Chapter 33 Stare down

Chapter 33 Stare down
Tate

“Remember to be nice,” I muttered as Julie stepped out of the house, with me behind her locking the door. I turned to her, adjusting my bag strap on my shoulder.

She pursed her lips.

“I can’t say whatever?” she asked and I nodded.

“This is real life, Julie. If you want the job, you stay polite by every means possible,” I muttered and she huffed, mumbling something under her breath.

I sighed. This one was a tough one.

We made out way towards the main road and waved a cab that took us to the school gate and considering Mike’s cafe was just around the corner, it didn’t take long to reach it.

Pushing the door open, I stepped in with Julie following behind me. I looked around, my eyes going to the counter where I found James. I approached him.

“Hey,” I greeted and he looked up from the book he was so focused on. It took a second before recognition set in.

“Hey,” his voice was cheery. “You’re Mike’s girl from the other day, right?” he asked and I pressed my lips together, glancing at Julie who raised her brows at me.

“I’m not… we’re not dating,” I corrected but he waved it off.

“How can I forget you?” he laughed and clasped his hands together, his eyes darting behind my shoulders.

“You got a twin?” he asked and I shook my head, placing my hands on the counter.

“No. This is my younger sister, Julie. Julie, this is james.” I introduced and Julie stepped forward.

“Nice to meet you,” she mumbled and James nodded, looking a little impressed.

“My God, you both look identical. Could pass as twins,” he mumbled and I nodded.

Yup, we got that a lot. It was nothing new.

There was a time I looked like her older sister and I was ten and she was seven. After that, it was a whole different story.

“What can I do for you gorgeous ladies?” he asked, cracking a grin.

“Um,” I looked around the cafe. They were a few people in it but someone caught my attention at the far end, the most deserted corner. Brayden.

What the…

I turned back to James. “Mike asked to meet him here. Do you know where he is?”I asked and James shook his head.

“He isn’t…aha, there he is,” He pointed towards the door and I whipped around just as Mike stepped in.

I was not going to deny, he did look a little…too good. Especially, in those pants.

It was the pants. I looked away and glanced in the direction of Brayden, whose eyes were on the cup in front of him.

I was sure he hadn’t even noticed us come in, which was….weird. Considering, he always noticed everything.

“Sorry, I’m late,” Mike apologized and I shook my head. His eyes turned to Julie.

“She’s the one?” he asked and I nodded.

“Yeah. Mike, this is Julie and Julie, this is Mike…” I paused. “My friend.” I added, because that was the best way to describe him honestly.

An expression crossed Mike’s face was but it went away quickly. Too quick before I was able to figure it out.

He stretched out his hand for a handshake which Julie took.

“Nice to meet you,” he muttered and she gave a smile which seemed very fake.

“You too,” she mumbled.

“Um, can you excuse me? I’ll be right back,” I muttered and Mike’s brows drew together.

“You can ask her whatever you need to know.” I added and he nodded. I rushed away immediately, approaching Brayden.

He look disheveled and his expression was blank. From the first time since I met him, he always had a smiley expression.

I’d actually never seen him like this.

I knocked gently on his table to get his attention. He jerked slightly and looked up at me.

I gave a small wave.

His gaze were empty, almost as if he didn’t recognize me and then very slowly, recognition kicked in.

He grabbed the cup in front of him, raising it to his lips and downing whatever was in it which I was guessing was coffee.

Slamming it back on the table, he raised his eyes to me.

“What are you doing here?” The cold tone of his voice made me rear back slightly. I blinked.

“I came here for someone?” I muttered and he nodded. God, he looked scarier than Kade when he wasn’t full of smiles.

What happened to him?

“Good. Then leave,” his voice was slightly raised that I was sure others heard him.

I frowned.

“Are you good? You look like…”

“I’m fine!” he snapped and I flinched. “I don’t need you checking on me and most importantly, I’m not Leo who needs your attention or your…” he gestured with his hands.

“...sorry excuse of help.”

I took a step back. That was harsh and it hurt.

“Just get the fuck out of my sight.” he muttered. “Please.”

I bit my bottom lip, to hide how hard his words affected me. I took another step back.

He was right. I didn’t need to check up on him. He wasn’t a friend.

Never would be.

The cafe was as silent as a graveyard, I turned around and all eyes were on us.

Julie’s brows were drawn together and her lips pressed into a very thin line as she approached us.

I moved. I knew my sister damn well, and the look on her face was not a good one.

I was late. She slammed her fists so hard on the table that Brayden jerked…again.

He stared at her and she stared back, leaning in.

I held her arm.

“Come on, Julie. Let it go,” I mumbled. We couldn’t draw more attention to ourselves and besides, this might not be a good reflection on her.

We were here to get her a job, not start a fight.

“You speak to my sister like that again and I swear to God, you won’t have a tongue anymore.” she bit out, making sure her words were clear and loud.

“That’s not true.” I shot back and she cocked her head to the side, still holding Brayden’s gaze.

“I’d removed a cat’s tongue before because it was too loud, don’t think I’m just bluffing.” she said and I blinked.

What?

“You did that?” I asked, confused. Okay, I do not know my sister.

Brayden even looked more annoyed.

I shouldn’t have approached in the first place. This was all on me. All on me.

“Don’t speak to me that way,”

“You should have thought about it twice before raising your voice on my sister!”

Brayden got up so abruptly that it startled me. And all of a sudden, they were having a stare down which was ridiculous because the height difference was huge.

“Huge” huge.

“Okay, enough of this,” Mike stepped in and I’ve never been happy that someone is stepping in.

“Sir, I have to ask you to leave. You started this,” he said and Brayden glanced at him.

He huffed, his gaze jumping from me and then back to Julie. He hit his cup off the table.

I folded my lips.

“Please leave,” Mike added calmly.

“Don’t think this is over,” he said through gritted teeth before making his way out. Relief crashed over me but it was short-lived as Mike turned to me.

“So, your sister…” he started and I held my breath. Please, please, please.

“She got the job. She should be here tomorrow morning,” he said, and I clasped my hands together.

“Really? Oh my God, thank you so much,” I grinned.

He nodded and walked back to the counter. I turned to Julie.

“You got a job,” I said, like she hadn’t just heard it herself. She let out a puff of breath.

“Congratulations to me,” she mumbled and then walked off, following Mike.

I blinked.

And just like that, she’d gotten her first enemy.

Thinking about it now, what the hell just happened?