Sugar On Top (Peter Ballard X Reader)

Sugar on Top (Peter Ballard x Reader)

Stranger Things 4 Spoilers!!

plot: AU where Peter escapes from the lab on his own and makes a new life for himself in the next tiny town over from Hawkins

reader works in a bakery bc I thought that would be cute

warnings: Absolutely none this is pure fluff

word count: 864

You were placing another pie into the display window when the chime over the door to the bakery rang signaling a customer walking in. You lifted your head to see someone new, someone you hadn’t seen yet in your tiny town where everyone knew practically everyone. It wasn’t Hawkins, no, you took up residence in the next tiny town over. And tiny was almost an understatement. Everyone here knew everyone and they also knew everything about everyone. Your business was as good as everyone else’s. You had a few regular customers of course, but they had all come and gone for the day. This was someone new, someone different. A stranger. 

You looked up from the pie display and smiled as you wiped your hands on your apron. You fashioned your kindest and politest customer service smile as you moved swiftly to the counter to greet the new customer. “Hi!” you said cheerfully before your breath caught itself in your lungs. This wasn’t just someone new, this was a very pretty someone new. The stranger flashed you a smile and you could feel your heart jump into your throat. His glistening blue eyes sparkled in the soft golden daylight that flooded in from the bakery windows. That same golden hued light made his fluffy blond hair almost seem like an angelic halo. There was no doubt in your mind, this was one of the most beautiful men you had ever seen. 

 “Hi there.” He replied, returning your kind smile and you were pulled out of your momentary trance of observation. “Welcome to Sugar on Top.” You said the name of the bakery you ran with your family with a bit of a shaky voice, your smile persisting some how. You prayed you weren’t smiling as wide as you thought you were. A smile that wide would terrify almost anyone. But he didn’t seem terrified, he seemed kind and gentle as he grinned back at you. “Thank you.” He replied, delight dancing in those blue eyes that looked back at you. “I haven’t seen you around before.” You noted. “Are you new in town?” You asked, mentally slapping yourself. You now had to seem like a stalker, that was a much too invasive question to ask someone you literally just met. No, you hadn’t even met him, you literally didn’t even know his name. To your surprise, he chuckled lightly and his expression seemed to be even more delighted. He looked down for a moment before looking back up to meet your eyes. “I am, actually.” He said. “Is it that obvious?” He added. “Well, everyone here knows everyone.” You replied. “And I don’t know you, so I could only assume that you’re new.” “I just moved here, actually.” He replied. “Trying to escape the town where I grew up.” He added with a shrug. “I just really needed a change in scenery.” 

“I’m Peter, by the way.” He introduced himself as he took a look around to see the baked goods in the bakery. You flashed him a smile as you told him your name. “That’s such a lovely name.” Peter replied before repeating your name back to you, trying it out on his own tongue. “How long have you worked here?” He asked, walking back up to the counter and you could feel the rate of your heartbeat increase just slightly. “Most of my life.” You replied. “My family owns the place.” You added with a grin, trying to make it sound like you weren’t roped into some kind of child labor scheme. He nodded. “What about you?” You asked. “Do you have a job in town?” “I do, actually.” He replied. “I just started at the library today.” “You work at the library!” You almost shouted. “I love that place! I’m always there on my days off.” He smiled brightly at your words. “I’m assuming you like to read then?” He asked and you nodded. “Absolutely. There’s nothing better than a good book if you ask me.” “I agree.” He replied. “What do you recommend?” He asked. “Well my all time favorites are definitely the classics, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, that kind of stuff but I’ve recently been reading the Great Gatsby and-” He started laughing, but not a mocking laugh. This was more of a laugh of someone laughing at something cute their partner was doing. You smiled as you looked at him curiously. “What?” You asked and he looked at you. “I was asking about the baked goods,” He replied, gesturing to the many ones on display. “Not books, although I am pleased to know that you have good taste.” He said and you felt a blush creep up on your cheeks. “Oh.” You said softly as you allowed yourself a moment to gather your opinions back up. “The pie.” You finally said. “I make them fresh every day.” You said. “Oh well if you make them then they must be good.” He said before giving you a wink. “Which one in particular is your favorite?” He asked curiously, eyeing the selection of pies that you just set out. “The one with Sugar on Top.”