DAISY

I would say I woke up late, but I didn't sleep last night. The proper way to describe the situation is that I couldn't lift my body from the bed until I received a call from Vance, checking if I was fine.

I am not.

I don't know where to begin—Kay getting me fired from the only job I was accepted at, almost killing us, and then shamelessly smoking like he was inhaling fresh air. Oh, and let's not forget he went bull-blind on Caden. There was a possibility Caden might have let everything go, but Kay must've fueled a new saga of rage in him with everything that happened.

Instead of apologizing for what he put me through, he went and fought with my adversary—someone I wish could forget about my existence. But he just had to provoke them and expose me. Who does he think he is? But, of course, as people say, his father was elected in this state. Wow, I must be behind—the last time I checked, the governor was Edmund G. Brown, Jr., wasn't he?

With my eyes, I need to wear makeup to appear human-like. I need coffee to stabilize my day, so I head to the empty kitchen. There, I find Riley's note attached to the fridge, letting me know she left early and thanking me for doctoring her boyfriend.

I drop my bag on the table and lean against the worktop, silently waiting for the machine to indicate the coffee is ready. I'm dressed in an unbuttoned brown overcoat, revealing my jeans and a simple, overly yellow shirt. My hair is pulled into a ponytail, and my mind is far from America.

If I don't get a job, how will I support my mother? That woman looked after me when she was healthy, worked hard, and saved for my college tuition after losing everything to Thaddeus.

I can't stay without a job; I need to raise money even to visit her this Christmas.

"Hey?" A mildly loud voice snaps me out of my trance. Long fingers wave in my face.

At first, I'm flustered. Then Kay hands me one of the two cups of black coffee. My eyes immediately shifted to the machine on the worktop—it had already dinged while I was deep in thought. Then chagrin ripples through me.

I press my mouth into a hard line and drop my eyes to the cup in front of me.

"You okay?" he asks. I can feel the heat of his gaze penetrating through me, his scent always consuming me.

I try to push back the overwhelming feeling of wanting him closer, his lips on mine, his warmth blanketing my loneliness, his hands around my nape. I want him; I know I do, but he is not mine to take.

"Daisy?" he calls. I don't spare him another look or word. I abandon the coffee, round the island to collect my handbag, and, like a creep, escape the space where only Kay and I exist.

I exit the building and climb into the Aston Martin without looking back, my heart sinking deeper into my chest.

I don't know why my body is drawn to the wrong person. I don't know why I kiss him back every time he comes for me. I don't know why I want to touch him whenever he's far away. He must be toying with me for revenge, but he's certainly finding his way into my heart, a heart I've been protecting since the start of my existence.

The lecture is long; we spend most of the time taking notes from Professor Holt's discussion. My other lecture is an experiment; we're grouped in a small laboratory where I barely participate, having Kay roaming in my head.

By the time I have an hour free before the last lecture of the day, I have to stop at a pharmacy to get some Advil before grabbing my lunch at the regular diner near the department.

I find this diner better than the one I used to prefer back when I was a psychology student.

I place my order and find a two-person table by the window. Luckily, my frozen yogurt arrives in an instant—I haven't even settled yet.

"Thank you." I return a smile to the waitress and take out some necessary items from my handbag.

Turning on my laptop, I scoop a spoonful of my yogurt and shove it into my mouth. The flavor is to die for. Consider me a regular customer here.

Oh yes, Paul is sitting across the diner, faking focus on the magazine in his hands. I can sense his eyes on me every so often.

I can't believe Kay is getting me more security. This is getting suffocating. I should be grateful Riley is an understanding friend. I was scared she'd suspect something, especially since her boyfriend had me all caged.

Scrolling through my inbox, I see an email from Lorets—two, actually.

I click on the thread and find a dismissal email, which doesn't surprise me. Of course, I was fired the moment Kay pulled that stunt. I heave a sigh, inspecting the email again. It was sent at nine in the morning today. Then I scroll up to the first email, and my chest bursts open and falls to the floor.

"Dear Miss Esteban, 
I've seen what happened earlier. Your working partners and I have decided it's not your responsibility to serve any punishment because of a customer. Therefore, you still have your place at Lorets. See you tomorrow. 
Have a good day."

What?

Unresponsive, I slam the table, causing a sudden noise that attracts attention. But caring is something you do when you're fine.

I am not. I have a sudden headache, even after the Advil I took.

My fingertips struggle on the bridge of my nose. I don't know how to feel.

Kay didn't get me fired. I think I got myself fired after egging Lorets last night. Cursed by the wrong decisions I always make.

