96 | Haggler

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The comments on Flora's POV had me rolling. Thank you @daddormz for this beaaautiful poster. The scenery is just *chefs kiss*

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Chapter 96: Haggler

~Luke's POV~

I was waiting for a watermelon head to come back with my girlfriend. I was also waiting on a phone call that would give me the name of the blackmailer.

I hate waiting.

I've never been good at it.

Austin exhaled in a puff of smoke, "Why is Bianca sending me basketball emojis?"

He lowered the joint in his fingers and raised his phone closer to his face instead.

"Isn't it funny how a basketball looks so much like a halo?" Austin mused, high as a kite, "But if Bianca is an emoji she'd be the opposite of a halo don't you think?"

I wasn't paying attention anymore. I was trying to face my problems for once, but Austin decided to get high.

"A carrot!" Austin exclaimed, tapping the same spot on his phone multiple times.

I could only guess he was sending Bianca a bunch of carrot emojis.

All I wanted was to get Millie on the phone so we could talk. Instead, I was here with Tweedledum and-

My phone started to ring and I saw caller ID: Bianca.

Tweedledee.

My patience snapped. I grabbed Austin's phone out of his hand and chucked it onto the kitchen counter behind us.

It took Austin an insanely long time before his delayed reaction came. "Hey!"

"Stop talking to her. I'm not interested in hearing Bianca right now," I said.

He looked up at me with the most confused expression, "Why is she trying to reach you?"

"She wrote some comment about puppies and the school's gone crazy with it," I said, really bored of Bianca's antics.

I've ignored her and she's now trying to go through Austin.

"I guess that explains the basketball emojis," Austin nodded, as if that made perfect sense.

It didn't.

We've been through this before. Bianca's been protective of our friendship, but I've made it clear that I'm defensive of my relationship. And if she doesn't figure that out, then there won't be a friendship to protect.

**

"Millie, where are you?" I asked, finally receiving her call.

While I spoke to her, I glanced over at Austin who was trying to stealthily get to his phone.

"I'm with Jake," she said, "He found someone online who's selling a guitar at a cheap price, so we're in Alpine. Strangely, Lara and Chris are here too."

I'm with Jake. Her words felt like chalk on a blackboard.

"When are you free?" I asked, focusing on the only thing I cared about.

"Aren't you curious about Lara being here? I find it so odd-"

"I just want to talk to you. Give me a time and a place."

"We're going to Jake's performance after this."

"That's an easy one to skip."

"Luke! This means a lot to your brother-"

"Half-brother."

"Can we try to have fun, for half a second, and support someone else instead of ourselves?"

She makes a good point. Except that I'm completely fine with being self-absorbed.

And watching Jake screech lullabies into a mic isn't my idea of fun, but hey. It's her call.

"Fine," I said, giving in to what she wanted, "I'll see you there."

"Great. Jake will be so happy!"

I couldn't think of a worse emotion.

I know she's trying to mend a burnt bridge between Jake and me, but not many relationships can pick up after they break. My laptop and Millie is the exception.

We hung up and I looked at Austin who was tapping away on his phone with his joint between his lips. "I see Bianca's comment on Oma's photos and I'll divert the attention by posting the world's most incredible album. Boom." (Austin's album is on my Instagram)

"Austin," I interrupted his random campaign, "Want to go to a party?"

He looked up at me and his lips curled into a smile. "Always."

**

~Millie's POV~

Twin strangers.

Doppelgangers. I've watched enough TVD to make these assumptions.

Lara parties with DJs in Dubai and travels on her yacht. She goes to that prestigious high school, Callington Prep, so what was she doing here? Chad said that they would never step foot in Alpine...

Oh, there's the problem.

Chad.

I should stop getting all my information from Roland Chadwick III.

Jake entered the apartment and started talking to a kind middle-aged lady who was selling the second-hand guitar. I stayed outside, even though her apartment smelt amazing, to stare at Chris and Lara.

