Chapter 3

  After I was able to resolve the problem at the restaurant I hurried inside, along with the people carrying the food I had to deliver. I put on an employee blazer on top of my white crop top and started taking people's orders, I walked up to one specific table and smiled.

"Hello sir, what would you be having?"

"I can't believe it!" The girl sitting in front of him scoffed. "So our schools' favourite famous influencer is a waitress, LoL" she took out her phone and started recording me but I was calm about it. I couldn't care less about her.

"Ashley stop it" he suddenly scolded her, shocking me.

"Oh come on babe, it's funny, at least people would finally stop praising her so much like she's the owner of this place" she said and I wanted to tell her I was but decided against it.

"Ashley you either stop or we leave, you know I don't like eating at restaurants" he threatened and she put her phone away and he told me what they'll both be having before I walked off. As I was coming back with their order I suddenly tripped making everything in the tray I was carrying fall, some plates breaking and the food everywhere around were I fell. Other waiters and waitresses ran towards me to help me up and to clean up the mess while Ashley was cackling like a psycho and I was fuming with anger.

"Make sure that girl is never allowed here again" I said to the manager that also ran towards me. For some reason they stopped helping me up and then I felt someone take both my hands before helping me up, I looked up at the person and saw it was him.

"I am so sorry" he apologized.

"It-it's fine" I said as we stood there staring at each other.

"Babe! Really!? Why did you help her? Why are you looking at her like that?" Ashley pulled him away from me and started screaming.

"Miss, I'm going to have to ask you to lower your voice" I told her calmly.

"Don't you dare talk to me you lowly waitress" she turned to me sternly. I lifted my brows and with a snap of my finger 2 built men dressed in black suits stood beside me.

"I wouldn't like to ask these men to escort you out miss" I said again calmly and she hushed. After the mess was cleaned up another waiter brought their order and I walked beside him.

"I apologize for my former clumsiness. Enjoy your meal" I passed them a meek smile before walking away. I continued taking orders till I was tired but just as I was about to leave I saw a hand raise and so I walked up to the table and asked a waitress to take away their used plates.

"Babe, I'm going to the car, I'll be waiting" Ashley told him before she left and he only nodded and she kissed his cheek and left.

"I am so sorry" he apologized and I chuckled.

"It's fine" was all I said but I was very irritated.

"I know it's not fine and I would love to repay you"

"Your girlfriend is waiting for you"

"Oh come on, don't be like that"

"Until the day I'm given the title of being your girlfriend, Jackson, I won't be going out alone with you" I said with an expressionless gaze. He looked hurt but it also looked like he blushed a bit. "I'm joking" I smiled and he let out a relieved breath.

"You really have to stop doing that to me"

"Watching you hurt is quite fun too you know"

"Ouch"

"Yes, I feel triumphant" we both chuckled.

"So will you agree on me taking you out?" He asked and I was hesitant before answering.

"Sure why not" I smiled sweetly and took his card from his hand. And swiped it on the restaurant's credit card reader. He smiled and I handed him his card and walked off then went outside from the back door and got into the car. I finished running all the other errands and decided to go home, it was getting quite late so I hurried on back home only to see the house already in order and ready for the party.

"There you are" Elsa said when she saw me.

"I finished the things on the list" I told her.

"Great" Elsa said. "Go change, it's already time" she added and I nodded and went upstairs.

  As I got up to my bedroom there were already clothes prepared for me by my folding screen so I showered, freshened up and walked behind my folding screen to change into the clothes prepared for me. A maroon body con dress with a black turtle neck over it. I wore black pantyhose and then my platform boots. I brushed my hair out and put a couple hair pins on the side, did my usual make-up —eyeliner, mascara, a matte lip gloss and lip liner— then went downstairs. Guests were already coming in and then I spotted him and ran up to him throwing my arms around him and he laughed.

"Verin, I'm so happy you actually came" I said.

"What made you think I wouldn't?" He asked.

"Cause the last time I invited you, you sent me a picture of you in bed and you hadn't showered" I answered him.

"Oh" he said and I chuckled. I let go of him and smiled when I saw what he did to his hair.

"You look amazing" we said simultaneously and then laughed.

"Thank you" I said.

"I haven't eaten a thing, Kyra and I'm hungry, I saved my stomach space just for you" Verin said. I pulled him along with me to the buffet table and watched him smile as we neared.

"Sit I'll be right back" I said.

