When my real self sucks, all I can do is act

____________________

"Amy. This is Jake. I accept your deal"  blurted Jake. He sensed a slight tremor prevailing in his voice which made him break his knuckles in anxiety.

"Uhm..Jake, right now I'm busy at work. Shall we meet after five, at the Starbucks next to my hospital?" said Amy. Her tone of speech wasn't right. Jake could tell right away that Amy was sobbing. She let out suppressed sniffles while talking.

"Amy, is everything alright?"

In reply Jake heard a beep.

Amy cut the call. 

Jake threw the phone on the table with a annoyed sigh.

'How can she leave people hanging just like that?

This girl creeps me out.

Am I worried about her? Why should I? What relationship do we have? She's not even my employer yet. I should just forget about her.'

"Girlfriend problem?" asked Justin, busily munching his turkey sausage wrap. Jake was so engrossed in his thoughts, that he completely ignored the food on the table.

"You both seem to be very much interested in my personal life"  grumbled Jake, pointing at Justin and Anne

"Is Amy your girlfriend? You seemed to be concerned about her" snickered Anne, without looking up from her plate of food. Justin nodded, agreeing with Anne.

"Are you guys so desperate to know? Well, here comes your answer. Amy is not even my friend, and I highly doubt whether she is a girl" riposted Jake "I'll wait outside, so finish mine"

Jake lost his appetite. He prodded his plate to the center of the table and walked out of the shop.

"Jake has a girlfriend. Jake has a girlfriend.." sang Justin. In return, Jake mockingly scratched his forehead with his middle finger. Justin got his innuendo and abruptly stopped the song.

Amy's sobbing voice kept replaying in Jake's head. Normally, Jake became sensitive when women cried.

The women who were around Jake, his mom, Selena and Anne, rarely cried. Jake thought Amy also belonged to their category. She knew very well the consequences of her extreme emotions. She has been living like a saint, controlling all her feelings.

Did something tragic happened for her to cry? Should I check on her?

No. Brush it off. If really something tragic had happened, she wouldn't have asked you meet up at Starbucks.

Jake kicked at the lamp post on the side of the street in exasperation.

Oops..My toes. I kicked too hard.

"Oh my God! Our Romeo is being tormented in isolation. Why he hadn't seeked his Juliet already?" squealed Justin, opening the door and holding it for Anne to exit.

"How can I leave, when my girlfriend is standing right here?" Jake winked at Anne, and she faked a blush.

"Give up my dear uncle. I'm not interested in old men." She let out a suppressed grin and high-fived with Justin.

"Uncle? Old man? Am I getting dumped? Ah..My heart aches" Jake crouched holding his chest.

Justin bent down to Jake, "Start going out with Amy. I'll get better. The doctor will heal your heart ache"

"How much times should I say? We are not dating." glowered Jake, giving his best to shut their mouths.

"Then what about the meeting today evening?"

Jake slapped his forehead in fake realisation. "Oh boy. You both have been eavesdropping our conversation"

"No. You were shouting it to the whole world" drawled Anne, spreading her arms.

"WE ARE NOT DATING. IT'S JUST A FORMAL MEETING" Jake hollered

"Well, all love stories begin like that. Come on, let's make you ready for your date. Sorry formal meeting" chuckled Anne. There was no way of getting around them, so Jake gave in for their play.

_____________________

It was four in the evening but Jake hadn't decided on what to wear. He had just an hour remaining for the meeting. Jake would've preferred to leave in the attire that he was wearing- a black and white striped t-shirt and blue jean. But Anne insisted him to change stating that he appeared like a zebra.

"Please say this looks good. I don't have any stamina to change" Jake sighed. He was wearing a slim fit maroon leather jacket with a white v- necked shirt inside.

"Are you going to join the Harley Davidson rally?"

"Is that a no?"

"Yes"

"I'm not going to reach there in time, if you keep delaying like this" Jake muttered

"What's going on here?" said a voice. The door opened, revealing Will. Jake let out a sigh of relief.

"Daddy" screamed Anne, and hugged Will by his waist. Will kissed her forehead and looked up at Jake.

"Save me from her" Jake whispered to Will, so that Anne wouldn't hear. Will nodded.

