Chapter Five • What Happens at Mirage, Stays at Mirage

AUTOMATICALLY, MY ENTIRE body goes stiff. I blink a couple of times to make sure I'm not hallucinating, which is useless since I'm not in the position to imagine such terrible things. I mean, I'm not high on bath salts.

They're brothers. Like, duh.

I'm so stupid for not realizing immediately. They're basically the same person, except that one is sleek and well-dressed and the other one is . . . well, Joseph.

I should have known. I know his brother. He went to Empire Academy too, and his name is Kent Yates, the all-around hot senior when we were in fourth grade. Belle and I had a big crush on him, and Claire was obsessed with his twin Arthur, the school president back then. What I didn't know is that their family owns Mirage, and that Kent is in charge. And I didn't have the slightest idea that Joseph is here to tag along.

Amidst my increasingly growing panic, a bit of reason makes its way to the surface. It's not like I'm hired already. It's not like there's no way out.

Now let's just hope Joseph doesn't look in my direction as I try to make a break for it.

Please don't look, please don't look, I chant as I take a tactical step back. Fortunately, he's too engrossed in his phone. Unfortunately, the door is left open. I end up bouncing against the side of it, and the impact pushes me forward. The sound causes him to slowly tear his eyes away from his phone and turn to me.

His mouth falls open. "Savannah?"

My heart jumps. Sweat immediately forms on my forehead and armpits. I feel like I'm choking on a lump in my throat as he puts his phone down and moves to close the door behind me.

Thanks a lot, stupid door.

I give Joseph a tiny smile, racking my brains for a quick excuse. Sadly, nothing comes to mind. "Hi, Joseph."

Kent looks from Joseph to me with an amused glint in his eyes. "You know each other?"

"Yeah," Joseph answers meekly, getting to his feet. To my horror, he starts to walk towards the door. I hear the faint click of the lock, but I don't dare look. "We're in the same class. She's my new lab partner."

I notice for the first time that his voice has this whisper-thin, husky quality that makes it seem like he screamed his throat raw the previous day and is now too sore to speak at a normal volume. For some reason this makes me more uncomfortable than I already am.

I also notice that I notice too many insignificant details when it's completely unnecessary. And I totally should stop noticing the fact that I notice things that aren't to be noticed, but I can't.

Now I said the word notice so many times it's starting to sound weird.

God helps me.

"That's good!" Kent claps his hands together, getting to his feet and gesturing me to take the seat in front of his desk. "You're making friends. Girl friends, in particular—"

"Stop it, Kent," Joseph interrupts through gritted teeth.

"Oh." Kent lets out a booming laugh and turns to me. "Sorry about that. Please take a seat, Savannah."

I can't move. I feel like if I sit on that fluffy chair he's pointing at, I'm going to get sucked in and I'll never be able to leave. It doesn't help that Joseph is staring at me as though I'm an equation he can't quite figured out yet. He's probably going to dissect me and put my guts in display.

So what will I say? Oops, wrong door. I was looking for the comfort room and you look like a toilet, ha ha? No. That will be really dumb.

Wait. Honestly that's pretty good. Except that Sara already mentioned what I'm here for. Also, I emailed them my resume. There's no taking it back.

But surely there's got to be a way.

"I think I was scheduled for a different day." I force a bright smile. "I'll just. . . I'll just show myself the way out and I'll—"

Kent raises an eyebrow. "I think you're scheduled today."

I gulp. "Er, I guess. Maybe I got it mixed with the other job I applied for—"

"So you're really scouting, huh?" Joseph remarks all of a sudden, but he quickly adds sheepishly, "I'm sorry. It's just that you don't really need a job, do you?"

Okay, am I being paranoid here, or does his voice have a hint of suspicion in it?

"Oh, yeah, but you know, it's a good time to learn new things," I say brightly, my lips frozen in a rictus smile. "Didn't they say that experience is the best teacher?"

Silence. It only lasts for about three seconds, but to me it's the longest, most awful stretch of silence I have ever experienced my whole life.