They looked like a duo out of a Marvel movie, except that neither of them were wearing bright or tight clothing. Or weapons or superpowers so... I don't really know where I'm going with this...

"What are you doing here, Millie?" Chris asked me.

I get why he's suspicious. Whenever we bump into Chris, we always end up roping him into some weird situation.

"My friend's buying a guitar," I answered, "What about you?"

"We live in this building," Chris replied, standing between us with a bag of groceries in his left hand.

"Together?"

"No," Chris gave me a weird look.

I'm pretty sure Chad told me that Lara's family had some mansion somewhere.

Does Chris not know she's a billionaire?

"Nice to see you, Millie," Lara smiled at me, "Who's your friend?"

"Oh, Jake? He's my neighbor and Luke's half-brother." I ramble too much when I'm nervous.

"Luke has a brother?" Chris asked, looking between Lara and me, "And how do you two know each other?"

Good questions.

"Mutual friends," Lara smiled, "We should get going Chris. We don't want to keep my aunt waiting."

She slipped her hands into her open black jacket and started to walk.

"Uh," I hesitated before calling out to them, "Do you two want to come to Jake's show tonight? It's a competition and he's singing a... song."

"Just one?" Lara joked.

"Good luck to him," Chris added, "Let's hope he isn't used to second place like his brother."

Chris's basketball rivalry with Luke was well known but I think that competitive rivalry had pushed them both to play better. They both secured college scholarships with strong teams.

But Chris hit a lot closer to home with that joke than he could ever know. Jake did feel second place.

He needed more people to believe in him.

**

I skipped down the stairs of the apartment building in Alpine. Jake was ahead of me, again, with his new guitar on his back.

"Millie, you really didn't need to do that. I swear I'll pay you back the $20," Jake promised, slowing down so I could catch up.

"It was worth it," I said, not wanting to think too much about it.

My mom had given me cash before she left the second time round. I didn't have much of it left but, when I saw Jake's disappointment that he was $20 short, I had to help. The guitar means so much to him. It's his escape from everything here.

I didn't want to think about where that left me if my mom leaves again or when my car runs out of gas. I didn't have a part-time job anymore and my savings from being a camp counsellor last summer were all used up in the trip to Dubai.

A problem for tomorrow I suppose.

I opened the car door and slid into the driver's seat. I wanted to support Jake, but I couldn't help thinking about the conversation between Luke and me... and how this was only delaying the inevitable.

**

Jake was performing at a bar. The 'competitors' entrance was in a side alley and we had to wait in line behind all the other musicians. The line was long, as every band and artist had to be checked at the door and given a number. A lot of random musical sounds would sporadically pop up in the line.

It was early and I was hoping they'd give us dinner before the show.

My phone rang: unknown number

"Hello?" I excused myself from the line and Jake looked over, curious about the caller.

I shrugged back to him.

"Hey Millie, it's Lara. Funny seeing you earlier. Austin gave me your number actually. He mentioned you were really good at math and I was looking for a tutor. Are you interested?"

I looked around, almost as if I expected Austin to appear out of nowhere. He told her I could be a tutor... he has my back.

"Yeah, yes, sure, absolutely, I'd love to!" I said, trying to contain my excitement.

"What's your rate? Is $70 an hour good?"

Seventy?! I couldn't begin to imagine what I'd do with $70 an hour. Maybe she meant $17?

"Uh..."

"$90?" Lara asked.

This girl wasn't a haggler.

"That's way more than I would've expected," I admitted.

"Don't sell yourself short. If I'm being honest with you, tutors cost a lot more than $70. I'm looking for someone who's fun but can take it seriously. I hear you're good."

"S- sure, I'd be really happy to. We can do a session and see if you'd like to continue?" I offered, feeling my heart soar with happiness.

I have a job!

**

8PM

Jake was strumming his guitar in the artists' room backstage. We were sitting side by side, talking quietly. I found it enthralling to watch him play a few chords casually while we spoke.

It was like music flowed out of him and he didn't even need to think about it.

