Moving back a little in the story because you'll need to catch up on action between Kiara and Jason.

This may seem like a filler chapter but it's not. Read and you'll know.

Kiara's P. O. V

I know what I'm doing is not right.

It's so not right. Both Janet and Jason deserve better.

Janet is my sister but I should respect her choices. I know that if she wants to be with Steven, even after knowing everything, then I'm just going to have to deal with it.

Besides, I know, deep down, that he's not a bad guy. We bickered alot, mainly because of his stuck up attitude but I know that he was kind hearted underneath all that facade. I had also come to realise that he wanted to protect Janet and our deal had slowly started to make a lot of sense now.

I am beginning to understand slowly and gradually the reasons behind his behaviour.

Flashback- To the day when Kiara announced Steven as her boyfriend.

I took a real risk here. I barely know Steven but I still went ahead and announced him as my boyfriend! I should have chosen Jason instead. Man, what was I even thinking?

I'll talk to him once he's alone. I had signalled him to meet me outside the auditorium before leaving. I hope he shows up.

"That was a very bold move on your path," Steven says as soon as he enters.

"Listen-" I begin but he cuts me off.

"No, you have said enough. Now you listen to me. I have an offer for you. I'll play along with whatever this is that you are doing, but on one condition," he begins very seriously, his hands in his pockets.

Everything about his posture meant business. His eyes held a certain determination that made me squirm a little. I nod."What condition?"

"You'll have to be Janet's shadow for the next one month or at least till this little drama," he moves his index finger between us," goes on. You be with her all the time or make sure someone is with her all the time. If you don't know about her whereabouts, look for her like your life depends on it and give me a call. Keep me informed in case you can't find her. You're getting the point right?" he explains and I narrow my eyes at him.

"This is what you want? I'm with her all the time anyway-" he cuts me off.

"No your not. I can't give you five instances right here. Besides, being with her and looking out for her is different. I want you to do the latter. Are you in?" he ask and I shrug.

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on her all the time and in turn, you play along. We have a deal," I say and cross my arms on my chest and he half smiles. He turns towards the door when I can't hold it back any longer.

"But Steven, why?" I ask and he turns with a raised eyebrow.

"Did I ask you why you chose me?" he says and I roll my eyes. With that, he leaves.

This is why he had agreed to be my boyfriend. He wanted me to be Janet's bodyguard.

Also because of this reason, I was left chasing Janet everywhere she was going. He had threatened me twice. Once, when I called him and told him I can't find Janet. He had found at Central Park. The second time he messaged me in the morning when he had again found her on the beach.

All this alertness and violation of Janet's personal space had left me puzzling in the beginning but the attack on them made things clearer.

I just was confused about one thing. Why did he go from total avoidance to absolute protection?

But the point here is that he did go to absolute protection Kiara. Janet is not entirely wrong if she wants to stand with him. He's a nice guy who is unfortunately stuck in some mess. You, being Janet's sister should work towards protecting this.

But what if he finds a reason to leave?

My inner conscious questions and just like that, my heart beat quickens. That dark feeling of guilt tugs at my heart for pushing her and stricking that stupid deal with her.

But Kiara, you can't let your fears ride Janet's life? You can't let your past haunt her future. Let her give it a chance. You can't force her to do what you're doing to Jason.

Jason.

His name washes me over with a new wave of guilt. He's been nothing but a perfect gentleman, a good friend and everything I've wanted in a guy.

But yet, here I am, ignoring him for no reason.

Well, at least for no fault of his. My irrational fear keeps getting the best of me everytime I see his name flash across my screen. I'm just too scared to face him, now that I've realised a few things.

One, everytime I think of him, my heart beats slightly faster and an involuntary smile forms on my face.

All of my school experiences, the dramatic scenarios my mind makes up when it's got nothing better to do, has him in them. All of them.

I almost kissed him in my dream last night.

All these things point towards a possible attraction. All these weeks, we have slowly grown and I didn't even realise when he became my habit. Rehearsals and two outings with him is all it took.

Ever since he took me out on the hot air balloon, I've only replied to texts he sends me regarding practice. I completely ignore his calls. I wonder how the qualifier is going to be.

***

Well lets just say Jason is very very professional.

Not once did he let our personal lives show on stage. He executed perfectly. I don't know about myself though but I'm guessing I did okay taking into consideration the applause we got after.

The curtains fall and Jason's wide smile is replaced with a frown at lightning speed. He glares at me for a good few seconds before walking off in the other direction.

My heart sinks a little at that.

What have I done.

***

"So I'm not the only one stuck in middle of your mood swings, huh?" Jason taunts while we're walking behind Janet, back to the auditorium.

She disappeared from backstage and I then caught her in the hallway. We, me and Jason, followed her to bring her back for the rest of the acts when we spotted her trying to listen to something.

When I heard closely, I heard whispers myself. But I didn't really pay attention to them because I was busy getting angry on Janet.

Back at it again with the spying?

I purposely yelled her name out. I'm sure I alerted whoever the hell it was and Janet immediately ran in to see who it is.

We had a little argument which was kind off my fault. I shouldn't have cross questioned her like that.

But what have I been doing right lately?

"No one is stuck in between of my mood swings because I'm not having any," I snap back at him and he rolls his eyes.

"Okay so that means you're doing this whole ignoring thing on purpose?" he asks accusingly and my mouth opens and closes like a fish.

"Oh, wait, I get it. So now suddenly I'm that guy who is nice but is ignored anyway because of some lame logic, right? I'm assuming Trevor coming back has finally started to have its effect on you," he says and I shake my head furiously.

"No Jason, listen I'm sorry, this is not what you think it -" he cuts me off.

"Save it Kiara. I don't think you really owe me an explanation. It's fine. I'm taking the hint," he says and walks off in the direction of the auditorium.

Yeah, I'm having a very good day.

***

Finally its time to know if our last few weeks of our hard work have paid off or no.

All those rehearsals where Jason and I had to do the same thing at least three times to please Janet.

You know there's the whole crew and the other actors...

But...

But what?

I shut my conscious out. It's getting onto my nerves.

"Qualifying on second position is Crescent High..." the announcement finishes and I do, without thinking, the first thing that comes to my head. It's like an involuntary action, completely out of my control.

I hug him and I feel him still in my hold. I realise what I'm doing but then I think since I am hugging him already and there's no going back, I'll enjoy it.

And so I relish it and my heart feels content, happiness coming in like waves.

And then all of a sudden, he hugs me back.

Maybe he understood my logic.

We stay like that for a good half minute with me wanting to do it forever. But he pulls back.

So I have to too.

But before he could do or say anything, I run and hug Janet who is equally surprised.

So I guess they are stuck in the middle of my mood swings.

*******

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