"Honey, what are you doing?" asked Will, lifting Anne in his arms

"Daddy I'm helping Jake to select a costume for his date." Anne bit her tongue, "Sorry formal meeting" she corrected herself.

Will cocked an eyebrow "Oh really? This costume looks good. Jake, when is your meeting?"

"Five" Jake replied blandly. Will looked at his watch and his eyes widened.

"Oh my God. Jake, time is already quarter past four. You must get going"

Jake nodded and strode out of the room, muttering a silent 'thank you' to Will, and pecking Anne on her cheek.

Jake arrived at the Starbucks after a stressful twenty minute drive in traffic. He was cast down, when an amateur driver scratched his car. Jake would've sued him in the court or battered his face to scrap in normal circumstances. But the driver was fortunate, as Jake forgave him in the hurry for the meeting.

He still had ten minutes in hand. Jake was nervous inside. It was the first job interview he was going to attend. He kept drinking water, which helped him to calm down.

"Excuse me. Where is the men's room" Jake asked the waitress, who brought the seventh glass of water.

"Straight and then left" she pointed.

Jake spent the next hour in desolation accompanied by melancholy. He got impatient, but he convinced himself that there might be some emergency in the hospital. After the strike of six, he decided to call. He called thrice, and Amy attended only on the fourth ring.

"Amy I've been waiting for an hour, where are you?" scowled Jake. It was a historical achievement for an adrenaline junkie to be idle in the same location. He deserved recognition at least for that.

"I'm at the hospital, where are you?" said Amy

"Didn't you ask me to meet at the Starbucks to talk about our deal? Have you forgotten?" Though Jake was annoyed his words didn't appraise it.

Amy gasped, "Sorry Jake, I lost track of time, I'll be there in ten minutes"

Jake was relieved to know that his wait wouldn't be a waste. He closed his eyes and massaged the bridge of his nose using his fingers. "Okay, I'll be waiting for you"

In return Jake heard a beep.

'Bitch' he mumbled.

After ten minutes, Amy rushed inside the door, grabbing everyone's attention. She looked around the cafe, searching for Jake. Jake stood up and pulled a chair for her as men did in the old movies.

"Let this kindness be not an icing" Amy took the chair with a mock grin.

She was wearing a simple plain white blouse and blue jean. Jake regretted wasting all his time and energy in the closet.

"Your time management is actually phenomenal" he teased.

"I'm really sorry Jake. An emergency came up in the hospital and I totally forgot about our meeting. Please forgive me" she pleaded. She looked like a cute puppy, with those pleading look in her eyes.

"Okay I forgive you" said Jake, "You seem to be in a good mood" It was strange, since Amelia Hamilton was unconditionally in a bad mood always.

"You seem to be in a bad mood" she retorted, reading Jake's face.

"A bastard scratched my car while coming here" mourned Jake

"That's the saddest thing I've ever heard. I know how it feels" she comforted

"Yeah, Maserati owners do worry about a scratch in their car" Jake chortled for which she gave a hearty laugh. Jake wished the moment paused, because he had never seen Amy smile like that. She was stunningly pretty when she smiled.

"Did you order something?" said Amy. That's when Jake realized that he had been drinking his tenth glass of water, without ordering anything.

Jake cleared his throat, "Not yet. What do you want?"

"I haven't eaten anything from morning. I'm very hungry, so I'll have a steak burger with fries, and finally white chocolate mocha"

"Are you in a diet?" bullied Jake

"Just go and order." she grouched. Jake grinned and left to the counter. He recited his long list of order and the girl at the counter annoyed him by asking everything twice.

"Any desserts Sir?" asked the girl.

Jake turned back to Amy and shouted, "Do you want any desserts?"

"No" said Amy.

Jake was perplexed whether he became deaf or the world around him became mute.

He was horror-struck, as Amy looked him in the eyes. AMY LOOKED HIM IN THE EYES. Amy avoids eye contact as much as possible. Jake had caught her eye only once. It was the day before, when she tried to wake him up with a stun gun. Jake was the one who forced her to look at his eyes. But now, she voluntarily made eye contact with him.

"Gosh! I've been fooled. Who the hell is that?" Jake murmured to himself.

Why didn't he notice when she was so good to him. If it was not Amy, then who was it? There is zero probability of her being Leo or Nick. Leo and Nick, obviously establish their manliness. If it was Nick, Jake would've been dead and if it was Leo, he would've made a Micheal Jackson parade on the streets. But nothing of that sort happened.