"Right," Kent replies slowly, being the one who recovers first. "That's a good way to look at it. We're short on staff, so we're really grateful for your interest. And Joseph knows you, so he can vouch for you, am I right?"

Joseph doesn't speak immediately. He just walks back to his spot earlier, pulling a different chair from the front of the desk. Only when he sits down does he answer, his voice a mere whisper, "Um, yeah. Sure."

There's something about his tone. It almost sounds like he knows how awkward this is for me and he sympathizes.

My defense mechanisms whir to life. I can't let him see me like this—weak, defensive, and twitchy. He should see me as one of the popular girls he knows at school. The girl who's confident, feisty, pretty. . . and rich.

"My parents wanted me to experience earning money for myself," I stammer, and even to my own ears, I sound desperate. In my head I picture myself falling off a clip, clawing at rocks and grass, trying to grab onto something to save my life. "So I thought I'd try here."

It's quite subtle, but I catch Joseph and his brother glancing meaningfully at each other. Kent faces me first, flashing me this sweet, almost sympathetic smile. A few years ago I would've squealed like a pig if he smiled at me like that, but now I feel like burying my head into the ground like a frightened ostrich.

"Then all is set," he says kindly. "It's just a quick interview. We're planning to extend our business hours, since customers are starting to pour in. I've already hired five."

It seems like a sure thing, my employment here. He doesn't seem to be picky. And if they're short on staff, he wouldn't have much time to fuss over new employees. It's perfect.

For a second I hesitate. Who cares if Joseph is here? If I can just refine my alibi, I'm sure it would work. But then I catch him staring me with an unreadable squint in his eyes and I just lose it.

"I need experience," I blurt out. "Nothing else."

Kent looks puzzled, but he nods anyway. "That's great. It will be perfect for you."

"The salary's also pretty good," Joseph puts in with this strange encouraging tone. "You'll be able to cover your. . . needs."

At this, Kent shoots him a look that seems to say, Okay, that's enough. Am I just losing my mind or are they seeing through my bullshit?

The thought of Joseph, of all people, knowing about my secret gives me a sick feeling in my stomach. I'm shaking all over, and it's not because of the air conditioner. I can't stand this. I have to get out.

"Actually, I change my mind," I announce, suddenly hit by a feeling of fright so strong I can't look at any of them in the eye. I don't give them a chance to say anything about it, though. I just turn on my heel and decide to leave. This time successfully.

This sensation helps me get through the door and out of the office, but as soon as I step out of the restaurant, my demeanor just crumbles.

I continue walking, but I don't actually have a destination in my mind. All my surroundings are fading into a blur as my eyes go over them. I can't think straight. I'm pretty much just going around aimlessly in a haze of panic. My hands are numb with the after effects of extreme embarrassment and my ankles feel like they're going to break, so I lean against the nearest tree to calm myself down.

Joseph's family owns the goddamn restaurant. And here I was thinking that if I worked there I'd keep my secret just fine.

But it's not like he knows everything, right?

Okay. Let's get some perspective here. Let's not panic yet (although that's what I'm doing already). Let's think of the facts at hand.

You're screwed if he knows, is the the first thought that pops into my head.

I was never really good at getting perspective.

I'm just going to try to inject some logic into the situation. Because if I don't I'm going to lose my mind.

So he saw me in there, about to be interviewed by his brother as a part-time waitress. That doesn't mean he knows all the crap there is to know about me. That doesn't mean he has enough knowledge to ruin me. Besides, no one will even probably listen to him at school. Even if Sara told them about what I said, neither of them can prove it's true. For all they know, I could be lying. Joseph wouldn't bother finding out too, because he doesn't care about me one bit.

But that look he was constantly giving me. . . .

Maybe he was feeling awkward for me? I mean, I was basically tripping over my own tongue, trying to say things that made sense. He's always been awkward, hasn't he? Maybe my presence gave him anxiety. Maybe he just didn't expect anyone to see him in his natural habitat or something.

Yes. That must be it.