There was a buzz backstage as everyone got ready for the show. Sandwiches and sodas on the buffet table and alcohol in ice buckets. I'd managed to get in by pretending to be Jake's lyricist. He had a fake ID that he used to get us two free beers.

He looked down, adjusting the tuning pegs on the headstock of the guitar and I watched a strand of dark hair fall in a loose curl over his eyes.

Jake spoke, keeping his voice low so no one heard, "I don't get how someone like you is dating an assh*le like my brother."

I almost choked on air. How could he say something like that while casually playing the guitar? I thought we were passed this.

"I love him," I replied, hoping that Jake could understand, and also hoping that Luke still felt the same way.

"Ok," he said.

Was it a mistake to have come here? Luke would say yes in a heartbeat. But Jake is my friend – a genuine, kind friend who is going through a very difficult time with no one around for him.

Jake's fingers stopped strumming his guitar and he glanced at a girl who just walked up to us.

"Sorry to interrupt but I noticed your tattoos," she said nervously, "They're cool. Are you performing tonight?"

I silently got up and left the two of them to their flirting. Luke and I were supposed to meet here, but I hadn't heard from yet. I needed to get away from Jake. And I hated to admit how smooth he is with that guitar. The guy's voice sounds like honey.

I tried to get it out of my head and think about my new part-time job instead. It was like a giant weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I couldn't wait to tell Luke – after we deal with the continuation of last night's conversation. My stomach churned just thinking about it.

I left the artists' room and walked through the main doors into the bar. The bar was filling up fast and music was playing through the speakers. There was a shuffleboard and retro arcade game machine on one end of the room.

This felt like the kind of place that would have karaoke nights on Tuesdays.

I didn't expect to see Bianca and Oma standing at a high-top table by the small stage. Oma was showing Bianca something on her phone when Stacey approached them.

If I had any intention of saying hello to them, it disappeared the moment Stacey showed up.

I took a swig of the beer in my hand and began walking to the shuffleboard when I noticed the front doors opened again.

And Luke walked in.

Luke walked in, wearing a black bomber jacket with a white stripe that circled his broad shoulders. Under his jacket, he had a white shirt that peeked out from underneath.

The music grew louder. Luke looked towards the stage, where the competition had started. He rolled his eyes and walked towards the bar instead.

Austin was already a few steps ahead and closer to the bar. He drummed his hands on the bar table and said something to the bartender that made her laugh.

Luke leaned his arm on the bar and raised two fingers. The bartender cracked open two beer bottles just as some girls approached them. Luke and Austin attracted attention almost immediately.

Oma, Stacey and Bianca came up to them also, saying hello. I saw Luke's expression change as Bianca greeted him and he looked down at his phone.

I was worried he would look up and catch me watching him. I didn't want to give off stalker vibes, so I turned towards the stage to watch the first performance. It was a DJ and singer duo and they weren't bad at all.

I wish I could pay attention. All I was thinking about was my hot boyfriend by the bar.

He's so used to everyone running up to him the moment he walks in. I wanted him to find me, instead of expecting me to find him. But maybe I need to be more direct. Maybe I should just walk over there and pull him away from everyone. We needed to talk, didn't we?

I turned around, feeling confident, until my eyes landed on him, and all that confidence disappeared. He was watching me.

He was leaning back against the bar, his blue eyes fixed on me. He saw me looking and didn't flinch. He raised his beer to his lips and took a swig.

Then I watched him lower his drink to the table and push himself up to his full height. I don't know why my heart skipped a beat. But he walked towards me, his eyes never leaving mine.  

A/N: It's kicking off in the next chapter! The mysteries will start coming together... :)

JAKE'S SONG will be in the next chapter too! Any ideas for his lyrics? Poll is up on my IG and I'll share some of the responses here too :)

AUSTIN'S PHOTO ALBUM is posted on Instagram (@natalieinacorner).  All the PNM posts are in the guide tab to make it easier to find!  

 Hope you have an amazing week... and enjoy the sunshine ☼

<3


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