My phone buzzes on the table, with my mom's face appearing on the screen.

"Hello, Mom. You're looking beautiful. Where did you get that scarf?" I say as I accept the video call.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wong got it for me yesterday—it's a welcome-back gift." Mom smiles excitedly, lying on her bed with the cute scarf covering her hairless scalp.

"That's so nice of them." Mr. and Mrs. Wong also live in our building. They have no children, so with a four-chaired table set, we sometimes spend holidays together.

"Yes. So, how's my baby doing?"

"I'm getting on it." I lie since I'm getting nowhere but slowly falling.

"Is everything fine?" 
But my mom is smart. I mean, she raised me for eighteen years; she must know when I'm lying.

"Yes."

"You know just because I have failing lungs doesn't mean I've ceased being a mother. You can tell me what's wrong." Her voice is always gentle. Sometimes, I wonder if she ever gets mad at me.

The part of me that's good at hiding things from her smiles and says, "Seriously, it's okay, Mom."

Mom heaves a sigh, and I know she's not pressing any further. 
"So, you're liking it there?"

I wish I could tell her no. I wish I could tell her how much I want to come home. But I don't want her worrying about me.

"Yes, the streets are calm, and the people are simple. Everything is going great."

"Good to know."

"You've taken your pills?" I ask her.

"Yes, that timer you set doesn't delay. I'm sure the neighbors are on edge with it dinging four times a day." Mom chuckles.

Laughter escapes me as I picture Mom's neighbors in my mind. They all must be annoyed with our fragile walls; they must hear the thing buzzing all day. "Good to know my timer is still working."

A sudden figure appears behind me until they lean in. I realize it's Malik. 
"Hello, ma'am, I'm Malik."

I tilt my head to the side, shooting him a stay-away-from-my-family-business look.

"Why didn't I know my girl has a boyfriend?" My mom purrs. I feel obligated to deny it and quickly scrunch my face at Malik, who winks amusedly.

"Mom!" I whine, and Mom's lips pull into a smile. 
God, she thinks Malik and I are dating.

"Oh, we're friends. I'd be a corpse if I thought of competing with KC." He chuckles behind me.

"KC?" Mom asks, confused.

"Mom, I—"

"Kaiser? Kaiser Chandler? You must know him, ma'am. He says he used to be your neighbor." Malik interrupts me, quizzically staring at me.

"You've met Kaiser?" Mom's eyes widen.

Yes, I haven't told Mom about Kay. 
"Mom, we'll talk when I get home?"

"Do you mean where KC lives too?" Malik smirks at me. Asshole. I grimace at him.

"You're living with Kaiser Chandler? I thought you lived with Riley?" Mom frowns, dumbfounded.

"Mom, I'll call you later. Bye." I rush my words and hang up the call before she can reply.

"What's your deal? What's your problem with me?" I explode and throw my phone into my handbag.

"Why lie to her?" He slumps into the chair opposite me and sinks back comfortably.

"Oh my God, what's your business with my life?" I almost scream.

"Kaiser," he simply answers.

"Kaiser?"

"Of course Kaiser. He's my friend, and I know when he's not his usual self, which started when you came."

"I'm sorry about that, but I know he's been like that since before I came."

"False." Malik shakes his head, his forehead crinkling. "Daisy, he told me everything about you two. I always suspected, with the tension between you guys. It's always one of two things: sexual tension or unresolved sexual tension."

My eyes narrow defensively. "That's indistinguishable."

"The point is, KC regrets how he treated you."

Oh, of course, he does.
I scoff. "He didn't show it."

"He's not good with apologies. I doubt he's ever said sorry to anyone."

What? He must be joking.

"No way."

"Look, Daisy, KC might be confusing and messed up, but he's trying harder to make it up to you. Give him a chance. You guys were friends. Don't you want that?"

"It's not easy to process everything. It's not easy," I murmur.

"I know, and I'll always be here if you need someone to talk to, okay?" Malik flashes a sincere smile, and I have to agree with a nod. "Okay."

"You want more of that?" He jerks his chin toward the melted yogurt in front of me.

"Yes." I return his smile and look downward.

He grins and lifts his fingers to call the waitress. "Can we get two frozen yogurts, please?"

***

The day goes by easily. I have my last class, and Vance drives me home. No one's back yet, so I take the time to make a Cobb salad for myself before taking a lengthy bath.

The rest of the day, I stay in my room, wrapping myself in studies and homework, trying to catch up with my classes.

I skip the Chinese food Riley ordered for dinner. But more importantly, I sleep well. I don't know how, but I do.