Also she can't be Barbara right now. Barbara doesn't know yet that she was an alter, and her dressing style was completely different. She mostly wears dark make up and Gothic style clothes.

Then who is this alter? How she can perfectly act like Amy? If she hadn't made eye contact with Jake, he wouldn't have figured that she wasn't Amy . Does Amy have another alter? Is it someone Jake haven't met?

"Sir,your name?" requested the girl, bringing Jake back from his thoughts

"Turner" said Jake and walked back to the table. He maintained the grin on his face, not to make obvious that he discovered her.
        
She made the initiative to talk, "So, what did you feel about the deal? Why did you accept it?"

Jake guessed Amy's alters who had been curious about the deal between him and Amy must've sent this unknown alter to get details from Jake. He made himself prudent, not to give in for the trick.

Her acting was getting worse. If it was Amy, she wouldn't be so kind. Instead, 'Jake, did you accept my deal? Time for me to kick your ass' would be Amy's answer.

"You were the one who proposed the deal. Guess why did I accept it?"Jake reflected the puzzle to her direction. He felt the tension lurking in the air around her.

"I'm not good at guessing. Did you accept for the money?" she guessed

"What money?" countered Jake

"Your rent. One and half million dollars to Barbara " she gave a wicked grin.

"No, not for that" said Jake between his gritted teeth. He had never been in the school drama club as he sucked at acting. If he had known he should act his way through a job, he would've thought otherwise.

"Okay, I give up. What was the deal?" She grabbed a fork from the table and twirled it between her fingers.

"You said you would get me a job in your hospital" Jake fabricated the deal. She didn't see him cracking his knuckles, as he hid his hand below the table.

"Lie" she bawled, "It is not Amy's job to recruit workers for the hospital. Who are you?"

"I'm serious.  Amy promised that she would get me a job" Jake lied again. She planted the fork between Jake's fingers on the table.

"Lie" she yelled, "That wimp is not good in befriending people. She doesn't make any promises because she knows she can't fulfill it"

"Mind your language Miss. Whomever you might be, you are not talking bad about Amelia, before me" Without his knowledge he defended Amelia. He had grown protective over Amy, after she took the pills for him. He respected her from then.

"What are you going to do? Kill me? Try doing it" she laughed crankily.

"Just stop this. Let's leave, I'll take you home" Jake tried to end the conversation, which was going nowhere.

"Let's make a deal. You tell me what's your deal with Amy, and I'll follow you back to the ghost bungalow called as home. Or else.." she thoughtfully dragged.

"Or else?"

"I'm going to tell Barbara what you guys are hiding from her"

Jake gasped. If that happens, Barbara might try to suicide, which might result in Amy's death. Jake concealed his feelings by wearing his usual carefree mask.

"I don't care. You would be the one hurt at the end" he replied, trying to act cool.

She thought for a while and came up with another idea, "What if I reveal my identity to the whole world?"

"No, you're not doing that" Jake stuttered

"Yes, I am doing that. I'm going to rehearse it here" She took a glass of water and a fork and clanged it to make an announcement in wedding style. Everyone in the cafe turned their heads to their table.

"What the fuck are you doing?" She turned deaf to Jake and stood up to face the small audience she gathered.

"Listen guys, I have an exciting announcement to make" she said. Now everyone crossing the Starbucks were looking at them.

Jake was pushed to the curb. He had no choice. Stopping the alter by any means was his only go.

Jake got around the table to face her, blocking her contact with the audience. He squeezed her shoulder with his strong arms.

"Don't do it. Please" he begged. Jake got down to the lowest level. He didn't want to see Amy's life crumbling before his eyes, knowing that he could stop it.

"Just move away man. I've decided to tell, I can't stand it anymore" she sweared

"Even I've decided. Sorry Amy" 

Jake leaned closer to her and sealed her lips with his. She was taken off guard. She struggled to get away, but Jake held her firmly by her waist. Everyone around them started clapping. Their lips were barely touching. He mainly concentrated on holding her from getting away.

I'm really sorry Amy. Don't kill me.

After few minutes of struggle, she gave up. Jake felt moisture in his cheek, as a drop of tear trickled from her eyes. Her body relaxed from struggling. Jake's hold in her waist was the only thing preventing her from falling down.

