A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter more than the first one.

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Song: Lovely by Billie Eilish and Khalid

Chapter Two: Pretty please with sugar and a grape on top

Sometimes I question myself and the level of idiocy I must possess for this disguise and the name Avery Adams, then I remember my big college dreams and put on the red coloured wig and thick, black glasses and walk all the way to Tate's, ignoring the voice at the back of my head screaming, 'This is a very bad idea', but since that's the only thing it ever does- scream at me and point out every little thing I did wrong-, it's not that hard.

After my encounter with Zed, the rest of the day went pretty smoothly. After school, since Kai had that family issue and Zahra had somewhere to be, Xander was going to pick us up. He would drive Reveka and I to Madame Pristine's ballet studio. Reveka has been taking classes since she was 10. I had the opportunity to, but ballet isn't really my thing. Weird as it may seem, I like football and swimming. The girls football team aren't really taken seriously so I pay less attention to that and more to swimming, but this year I stopped all sports and clubs because, why not?

At first I thought of improving my athletic skills so I could get a scholarship for that, but I'm not that good. And coaches of both the swimming and football team, after their inspiring and motivational pep talks, convinced me- in simple terms- that sports is not a place for me. Aren't they just supportive?

Anyways, I told Xander I would wait until after my sister was done so we could walk home together- after all, my shift didn't start till five-, but he refused.

He said he'd wait and drive us home. I thought it unnecessary because he lived far away from us, but he said we could use that time to grab a bite and catch up. Seeing that food is my soulmate, how could I disagree, which lead to the current conversation we were having at a booth at the back of one restaurant we passed on our way to the studio. It's very close to school, and just a couple blocks away from Tate's.

"Cherries or grapes?"

"Grapes, duh. You know I hate cherries."

"Yeah, I do, but I hoped you would have come to your senses by now." He said with a shake of his head. We were eating when he decided to grill me on things where he already knew the answers. We've been best friends since 7th grade, so of course he did. He was probably just bored and needed a conversation starter. I decided to ask about Xavier, his 5-year old brother, when he spoke up.

"So please enlighten me on why people say," he slapped his hand together and gave me his best impression of puppy dog eyes and pouty lips, "Pretty please with sugar and a cherry on top."

I laughed a little as I shook my head. "Nobody says that."

"A lot of people do. Have you been living under a rock?"

I replied his incredulous look with my knowing one. "Well, duh. When Patrick is my roommate, what do you expect? That I live in a pineapple? Use this." I tapped my index finger on the side of my head.

"Haha, so funny!" He mocked. "Stop with the SpongeBob jokes. You're the only person watching SpongeBob from the age of 16 up."

"Wrong!"

"Right because SpongeBob is a dumb show."

I put my hand up my chest, looking all offended and gasped. "Le Gasp! My fellow SpongeBobians feel attacked."

We burst out laughing.

"Char, you're crazy." He said when he stopped laughing.

I gave him my best, most mischievous smile. "And that's what makes me awesome."

"But seriously, why do you think people say that, if cherries are so disgusting and should be ban from earth?"

I laughed because he was quoting my exact words from the day I tasted the cherry that was on top of Zahra's birthday cake.

"There's no other explanation than their lack of functioning taste buds."

"That's one way to put it." He chuckled.

He just stared at me for a while before he said, "Do you think Leyla's serious about liking Axel, or is it just one of her crushes where she just thinks the guys is hot?"

The topic of Leyla and Axel always took a toll on me. Why would Xander even ask that?

"You mean like the crush she had on you when we first spoke to her?" I chuckled remembering those times where she couldn't speak simple sentences whenever Xander was around. I mean could you blame her though? Yes, we could blame her for not keeping her cool around testosterones. But honestly, Xander was really handsome. As if his curly jet black hair and blue-green eyes were not proof enough, he had to top it off with his beautiful smile.

"Yeah but that didn't last long. This is 2 years and counting." He was right. This wasn't one of her usual crushes.

"Axel doesn't even speak to her, talk less of being interested in her. Jerk!"

"How does not liking her back make him a jerk?"

I groaned because he was right. "Urgh! I don't know but I know he is."

"When he lives for your attention and all he does is compliment you?"

"What?"

"You mean you don't notice? Seems like you're still as oblivious as usual." He scoffed.

I wasn't ready to discuss this with him, so I just continued eating.

After a while he said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for what I said to come out like that."

I looked up and gave him a small smile. "I know."

"Forgive me?" He asked with the puppy dog eyes and pouty lips. "Pretty please with sugar and a grape on top."

I chuckled and said. "Now that's more like it. Plus, I wasn't angry, just lost in my thoughts."

"Thinking about what?"

"Most of the time you tell me to shut up and now you want me to tell you what I'm thinking about?" I raised by brows.

"Those times, I'm playing. And it's not like you listen. You still blab on and on. Especially when it's about all those dumb shows and telenovelas you watch. Especially that one," he snapped his fingers as he racked his brain searching for the name. "Yes, yes, that's it! Vuvuletta."

