Unfinished

?7?

Finn clearly heard her, and glanced down with both surprise and concern that his co-worker was crouched on the floor and imitating tropical birds.

He was snapped back to his girlfriend when her voice quivered, and broke.

"You don't take anything seriously, do you?"

"I do! I'm sorry, I really am." He reached for her hand, but she snatched it away, turning her back to him and inhaling deeply.

Elodie strode across the room, face flushed. To anyone actually paying attention to her, it would be obvious that she was on the verge of uncontrollable laughter.

"Piper, would you come and help me in the backroom?" It came out as a demand, and Piper sprang to her feet and both of them disappeared through the door.

Elodie immediately began giggling, which Piper soon imitated. 

"No, no shush, shush," The blonde fumbled for the light switch, wheezing slightly.

The room was bathed in yellow light, revealing the chaos of the small room. She hadn't been in the back before, mainly working in the storefront or restocking with the boxes someone else had retrieved. Despite her insistence that she could do the heavy lifting, both siblings would glance warily at her knee, and stubbornly do it themselves.

Tall metal shelves lined all four walls, the only gap being for the door. Even the window had a shelf placed in front of it, but everything had been moved to the sides to allow for a view directly into the road and the cafe next door. In one corner there seemed to be an unfinished wood work project balanced between two of the boxes, a toolbox left open and overflowing beside it.

Piper managed to calm herself, through a series of deep breathing and avoiding looking at Elodie at all costs.

There was more muffled shouts from Claire through the door, and then a long moment of quiet talking. Behind her, Elodie had seemed to composed herself too.

Finally, there was the tinkling of a bell, and Finn opened the door.

"Glad you both find my trials so hilarious," He announced. Despite everything, the hooks still hung from his ears.

Piper and Elodie took one look at each other, and immediately dissolved into laughter.

Finn, despite being initially annoyed, eventually joined in their hysterics, until Elodie plopped down on the floor holding her sides.

"It's really not—" Finn spluttered, leaning against the door, "—that funny!"

"You sold worms to a ten year old, and thought it was a good idea. And not just any ten year old, Oscar." His sister corrected him from the floor.

"Yeah, kid's a menace," He agreed, turning his attention to Piper, "Be glad you haven't met him yet. Although a word of advice, if you see a cheeky ginger boy about this height, you need to run. And then also check everywhere you go for pranks for the next six days."

Piper frowned at the description Finn gave her, turning it over in her mind. It had a strange sense of familiarity to it.

"Do you think she'll forgive you?" Elodie didn't seem all that interested in the question she was asking as she brushed the dust off her jeans.

"Probably. I'm pretty sure we'll hook up lat—"

"Ohhh-kay, this is a work place and I am your boss. And Piper is your co-worker. We do not want to know," Elodie fixed him with a stare, and Finn turned red to the tips of his ears.

Piper wasn't fully convinced that her own wasn't just as red.

Pull yourself together!