Not everybody knows how to work my body

Knows how to make me want it

But boy you stay up on it

"So, what was up with you last night?" Veronica asked while searching through her closet for something to wear. Although the previous night had been quite an emotional rollercoaster, Mira's talk with Hiram had made her feel much better about the current situation. 

   "Oh, you know," Mira said, playing with the pink diamond necklace she had put on again after Hiram's request. "The alcohol got to me."

   "Maybe we shouldn't drink for a while. God! I can't find anything to wear!"

   "It's a Monday. What could you possibly be doing today besides school?"

   "Not today," Veronica rolled her eyes. "Tomorrow." Mira raised an eyebrow at her friend. "You know, there's this thing called Valentine's day. God, Mira, don't tell me you don't have a date."

   "Oh," Mira said. She'd completely forgotten about Valentine's day, not that it was an important holiday, to begin with, quite the opposite actually. She couldn't count the times she'd spent it alone at home, snuggled up with her teddy bears while watching trash reality like Love Is Blind and eating Mcdonald's. But now there was Hiram. Although she didn't expect much from him, especially not while his ex was back, she still hoped he would still pull something together. "I might," she shrugged. 

   "I know you're not into high school guys, but I could probably hook you up with someone."

   "No," Mira said instantly. "You do realize the last guy you tried hooking me up with was St. Clair." Veronica was about to argue her defense but seemed to realize she didn't have one.

   "Fair," she said. "Anyway, let's go eat."

   The breakfast table was an experience, to say the least. Hiram typically sat at the very end of the table, and Mira and Veronica were on either end, opposite of each other. That was how it had been during the days she had spent there. However, when Mira went to take her usual seat next to Hiram, Hermione was quick to interject.

   "That's my seat, honey," she said. Mira looked up at her from the chair she had just sat down in. Seriously, was this assigned seating like school? She didn't see Hermione's name anywhere claiming the seat as hers. Still, Mira decided it would be best not to argue with the ex-lady of the house. So, she went to stand, but Hiram wasn't having it.

   "Hermione, seriously," he said. "Mira's a guest."

   "I don't mind moving," Mira offered, innocently. She didn't actually want to move, not even a little. But with Veronica there, she couldn't exactly shrug her shoulders either. Hiram shook his head and Hermione rolled her eyes.

   "Whatever," Hermione said, taking her food and sitting next to her daughter. It had not gone unnoticed by Mira that Hermione hadn't actually introduced herself to her, or even asked about her. She didn't know what the reason was, only that it made her dislike the woman despite the fact she was Hiram's ex. To make matters worse, Mira saw Hermione give her a look over when she sat down. Her. Was this woman truly an adult because she was acting more like a high schooler than half of the Vixens. Mira shot Hermione a pseudo smile and took a sip from her coffee. 

   "Daddy," Veronica said, giving her dad the look that even Mira had learned meant she wanted something. "Archie and I might be out a little late tomorrow since it's Valentine's day and all."

   Hiram stopped eating, "That's tomorrow?"

   "I see things haven't changed," Hermione said under her breath, but literally everyone heard. Okay, seriously? Mira decided she definitely did not like this woman. To divorce a man was one thing. Respectable even. Women had to look out for themselves. But to divorce him, leave, come back to fuck him, and embarrass him in front of his own daughter was another.

   Hiram cleared his throat. "Yes, that's fine," he told Veronica. Mira saw him glance at her for a second, likely to see what her response had been to that comment. Although she couldn't see her own face, it was obvious she didn't exactly look happy. Angered even, but not at him. No, but at the woman opposite of her. 

   "What are you doing tomorrow, Hiram?" Hermione asked.

   "Working," he said. Although Mira had hoped he would do something romantic, she understood it was a long shot. 

   "What time will you be home?"

   "I'll be home for dinner," he replied. Suddenly, his phone rang and he excused himself to answer the call. Merely seconds later, Veronica's phone also rang and she conveniently excused herself from the table too, leaving Mira and Hermione alone. 

   Mira knew claws were about to come out. She could see it in the way Hermione was looking at her. "So, what's your story, Mira?" Hermione said, taking a slow sip of her 8 am mimosa. "Why are you staying here with us?"

   "Oh, no one told you? That's funny," Mira faked a laugh. "I'm staying here because of the black hood."

   "I thought he only targets sinners," she looked her over. "Nevermind, I get it."

   Mira swallowed the insult. She knew it would just add fuel to the raging fire already burning inside her. "What's your problem, Hermione? I get the sense you don't like me."

   "That has always been my seat."

   "So you don't like me because I'm sitting in your seat?" Mira questioned. "Do you hear how that sounds?"

   "Listen, sweetie," Hermione said. Oh hell to the fuck to the no. This walking endorsement for botox injections did not just sweetie her. "He's never let anyone sit in that seat other than me. I'm not sure what he's trying to prove but next time you're going to step out of my way and let me sit there. Like he said, you're a guest so maybe act like one." 

   Mira clenched her fists under the table. God, she was insufferable. Mira wanted nothing more than to scream at this woman. However, she understood Hermione saw her as a threat. And Mira had fried much bigger fish than this. No, she would keep her composure and when the time was right, she'd bring Hermione down. After all, by the looks of it, Hermione was nothing but a glorified high school mean girl. 

   "Alright," Mira smiled, reaching for her phone. She opened her messages and texted Reggie. 

Don't ask questions. Trying to make someone jealous. Call me and ask to take me out on Valentine's day. 

   "So anyway, I know Veronica's going to be out tomorrow," Hermione said. "I need you gone too. I'm planning something for Valentine's day."

   Her blood boiled. "Sure." 

   Veronica returned to the table. "Sorry," she said to Mira. "Archie was asking me what flowers he should get me so I had to go do a personal color test to see what suited my complexion the best. Turns out I'm a deep autumn."

   Mira nodded, pretending to understand any of that. 

   Hiram soon returned to the table, as well. Conveniently, just as Mira's phone rang. 

   "It's Reggie," Mira rolled her eyes. "I think he's calling to ask me to do something tomorrow."

   "Oh my god, yay!" Veronica squealed. "Answer it and put him on speaker. I wanna hear this."

   Ignoring the look Hiram was giving her, Mira answered the call and put him on speaker. "Hey, what's up?" she said.

   "Hey," Reggie said, sounding very bored. He obviously did not want to do this. Mira just hoped it was enough to make Hiram jealous. "Are you free tomorrow night?"

   "Uhm, yeah I guess. I don't really have any other plans," she said. 

   "Cool, I'll pick you up around six. Wear something short," he said, laughing to himself as he hung up. She was going to kill him... if Hiram didn't do it first. She could sense him fuming beside her.

   "Yay!" Veronica squealed in excitement. "Now I don't have to pretend like I'm less interested in Valentine's day so you don't feel bad about not having a date because now you have a date!" 

   "Looks like I do," Mira said, receiving another text. She looked down at her phone to see a text from Hiram. She fought the urge to look at him and opened the text instead.

Cancel. I have something planned for us. 

   Mira smiled and replied.

Anything for you.

   She looked up to find Hermione looking rather satisfied, thinking she had the house alone tomorrow. Boy, was she in for a treat. If this was the game she wanted to play, then so be it. Hermione may have been bad back in her day, but she had no idea who she was competing with now.