

He comes back down in his cut and holding his keys. He walks out the front door and he stops to make sure I lock up behind him. I watch him walk away and I just crumble to the ground.

This was not what I needed tonight. I need everything perfect. I sit on the ground with my back to the door and just let it all out. After letting out all my tears I stand back up and walk to the counter.

I pick up my mixing bowl and see the mess that's been made. The coke slowly seeping into the chocolate mixture. Noticing that the batter isn't overly watered down.

I stick the spatula in and mix it all together. It seems to be mixing just fine and I realize something. I've heard of people mixing soda with cakes before but I've never tried it before.

I take a sample spoon I have and try the batter. It tastes amazing. The flavor is rich and smooth. I think I can work with this. If I just change the cooking temps it should bake just as a normal batter would.

I continue to mix everything. I line the cake pan with parchment paper and pour everything in. Opening up the oven I set it down and look up how long I should cook a soda cake for. Mostly the sites say 35 minutes.

I sit down and pull out my phone. I've got two messages from Madz. In one message all he says is "Sorry." The other is lengthy. "Nova, I'm so sorry for taking my anger out on you. I should have never treated you the way I did. I truly am sorry. Text me when you are ready for me to come back and I'll be there." I sigh.

I place my phone down and lay my head into my hands. I think we both overreacted. I should have been so emotional over the cake batter. I could have just started over.

I notice movement by the door and see what must be Knox waving at the window. He ends up sitting on the bench outside the shop and I go to unlock the door.

He waves his hands and shakes his head no. "Madz said to stay outside and keep the door locked. Don't worry about me." His voice is just loud enough to hear him from the glass. I nod and walk to the oven.

Seeing as there is only 15 minutes left. I pull out my laptop and open Netflix. I end up turning on Dexter again because Axel has me so addicted to this show. At least he's already seen it so I don't have to wait for him.

The timer finally goes off and I pull out the cake and set it on a cooling rack. I end up back at my laptop watching and at some point I must have dozed off for a few because my phone's alarm is going off.

I turn it off and see no new messages from Madz. I hope he's okay too. I need to text him back but my bladder is yelling at me. After taking care of myself and washing my hands I end up back at the cake.

It's completely cooled off now and I dump them out carefully. Nothing sticks to the pan and for that I'm grateful. I cut off some of the top of the cake to give it a try and again it tasted really good.

I pull out the icing and start to work on that part. Layering the cake and applying the icing in between each section. I smooth everything out and look at what I've created.

What we have created. Without Madz accident I wouldn't be here right now. I pull out my phone and shoot him a text. "I'm sorry for how I reacted as well. I shouldn't have been so emotional. Will I see you tonight at the fair?" I wait for his reply.

"Of course baby. I'll see you before the fair happens. I'll drive you there. You don't have to apologize to me for anything. I was in the wrong 100%. I'll see you later tonight. Knox will hang around till then."

I've forgotten about him. I rush over to the coffee pot and fix him a cup of coffee and take it out to him. "Thank you Nova. I need this." Knox takes a big sip of his coffee.

"Thanks for watching over me last night." I head back into the shop and start to clean up the mess I've made. Madz and I got into our first fight but I'm glad we worked it out so quickly. My chest hurts from not waking up next to him last night.