"Kyra, come" Verin pulled me by my hand.

"Yes, what is it?"

"There are no plates here" he said and chuckled.

"I'll go get you a plate then" I said and smile before walking away. I hurried and came back with the plate, but when I got back he was with someone and he had a smile on his face.

"Uhhm" I said as I came back.

"Oh hello" the girl said and I looked at Verin.

"Babe, you're back" Verin said and placed a kiss on my cheek.

"Oh um, she's your girlfriend now?" The girl asked.

"Yeah, she is"

"And who are you?" I asked the girl.

"I'm Verins' e–" the girl started but Verin cut her off.

"She's a friend of my sisters' apparently your dad and her mum are business partners, let's leave now" Verin took my hand and pulled me off with him till we got to a far enough distance and I dropped the plate I was holding on a table.

"What was all that about?" I asked. Verin looked flustered and sat down with his head in his hands. "Verin...?" I sat beside him.

"Can I leave?" Verin asked without looking at me.

"But...why?"

"Kyra please" Verin pleaded, stood up then left. I followed him outside but when I saw him crying I rushed up to him and pulled him into a corner.

"Stop" I held his face in my hands and wiped his tears away before allowing him bury his head in my shoulder to cry. "Calm down V" I told him as I stroked his hair.

After he stopped crying he just left his head buried in the corner of my neck but then he put his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him.

"You ready to talk to me?" I asked and he just nodded and lifted his head very slowly to look at me. His eyes were red and his cheeks were wet from all the crying I cupped his face in my hands again and wiped his tears away.

"She's my ex" was all he said.

"Ex? You never told me you had an ex"

"That's the point, I never told you because I'm still crazy about her" he said burying his face in my curve of my neck again.

"I'm still crazy in love with her, it's been 2 years but I haven't gotten over her Kyra" he said into my neck.

"Then why did you tell her I'm your girlfriend?"

"Cause...–cause I saw her walk in with someone..."

"Verin...what if that person was a relative or her brother or something?"

"They kissed and he's the same person she left me for, I had just told my parents about her and she left me for him" he said in merely a whisper and tightened his hold around my waist.

"Verin" I held him tighter.

"What do I do?" He asked.

"I...don't know." His hold loosened as I said that and he stood straight. He brought out a small mirror from his pocket and looked at himself with it.

"Let's go back"

"What?"

"Let's go back"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, let's go" he took my hand and we walked back inside the house. He acted as if nothing ever happened and he hadn't just cried over this girl but I did notice one thing and that was when she walked up to Verin again.

"Hey Verin" she said and I noticed Verin froze up.

"Oh h-hey A-ava" he stuttered and she giggled.

"Oh Verin, why'd you stutter?" She said tracing her finger over his chest was she really doing this right in front of me?!

"I-i uhh mm–" I took Verins' hand and he calmed down a bit. But this Ava girl was still acting all flirty with Verin. I didn't know how to react cause I had never been a girlfriend before, even a fake one. Verins hold on my hand tightened and he stepped back from her and made me stand in front of him then he just plainly continued our conversation.

  I was actually stunned but proud when he did that that I smiled and hugged him while Ava walked away.

  The night went by very fast and before I knew it all the guests were leaving one after the other and then Verin left being the last person to leave I was also the last to go freshen up and get ready for bed.

  I smiled when I heard my phone chime twice —which meant I had just gotten a message— I reached for my phone that was charging on my bedside table and smiled when I saw a message from two different people.

– Jackson

– V

  I read Jacksons message first.

J - Hmm.

  He always wanted my attention when he sent things like this so I refused to let him have it.

Me - You're kind of interrupting me

J - Oh my gosh

Me - And there you are saying it after telling me you'd never

J - You made me like saying it

Me - I feel flattered

  I went to read Verins message.

V - Thanks for tonight Yra

Me - You're welcome

Me - And I'm super proud of you

V - Proud of me?

V - Why?

Me - I loved the way you stepped back from her and continued our conversation, it was so brave of you

V - Brave? Gosh Yra, if only you knew

Me  I probably don't understand what you must be feeling but I'm telling you, I am indeed proud of you

V - Your hug caught me off guard

Me - You have no idea!

Me - I mean, I felt like I had just fallen in love with you

V - Stop Yra

Me - I'm sorry

V - Haha, you silly girl

  I smiled at seeing that message and it made my heart melt not in an "in love kind of way, rather a happy and thrilled kind of way.