I suddenly have this overpowering urge to laugh, which I suppress with all my might. People are already giving me strange looks for stumbling out of a restaurant, panting like a thirsty dog. Imagine what they'll do if I spontaneously burst into giggles.

I really should get home and unleash my pent-up emotions in private.

Hastily I take my phone out of my pocket to get an Uber, but then a male voice calls my attention. "Savannah?"

My heart jumps. I whirl around nervously, expecting the worst, but I find myself face to face with Irvin.

"Aw, great." I snort scornfully. "It's you."

He shrugs nonchalantly. "I'm on my way to the gym, but I saw you walking."

The fact that it's him who followed me and not Joseph is a big relief. But the problem is, I'm not in the mood for Irvin right now. I've done my part and apologized countless times. Also, I just got myself out of a nasty situation and the last thing I need is him trying to wheedle an apology out of me. "I didn't ask. So if you'll excuse me—"

"I know, I know," Irvin interjects. "Jeez. You looked hassled. I was worried."

"I'm fine. Now that you saw for yourself, please be on your merry way."

"Not gonna happen, babe." His unimpressed tilt of the head annoys me even more, but then I realize that's his default response to anything. "Keep quiet, yeah? I have—"

"You're still here?" I ask irritably. "The fuck do you want?"

"Nothing," he replies defensively. "I just came to check if you're alright. Damn!"

"Well, everything's peachy." I gesture at his car, which is parked across the street. "You can leave now. Goodbye."

For a few seconds he just stares at me incredulously, but then he rakes his hair in frustration and says, "You don't have to be such an ass."

"Well, not only were you a bigger ass this whole time, you've been a dick as well, so. . . ."

"Alright, alright!" He shakes his head vigorously as though getting rid of a fly. "It wasn't your fault. None of that was. I was being stupid, okay? I shouldn't have been a big dick, but you know that's kind of my asset, right?"

I don't react to his little joke.

It's ironic, really, how most guys at school are willing to bend over backwards for me, yet my boyfriend simply wouldn't do anything of the sort. It's even a miracle he's here now. That's a first, even though we've started going out in junior year.

I've never felt like this with any of my ex-boyfriends. My feeling for him run deeper than just a heated crush. He, on the other hand, seems to see me as ordinary. Just one of the girls he dated.

"Look, I'm sorry I let this drag on," he says. "It shouldn't have happened. You know me. I'm not good at apologies."

"Yeah, no kidding," I mutter.

He exhales. "Right. But here I am now. And I'm saying sorry. You could at least give me a chance to speak."

"Oh, like you gave me a chance." I shoot him a dirty look. "Like you listened when I apologized for something that wasn't even my fault."

Irvin looks equally annoyed now. "Then I'm sorry! I was playing hard to get, but now I can't take it."

"Well, it's now my turn to play hard to get. So shoo."

"I miss you," he says almost accusingly. "Are you really going to make me suffer?"

I turn my back to him and start walking. I hear footsteps, so I immediately assume that he's on his way, but to my surprise I feel his hand on mine.

"I really do miss you." His voice is disarmingly gentle. "Can we be okay?"

Reluctantly, I face Irvin. He's staring at me, but not in the way I expected him to. I thought he'll still be irritated, but now he's regarding me with unfamiliar softness. He reaches out and touches my cheek, and I almost weep right then and there.

As douchey as he is, I realize that I was looking for his affection for the past days.

I would love nothing more than to tell him what I'm going through, and to have him hug me and tell me that it's going to be alright, but the same reasons pull me back. If I tell him everything would change between us. I don't have any idea if that change will be for better or worse, and I can't take the risk. I don't want to.

"We are okay," I reply in a shaky voice, trying for a smile. "You can go back now."

He raises an eyebrow. "What if I don't want to?"

"Then don't."

"Exactly what I needed to hear."

His hand trails down to my jaw, his thumb resting just below my lower lip. He angles his head and starts to kiss me, so I put a hand behind his neck and kiss him back.

At this moment I become certain that even though I'm not sure he feels the same way about me, I would do anything for us to stay the same.

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