Time seemed to move faster in New York, and before I knew it, tomorrow had become today. I was at the restaurant, donning my new uniform, hair pulled back into a ponytail.

"So," Rhia started. "Can you please tell me how your skin is so freaking clear? Because I've watched like a billion stupid ass YouTube videos and—"

I frowned. "Aren't you supposed to be teaching me waitressing basics?"

She blinked. "Well, you can walk, you can talk and you can add up numbers faster than a calculator. I'm pretty sure you're already better than me. Now, quit being stingy and share!"

I laughed. "Just get enough sleep and don't eat too much oily food, I guess."

"Ugh," she groaned. "I'm never going to have nice skin. I never sleep before twelve. And have you seen the amount of oil my mum puts in her curry? I can't live without that shit."

"I've never really had a proper curry before." I wondered out loud.

Rhia's surprise was audible. "What? You're so coming to my place tomorrow."

I was about to say yes, but then... "Sorry," I said, genuinely sad, "I can't."

"Why not? Wait... Don't tell me you're a Trump supporter, because if so, you're fired."

I laughed. "No. No, I'm not. It's just that... I kinda destroyed this asshole's motorcycle by reversing straight into it. And he asked me to meet him at Charley's auto repair this Saturday."

Rhia frowned. "Firstly, why would you drive around in your own car in New York? And secondly, Charley's is trouble."

"I realized," I said, referring to the first half of her sentence, then, "Why is it trouble?"

"It just is, okay?" She took my phone from my hands.

"What's your password?"

I just stared at her.

"C'mon," she whined, "you got any porn on here?"

"What?" I exclaimed. "No!"

"Then tell me your password!"

"Fine," I huffed, "314159265359."

Rhia made to start and then stopped, staring at me like I'd just grown another head.

"Why the hell is your password as long as the unemployment line?"

I chuckled, shrugging. "For fun. It's pi without the decimal sign."

She stared at me. "You're on some crazy Einstein crack."

I laughed, taking my phone back and typing it in for her.

She gave me a perplexed look and typed in something on it, giving the device back.

"There," she said, "my number. If you really did jack up this guy's cycle, you're going to have to go there on Saturday. But if you have any problem at all—anything—just call me. I'm on my phone half the time anyway."

I smiled. Rhia had a big heart... I'd only just met her but I felt as though I'd known her for years.

"Thank you," I said.

"You're going to Columbia this semester?" She looked at me. It was more of a statement than a question.

I nodded, surprised. "How'd you know?"

"They'd be stupid not to accept you."

"You're nice."

She shook her head. "It's my job to be nice."

"Well, you're nice anyway," I said.

"The nicer you are the bigger the tip." she said, her onyx eyes sparkling.

"Are the tips here good?" I asked.

"Of course the tips are good."

"Percentage wise?"

"Over thirty percent on average. Elitists visit us more often than you think." Rhia winked. "Why do you think I work here?"

The smile stayed on my face.

"Check the entrance for any lunch customers," Rhia said, then, "I'll be back."

I stood at the entrance for barely ten minutes, admiring the ornate buildings surrounding Aletta. Just then, I heard what sounded like metal hitting the ground. A phone landed at my feet, and two male figures dressed in suits flew past at an alarming rate.

I picked up the phone—and it was by no means an old model. In fact, it was the exact opposite of that.

Sneaking a look back at the restaurant, I decided to risk it. I'd only be gone for seconds to return the phone, anyway. One man had a phone in his hands already, so I rushed to the other.

"Uh, sorry," I said, tapping his shoulder.

"What now, Larry—" he turned, then paused.

I was met by slate gray eyes. The man was, simply put, gorgeous. His ebony hair was styled back slightly, highlighting the bronze skin of his forehead. High cheekbones and a chiselled jaw, he was the poster boy for perfection.

And he was staring right at me.

I offered him a smile, and his lifted his eyebrows slightly, staring at me.

"I think you dropped your phone."

He looked down at the phone in my hand, as if contemplating taking it back. Weird.

"Yeah," he said, blinking. "Thanks."

The man now standing in front of him, who I supposed was Larry, had a mixture of terror and confusion in his eyes. I realized the pretty man had not, in fact simply dropped his phone. He'd thrown it.