The fact that he seemed very proud of himself for remembering the name made me burst out laughing, clutching my stomach to keep my organs intact. I wouldn't want them spilling all over the floor, now would I?

"What? What's so funny? Did I get the name wrong?" Xander questioned. "I couldn't have. It's Vuvuletta. Or was it Viotesla?"

"Stop! Stop!" I said, in between my fits of laughter. "You're just making it worse."

"Tell me the name then instead of laughing your eyeballs out."

"It's Violetta." Yea, Violetta. It wasn't my best series, but it was my best telenovela. Followed by Jane The Virgin. And since those were the only telenovelas I've watched, the list ends there. I can't really judge for JTV since I haven't even finished, but I can judge for Violetta since I've watched the 3 seasons up to four times. Weird, right?

"That's what I said."

"Yeah, right." Then I began the torment. "Can you believe Diego was working with Ludmilla all this time to get Violetta kicked out of the studio? Actually, yes, cos they showed us that, but if they didn't I would never have guessed. He was so sweet and kind, but I hated him from the start anyway. Leon was always my boo. Do you know why?" At this point, he was banging his head on the table, I took this as a sign to continue. "Oh well, if you don't know I could help you out...."

Xander cut me off with a loud groan. "Please shut up. I'm 100 percent sure you're too old for this."

"You see. You told me to shut up again."

"Yes I did, and this time I'm not going to deny it."

"Do you ever?"

He just shot me a glare and changed the topic. "Anyways, the only thing I can stand watching with you is FRIENDS."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"What about Gossip Girl?"

"Nope."

"Devious maids?"

"Are you really asking that? Next thing I know you'll be asking me if I like Merlin."

"Do you?"

"No!"

"Do you like anything?"

"Yes." I waited for him to expatiate but it seemed like he wasn't going to so I just continued my drilling.

"Pretty little liars?"

"Too confusing and mysterious."

"That's kind of the point. Plus you've watched 13 reasons why. They're literally the same."

"Definitely not."

"At least tell me you can handle Stranger things."

"Nope."

"What?"

He just shrugged and took a bite out of his nacho fries. How is he still eating that? They're probably cold by now. My meal is all the way in my stomach, except my chocolate milkshake.

"Twilight? Teen wolf? Vampire diaries? Originals? Legacies?" How could he say no to those?

He feigned a shocked expression. "Do you even know me at all? I hate movies about werewolves and vampires and other paranormal stuff?"

I snorted. "Funny coming from a guy whose favourite movie when we were younger was ParaNorman."

"That didn't last long", he argued.

"Mmmhmm." I nodded, not holding back on my sarcasm.

"I'm serious."

"Of course you are." I smiled still nodding.

"Whatever." He mumbled. "Plus, it doesn't exactly have paranormal activity."

"Dude, it's called ParaNorman."

"Yeah but it's dark fantasy and comedy and horror."

"Your point is?"

"My point is....." He was quiet for a while. "My point's stupid, isn't it?"

"Congrats! Smartest thing you've said all day."

He rolled his eyes and was about to throw a snarky comment my way when my phone started ringing.

Reveka? How come? Phones weren't allowed in her class.

I picked it up, and before I could say hello she started yelling.

"Where the hell are you two knuckleheads?" was all I caught until she started muttering profanities. For a 15 year old, she had a very colourful vocabulary.

I held the phone at arm's length and mumbled to Xander. "She called us knuckleheads."

He gasped. "The audacity."

"I know right."

I put the phone on speaker. "What are you yelling about?" I cut off her string of curses.

She gasped. "Have you seen the time?"

I looked at it. "4:45pm. So?"

"What do you mean so? My class ended at 4:15pm." Oh! It's true! How could I forget? I mentally face palmed myself.

I couldn't let her know I forgot. She wouldn't let me hear the end of it. "We went to eat something and got stuck in traffic."

Xander gave me an incredulous look and I just shrugged.

"You're lying."

I gasped. "How do you know? I mean, why would you say that?"

"Because I can see you."

"What do you mean?"

"I was standing in front of the ballet studio, then I saw Xander's car from afar, walked to it. And now I'm standing outside seeing the both of you."

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh."

"You're buying me lunch." was all she said before she cut the call.

About 30 seconds later, she was in the booth beside Xander and ordering a lot of food that would definitely make my pockets hurt. This can't really be happening. And on top of that, I had to get to Tate's in 15 minutes. It was about a 7 minutes walk from here, but I had to wait for Reveka to finish eating, get home and change before going to Tate's.

"I need to use the restroom." I said after thinking about what to do for a solid 2 minutes. I excused myself from the table. Then I did the dumbest thing ever. I went through the back door and ran all the way home and changed to the uniform T-shirt, black jeans and my flat black shoes with a strap around the ankle, that I bought for the sole purpose of working at Tate's. I couldn't have my friends recognising a similarity between me and Avery. If they did, they'd recognize another one and another, and then the jig is up. It's been one and a half years and I'm surprised they hadn't figured it out yet. I didn't even change my voice that much. Just a slight British accent. And they call me oblivious.