_______________________

A common symptom of DID. Waking up in different places, called by people in different names, none of which recognized by the host. One day Amy woke up in the Hamilton mansion, next day in the Buckingham Palace, and the day after that in the Eiffel tower. She had no idea what happens between that.

 She woke up when an alarm went off in her head. If the alarm was heard loudly, she opened her eyes immediately, otherwise it took few hours to gain consciousness. Keeping track of time like sailors while crossing different timelines, was the only way to divide the time equally between herself and her alters. Otherwise, once she would wake up in September and the next time when she woke up, it would've been November.

Amy guessed that it was not more than two hours since she lost consciousness, the alarm in her head rang loudly making her wake up with a jerk. Her eyes felt heavy so she didn't open. Amy usually woke up with heavy body pain, but currently at that moment she felt comfortable like someone was embracing her.

Actually someone was embracing her.

Amy opened her eyes and found her lips brushing with another pair of lips. Her pupils dilated on seeing the person standing before her.

'Why the hell am I kissing Jake Turner?' she forced her thoughts to tell.

Amy took immediate action. She punched Jake in the gut and pushed him away. Jake tried to look at her in the eyes, and instantly she looked at the floor.

"Thank god, Amy you're here" said Jake, relieved. Amy feared what kind of ruckus did she cause for Jake to stop her by kissing, knowing that she had the worst attitude. She looked around, and noticed that all the people were staring at them.

Amy recalled, calling Jake to meet her at Starbucks. She wondered who came instead of her. She felt embarrassed having so many people's eyes on her.She ran out of the door, followed by Jake.

Jake caught Amy by her wrist. Her eyes burned with tears at the verge of falling. She blinked repeatedly to stop the tears from running down her face.

It was one of the major rules she followed. Never show weakness.

"I'm sorry Amy. I had no other choice. Give me a chance. If you listen to what happened, you would know the reason behind my behavior." he pleaded

"I have no other way. But before that take me back to home" Amy murmured, covering her face with the back of her hand.

Jake dragged Amy to his car and opened the door of the passenger seat. After she sat, he closed the door gently. Jake sat on the driver seat and started the car. For a few minutes, they didn't talk as the situation was so awkward.

Then Amy started a conversation, "Who was it?"

"I don't know. As far as I know, it was not Leo, Nick or Barbara" Jake replied with his eyes on the road, "But she acted just like you. It was very hard for me to find"

"Huh..The drama queen" sighed Amy. Jake turned to Amy, waiting for her to go into the details.

"It was Iris. Why did you..you did that?" said Amy

"Did what?" replied Jake sarcastically

"You know what you did" she groaned
"Are you asking about the kiss?" asked Jake, tracing his index finger on his lower lip.

Amy waved her hand in the air, "Whatever"

Jake appropriated the details. "Iris was blackmailing me to tell her about our deal, or else she said she would reveal her identity to the whole world"

"What? Did she announce anything back at the cafe?"

"No, I stopped her before that" said Jake

Now, everything made sense to Amy. Though it was a foolish move, Jake somehow stopped Iris from ruining her life.

"You didn't have to kiss me for that" she complained

Jake shrugged. "I thought I was going to be thanked for saving your life. My mistake. How can I expect magic words from Amelia Hamilton?"

"Thank you" muttered Amy

"Sorry I didn't hear you"

"Thank you" she said a little louder

"Pardon?"

"I said thank you, asshole" screamed Amy

"Pleasure's mine" smirked Jake. Amy was so frustrated at his behavior, that she didn't notice arriving at the mansion. Jake stopped the car at the gate.

"Why did you call me first?" Jake stopped Amy while she opened the door.

"I thought I could have a small interview. " she replied nonchalantly.

"Shall we have it now?" requested Jake

"You are already hired idiot"

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AN1: Please forgive me for the late update. I've been having family visits in vacation, so I was not able to update. As I promised, I gave a long update. Thank you for being patient.

In the past five days, when I was not updating, I noticed a spontaneous increase of reads. Because of that Phases eight is now at #6 in science-fiction. Thank you sooooo much for your support guys.

AN2: You would've met a new alter in this chapter. Please express your thoughts about Iris.

Votes and Comments are highly appreciated.

Love you all. Happy reading :-)