And was more than happy to leave it lying there, on the street.

Larry started, "Sir, you're getting late for—"

"Cancel it," the mysterious man said, throwing back a hand. His grey eyes were fixed on me. I blinked. Then those clear eyes moved to the bold Aletta sign above me.

He turned to Larry. "What do you think about lunch?"

I thought he didn't really care what poor Larry thought anyway.

"I should have a tab," he said, sounding unsure as he looked about.

I nodded, stared down at the book full of names, then paused. "Uh, your name?"

He paused too, momentarily, then smiled softly. Like I should have known—like I should have known his name.

"Caleb," he said anyway. "Caleb Valdez."

Valdez & Sons. Of course. I'd seen that building too. And remembered. A whole, towering building with his last name on it. Rhia wasn't playing when she mentioned elitists.

"No, sir, you don't have a tab here," I told him, after scouring through the log book.

He shrugged, his navy blue coat pristine. "Well. I can still have lunch here."

I smiled softly. He'd lied about the tab. Aletta was fancy, but not fancy enough for someone like him. "Yes, you can," I said.

I took a step forward, and at that precise moment, the goddamn stupid heel I was wearing had to fail on me.

The joys of being 5 feet tall.

I felt my ankle twist in an awkward position, and I let out a small, "Ahhh!"

I felt a strong arm around my waist and a strong scent of clean musk cologne hit me. I stared up into Caleb Valdez's deep gray eyes, and decided it was far too much for my heart rate.

I separated myself from the tangle of his arms immediately, not placing too much pressure on my ankle.

"You okay?" he asked, a slow smile creeping up on his perfect face as he still held on loosely to support me. He was ethereal.

I nodded, strands of hair from my ponytail displacing.

Caleb and Larry, who I supposed was his assistant of some sort, sat at a table. It was still early for lunch and the restaurant was more or less vacant.

"I actually have flowers," Caleb said, eyeing Larry, who held on tightly to the bouquet in his hands.

"Okay," I said, not sure what else to say, "they're very pretty, I guess."

"Like you." Caleb smiled, straight and white teeth peeking. "You can have them."

My heart skipped a beat and I could feel my cheeks light up. I could hear the murmurs of other waitresses in the background.

Larry mumbled, "Sir, they're for our client—"

I widened my eyes. Caleb narrowed his own at Larry.

I held up a hand, "It's okay, really, I—" but Larry had already placed the bouquet in my hands. They smelled amazing. Lavender and lilies.

"Take it as a gift for returning my phone to me," Caleb said. Larry frowned.

Despite knowing he had no intention of reclaiming his phone, I nodded. "Thanks."

Rhia finally returned, and she stared from me and the flowers to Caleb and back to me again, her eyes wide. She disappeared momentarily, returning with a small basket of warm bread and butter.

She placed it on the table, not stopping with the googly eye thing she had going on.

"Are you ready to order?" I asked.

Caleb looked up at me.

"Can I have... a grilled chicken sandwich," he paused to look down at the menu, "and a date with you next Saturday?"

He winked. I blinked, then broke into a coughing fit. I think Larry started coughing too, but maybe it was just my imagination.

Rhia came to my rescue with a glass of water and hacked at my back like my life depended on it. I guess it did, too.

"Sorry," she said, her smile a little too peppy, "Ever has a bit of a chest condition."

I narrowed my eyes at her, after the itching at my throat faded. Caleb looked a little confused, but then covered it up with that pearly smile of his.

"So it's a yes?" he persisted.

"What if I said no?" I said. Rhia had widened her eyes to the point where I thought she was having a stroke.

Caleb smirked. "Then you'd see me here tomorrow for lunch, ordering a grilled chicken sandwich."

"There's only so many chickens in the world," I reckoned.

His grin grew. "And only one of you."

I smiled. He was smooth. And completely unbothered by the fact that I'd just apparently flirted with him using freaking chickens.

"I'll think about it." I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

I served them their food and allowed myself to be dragged to the back by Rhia.

"A bit of a condition, really?" I raised a brow at her.

"You sneaky bitch!" Rhia laughed. "First day at work and you land yourself a date with the Caleb Valdez!"

