(fast forward-1 month)

It's been almost a month since i started working in Food Corner. with time i started working in the weekends when i could because surprisingly i really liked working here. for me it was a new life that i was beginning to love but the same passion clouded my eyes to what was really in front of me. 

the anniversary preparations were finalised and it was ultimately decided that there will be a runaway as well as a talent show. as a result i'm kind of busy in school even looking for people to participate. it's hard to find girls and boys both who really want to give it a shot as most just turn up either to be with Andrew or Yuki. i was told to be a model for the runaway and to a dance and singing item, but i refused while agreeing to help with all the necessary preparations. i came to Avalon High looking for a new beginning and i sure was not intending to attract attention.

the good thing was for some reason MacKenzie started ignoring like i don't even exist and i was over the moon. i even did a happy dance inside when she completely ignored me in the hallway.

as usual i'm working in the Food Corner and my shift is supposed to end in like ten minutes or more depending on the amount of customers that decide to stop by. Today out of all the other days i need to go back to school and give a helping hand to the final preparations. the rehearsals will begin tomorrow and finish day after. 

i quickly ran into the kitchen to give out an order while teddy took my place as the cashier. As i had sometime left i returned back to the front to get another order or two before i finish for the day. i looked up to get the order of the next customer when i was suddenly face-to-face with Carter and the others. for the first time after years Carter couldn't hide his emotions and he looked so pissed off seeing me with staff clothes and an apron. he looked from my head to toe and i was scared to take my eyes off from him. Did i ever say that Carter tends to be kind of too overprotective? After the accident i would say his over-protectiveness doubled. i lowered my eyes and glanced at Chloe who was pointing me her phone. she had sent me a message but i left my phone in the changing room today out of all the days. i could feel all of their eyes on me. 

Yuki opened her mouth to say something but Carter stopped her by suddenly asking, "What the hell are you doing here?" He wasn't that loud but his voice vibrated in my ears and some of the people sitting close to the cashier looked our way. i was trying to think of a good excuse but my mind was completely blank. one of the things i never want to do is make Carter angry. Teddy who was standing behind me came to my rescue and pulled me aside adding, "Carter, order or leave without making a commotion." 

my cousin glanced at him before asking if i was working here. Teddy shrugged without giving an answer and that was enough for Carter. he turned towards me glaring and said, "get your bag and come out." i was only able to say his name before he stormed out of the restaurant. 

"Becca where is your phone? I told you we are coming." Chloe whispered to my ear. i told her i left it in the changing room by accident and was busy to go and get it. Finally i looked up at everyone mumbling, "your orders?"

Andrew stared at me blankly before asking, "aren't you following him out?" without even looking i replied that i will after my shift ends, taking the slip from Teddy and going inside. I could hear Andrew asking when my shift was ending. 

after giving the slip i went straight to the changing room and changed back to my jeans. i got my bag and the phone and went back to the front saying bye to everyone in the cashier and front. one thing i really want Carter to do is understand me. i don't have to follow him out to know what he is going to tell me. i already know that he is going to scold me for getting a job, for not telling him know or worse for not getting a bodyguard to be near me. i don't hate Carter, i really do love him but on the worse possible scenarios he can be quite unreasonable. 

i looked to see if everyone's still inside but Teddy who saw me said, "they are all out" and headed inside. i don't know what he has against me but sometimes he's good to me while all the other time he's completely rude. 

i went outside and saw everyone. my eyes landed on Carter who was talking with Chloe and i could clearly see that she was trying to make him understand. ignoring everyone else i walked up to Carter who looked my way sensing my presence. 

"Rebecca what the hell were you thinking? are you crazy or do you just don't care?" i sighed clearly trying to show that i really don't want to have an argument with him. i don't know why he cant understand that even I, who has everything that i could possibly ask for, wants to have a normal life like everyone else. i was under the shadow of my dad's position in Illyria and here, i'm finally free. i can do whatever i want like everyone else without having to worry about who's trying to take the next photo of me. but, right now, Carter is trying to stop me from doing what i really want to do and out of all the people he should know how badly i wanted to be a normal teenager back home. 

i looked at him directly and without taking my eyes off him i said, "Carter, this is my life. i can do whatever i want with it and last time i checked i don't need your damn permission," with that i turned on my heels and started walking away from him.

"Rebecca, STOP RIGHT THERE" his voice growled and i stopped on my tracks and looked at him. "of course you dont need my permission to do anything but what were you thinking getting a job? last time i checked aunt sends you more than enough pocket money and now you go out without anyone with you?"

"I. Dont. Need. A. Babysitter." i said through gritted teeth. Chloe who quickly understood tried to make Carter stop, "Carter, that's enough. it's just an easy job. stop making a big deal out of it." but my beloved cousin ignored Chloe completely and asked if my parents agreed to me getting a job. when i didn't say anything, he ran his hand through his hair laughing and said  the obvious, "you didn't tell them did you?"

of course i didn't say. if i did, they would only agree if i say ok to have at least three bodyguards. i sighed, "Carter, why can't you just understand me?"

he looked right at me trying to read what's going on my mind and asked, "what do you want me to understand? that you are risking your life?"

"Carter, don't be ridiculous. doing a part time job won't necessary make her risk her life," Andrew said while Yuki agreed. without even bothering to look at them Carter said that they don't understand.

"I'm not risking my life working in a cafe. what's so wrong about having a part-time job?" i stated shrugging. the moment the words left my mouth i regretted it. "the wrong thing is YOU doing one, my dear sister." I could clearly not his sarcasm, "you are not like everyone else and it's time you realise that, for god's sake."

talking with Carter when he is worked up is utterly useless. "I know i'm not the same, more than you will ever know, Carter." i mumbled without looking him in the eye. i started working without exactly knowing where i'm going. he didn't have to say it like that after-all it's not like i don't know that i'm not the same. my life changed the moment my dad started his campaigns to become the president. it might look easy but being the president can be a dangerous thing. you tend to have more enemies than friends and people who would love to see you crumbling down the moment you make them angry. Chloe put her arms around me. She may not know everything totally but she definitely know how i stayed in illyria and just how much i despised my dad sometimes for deciding to be the president. i could feel my eyes burning but i didn't want to cry. i was glad that Chloe didn't say anything all the way back to the dorm.