I put on the red shoulder-length wig after tying my hair in a tight knot. My normal hair may be longer, but the red hair was fuller, thicker and curlier, so it wasn't obvious. I put on the black glasses and dashed all the way to Tate's.

I got there at 5:01pm and I was very proud of myself. It wasn't early, but it wasn't late either. If I was late again, I'm pretty sure Benny would fire me.

I came in through the back and went to my private locker and grabbed my apron. By the time I had tied the apron around my waist and was about to put my phone in my pocket, it rang.

Xander. At first I thought to ignore it but then decided against it. I mean, what good would that do? He'd just keep calling.

"I should have known something was up when you took your phone with you to the restroom."

Ok I must admit. It wasn't a well thought out plan and now I have to think of some smart excuse to give. Life would be so much easier if I told my friends and Reveka about my secret. But everyone knows a secret shared is no longer a secret.

"Who doesn't?"

"People." He deadpanned.

"Ouch! I'll try not to be offended."

"Seriously, where the hell are you? Reveka finished her meal 5 minutes ago and you have apparently been in the restroom for about 30 minutes. Even your number 2 shouldn't be that long."

"Who says number 2 from 15 up?" I snorted.

"I do. Now stop changing the topic."

"I am, aren't I? Or is it I aren't, am I?"

"Charvi!!!!"

"Okay, okay. Calm your tities."

"I don't have any."

"Now you just sound grumpy like Kai."

The other end of the line was silent for what seemed like forever so I broke it.

"I'm changing the topic again, aren't I?"

"Yes you are."

"Ok fine. I..... don't use public bathrooms." Really? Since when?

"Really? Since when?" He voiced my thoughts.

"Since today. So I ran home to use it."

"Why didn't you just wait so I could drive you?" Was he actually believing me? Sweet!

"If I waited for Reveka to finish her food, I'd pee my pants."

"True." He laughed. "Does that mean you'd stop using the school's restroom?"

"No." I answered too hastily.

"Isn't that a public toilet?"

"Yeah, but school's like home to me."

It wasn't exactly a lie, you know what they say. If you're stuck in a prison, embrace it.

And I told Xander that. He just laughed and said. "School's not a prison."

"Are you sure?"

"Yh. Plus, no one says that."

"Well, they should."

"Um sure. Anyways, Reveka wants me to drop her at Sam's house. She said I should tell you not to overreact, Chloe's gonna be there."

"I never overreact."

"Sure." He stressed. "Do you want me to stop by?"

"No it's fine."

"Umm okay. Reveka said Sam's driver would bring her home."

Driver? His personal driver? Oh, yeah. I forgot most rich kids have that.

"That's fine."

"So I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah, bye." I pocketed my phone not before checking the time. It was a 5 minutes call so now it's 5:07pm. I'm sure Toni won't be angry if she worked and extra 7 minutes for me.

I mean she only works for 2 hours behind the cash register. I work 4 hours from 5pm to 9pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. And on Sunday afternoons from 1pm to 5pm. I'm free all through Tuesday, Friday and Saturday except when Benny wants to call me in for an extra shift if someone had to be absent, but I made it clear to him that I'm not free during school hours.

When I walked into the restaurant it was bustling with people. Tate's was a common hangout for students especially from my school.

I know, stupid right? Out of all the restaurants to pick, I chose here where so many students from school, including my friends and I, come. But I have a sensible reason for that. They were the only restaurant within a few metres from my house and school, in case I needed to run there, hiring.

Avery was pretty much on a one on one name basis with most of my classmates, although Charvi knew them already. It made things easier actually. I wouldn't make slip ups (like when I first began working) and have to make an excuse for how I knew them since now we were friends.

Toni had an annoyed expression on her face when I got there. She's 26, but we're still really friendly to each other. If you could count her snarky remarks and rude dissing friendly, but I knew it was all a joke and that deep down she loved me even if she denied it.

"Hi Toni." I beamed at her. Not my smartest move cos when she saw me she scowled.

"And where have you been?" She said with a frown.

"Don't frown so much, you'll get wrinkles."

Her frown deepened. "I have every right to frown when my co-worker is late, making me cover her shift and just waltzes in here smiling."

"I didn't waltz, I walked." Her eyes just narrowed at that. "Okay, I'm sorry. It's just seven minutes. I had a family issue."

"And what was that?" It's not like I could actually tell her what it was, so I just said "My dog died."

"You don't have a dog."

"Well then I bought one and it died."

"You're a terrible liar."

"I know." I groaned. "I'm sorry. Please don't tell Benny."

"I never do."

I smiled and was about to say "Because you simply just adore me", but it's like she read my mind cos she just said "Don't" and left.

Oh, how I love our conversations.

I got behind the counter and began my shift.

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I hope the chapter wasn't too long. I'm not really sure of the common chapter's length.

Anyways, please vote, comment and share.