"What's the deal with him anyway?"

"Uh, have you seen his face?"

"Superficial much?" I smirked.

"Just appreciating pure beauty," Rhia defended.

"Should say no?" I asked. That feeling crept up my spine.

She shrugged. "Either way, I score. Either I get to get you dressed up for your date in that super cool movie way I'd always wanted, or hot sauce over there adds to this restaurant's revenue every time he orders a grilled chicken sandwich. You get me?"

I chuckled. "I'm holding you on to that. I was going to wear a t-shirt if I go on that date."

"A t-shirt?" she gasped. "Blasphemy. I'm raiding your closet and you're pitching up with a dress that shows off the curves you're so obviously hiding."

"Sure thing, chicken wing," I said.

I made to walk out... then froze, and Rhia noticed. I froze so bad I thought I felt ice in my veins.

"What the hell have I done?"

"What?" Rhia said, panicked. "What!"

"I've deluded myself into thinking I'm some sort of stud. God, Rhia," I said, "I've never dated anyone before. The closest I got was kissing some guy from second grade whose name I can't remember. And I remember everything."

I gulped as I realized what I'd said. How easy it was to forget.

She widened her eyes.

"On the cheek!" I wailed.

She was open-mouthed and silent, as if motioning for me to continue.

"And it was a dare." I closed my eyes, draping myself over her shoulder.

Dramatic, I know. But, desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Hush, lil potato," Rhia said, patting my back. She drew me at an arm's length. "Now tell me why someone as beautiful and kind as you couldn't get ass at high school. Those boys are horny as fuck."

I chuckled, then cringed. She was right. Unknowingly, Rhia had just stepped on a land mine. And damn, did it hurt.

"That's not making me feel any better," I murmured.

She shrugged. "Hey, at least I got a laugh out of you. C'mon," she said, "spill."

"Okay." I sighed. "So I know this is going to some like some petty high school drama, but I wasn't exactly the most popular at high school."

It was an understatement.

Rhia looked genuinely shocked. "Really?" she mused. "But you've got the whole cheerleader appeal and everything. Look at those blonde locks."

She flicked at a my ponytail. I smiled, punching her in the shoulder.

"Shut up," I said. "I was a mathlete. I had messy hair and wore baggy clothes 98 percent of the time. I didn't give a damn about people—all I cared about was solving that equation from last night."

She nodded. "And the other two percent?"

I looked up at her. I noticed how perfect she'd done her lipstick. Sort of like magic you'd only see on those YouTube tutorials she was talking about. I inwardly smirked at the irony.

"Don't look at me like that," she continued, "I know basic math like percentages and all that sh—"

"The other two percent," I repeated. "Well... guys that got close enough to me had to go through the scorch trials with my brother."

Her face contorted into a pitiful sort of understanding.

"And none of them walked out without burns," I said.

"Protective one," Rhia noted.

I nodded. "I love him, but yes. He's incredibly protective. I've always known there was more to it... but, he never did tell me."

More than what had happened. A dull ache started at my temple.

An awkward silence filled the air.

"It's different here," she said, "You're not living in a little bubble anymore. People are going to notice you. There's one out there right now. An incredibly hot one, too. Give him a chance."

I sucked in a breath.

"Oh, and Ever," she said.

I looked up.

"Don't fool yourself into thinking this is not who you are or what you deserve. I know an act when I see one, and you're genuine," she said, then, "like the leather on my Gucci bag."

Rhia winked, the mascara lining her eyes more prominent. I smiled. I didn't care that I only knew this girl for two days. I loved her all the same.

But little did she know I was a walking actress, living a lie every day. Trying harder to forget than to remember.

"At least now I know you're not vegan," I muttered.

"Are you?" Rhia asked.

I shook my head no. "I'm vegetarian."

So when I walked out, I was sure that bubble from earlier had begun to crack. I grabbed a serviette and their bill and stood at the table where Caleb's grey eyes caught on to me quickly.

"I'll come," I said, pushing the serviette with my number in front of him.

A slow grin spread on his lips, and I could have sworn Larry lifted an unexpected brow.

I took their plates and threw one last glance behind me. "I did it for the chickens."

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