“So what’s happening with you two?” Tristan asked, propping his elbows on the table in front of us.

I rolled my eyes at him, waving his statement off as I wiped the table with a piece of cloth. Kyla giggled next to me, helping take down the chairs from the top of the tables, prepping up for our opening.

“Nothing,” I replied bluntly, when his smirk grew, I lifted my eyebrows before spraying him with the cleaner on the face. He flinched backwards and I smirked in victory, moving to wipe the other tables clean.

Kyla grinned to my direction, giving me a forewarning that I’m going to go through a long interrogation later on.

My friends pestering me on a Saturday morning was not part of my schedule.

“Moving off topic,” I coughed out awkwardly in an attempt to avert the conversation from me, “What’s up with keeping your job as a secret?”

Tristan sighed, helping take down the chairs from the tables, “It’s nothing.”

I lifted a brow, that answer did not satisfy my curiosity even a bit.

Kyla eyed Tristan suspiciously, helping me with the tables, “I thought we’re already fine to talk to each other in school.”

Tristan frowned at Kyla’s statement, looking at my best friend with an apologetic look. A blush instantly crept up her cheeks, letting out a theory that he wasn’t supposed to hear her statement. She quickly looked down on the table, wiping it with a new vigor.

She’s literally a school girl with a crush.

“What I still don’t get is why you’re even working,” Tristan said, “Your brother practically owns this place, you’re rich!”

“He’s rich,” I tried to emphasize, I’m tired of explaining this over and over again, “I’m living comfortable middle class life.”

“No,” he wagged his finger, “We’re living the comfortable middle class life, and you just want something to keep you busy.”

Rolling my eyes at him, I threw the cloth that I was using to wipe the tables. It hit him square on the face, and he reached out to peel it off, his face scrunching in disgust.

“Hansen!” the main chef yelled from the kitchen, calling Tristan over. He sighed, disliking the guy more and more by the day.

“My duty awaits,” he groaned out, trudging to the kitchen.

“Did you see that?” Kyla suddenly skipped to my side, bouncing with happiness, “He got sad when I mentioned my disappointment.”

If Tristan is here, she’s meek and shy, when he’s not, she’s a bubbly overexcited chick.

But we just love her anyways.

“Come on, we’re about to open,” taking one more look at the polished table, I smiled in accomplishment as the two of us retreated back into the kitchen.

“When will our manager come back?” she sighed, looking around for our boss. I shrugged, it’s better if we just left the woman to her own. Her best friend was getting married overseas, thus, she’s away from work right now.

As if this place needed her, the staff were organized enough to handle without a manager. They cooperated with each other, and they’re nice even to the part-timers like us.

“So how’s little Romeo?” Kyla teased, poking my side making me jump into the air. I stepped away from her as she grinned at me.

“Shut up,” I cut off which only made her laugh harder.

The oldest of the waiters, whom our manager placed in charge, herded all the staff in the kitchen. She examined each and every one of us, taking in the attendance of the workers. She clapped her hands and breathed out, “Ready to open?”

We nodded, more than prepared to take on a day of service. She smiled before she went outside to unlock the front doors of the café to open it to the world.

“It’s going to be another slow day,” I sighed, sitting on one of the stools, “I can’t wait to get out of work later.”

“We just opened,” Kyla pointed out, hopping on the stool next to me, “But I agree, work on a Saturday is horrible.”

Tristan chuckled, sneaking two slices of chocolate cake for us, “Turn those frown upside down,” he pushed the plates, “It isn’t too bad.”

I scoffed at his statement but I dived into the cake anyways. I praise the chefs in this place for making the best pastries out there.

Tristan pulled out his phone from his pocket, tapping on the screen. His face morphed into worry, looking troubled at whatever it was on the screen.

Kyla and I shared a look before turning to him, “What’s wrong?”

He placed the device on the counter, a text message from Jasper was displayed on the screen.

180 degrees coffee later at lunch. My treat.

Not good.

“Tell him you have work.”

He shook his head, snatching his phone back, “He knows I get off on lunch during Saturdays.”

Taking a deep breath, I slammed my palm on the table and stared him right in the eyes, “Tell him.”

He gaped at me as if I was telling him to do a suicide mission. For him, it might as well be, “I can’t.”

We just can’t see why. We’re friends again, Jasper knows that we’re on friendly terms, there’s nothing to hide anymore.

Or maybe I’m just overlooking something.

He shot a quick reply which we knew that he’s going to end up in one of the tables outside with his best friend right across from him. Hey, I’m not the one to interrupt with their perfect guy time.

He’s just digging his own grave.

A minute after he sent the message, my phone started to vibrate. I fished it out of my pocket to see Jasper’s name flashing on the screen. The three of us shared a look and I answered it, placing him on speaker so all of us knew the conversation.

“Savannah, you working today?”

Tristan stilled, waiting for Jasper’s words. I let out a statement of confirmation and he hummed from the other line.

“Are you getting off during lunch?”

And that did it, we knew where this is going.

“Yes,” I trailed off, keeping my attention to Tristan’s reactions.

“Great, Tristan and I are heading there for lunch, come and join us, bring Kyla too.”

This is just brilliant.

I told him that I will be there and we said our goodbyes. The minute the call ended, Tristan groaned and buried his face in his hands.

“Just change out of your work clothes,” Kyla suggested, “If this goes smoothly, your secret will still be safe.”

This is going to end in failure, I could feel it.

Pushing myself off of the stool, I grabbed a pen and paper before I went out to the dining hall. I’ll let those two plan whatever they need to do.

The time went by fast, and soon enough, it was noon. The three of us called out for permission that we were going on our break and Tristan sprinted to the locker room to change out of his uniform.

“Game time!” Kyla cheered, taking off her apron and throwing it inside her locker. The both of us went out of the kitchen and we spotted Jasper seating in one of the booths.

Ladies and gentlemen, hold on to yours seats as you munch on your popcorns because this going to be a show you would not want to miss.

We approached him and he was tapping on his phone, he smiled right up at us, gesturing to the spot across the table from him.

“Where’s Tristan?” Kyla tried to sound nonchalantly, but it came out forced. She sent me a wink and I internally slapped my forehead.

 The bell by the entrance dinged, signaling that somebody came into the café. By that someone, it meant that it was Tristan.

He was puffing out for air right behind Jasper’s chair. He looked at us and we nodded subtly at him, he fixed his hair and straightened up his posture, before he strode casually to the front of our table.

“Sorry I’m late,” he chirped, a little more enthusiastic than what he usually sounds like.

He turned to us in surprise, gasping for extra effects. Oh dear Lord, this is not going to end well.

“I didn’t know you guys are here!”

“Tristan!” Kyla squealed, shooting up from her spot, “It’s so good to see you again.”

In Jasper’s perspective, they just saw each other yesterday. This is partially stupid.

Then they hugged, as if they haven’t seen each other for years.

Jasper eyed them, raising a brow. He turned to me and pointed at the pair, giving me a questioning look; I merely shrugged, deciding to keep my lips shut as this plays out.

Our waiter came, a co-worker that Kyla sternly briefed about the plan.

“Can I get your order?” she asked stiffly, her hands shaking as she held a pen and paper.

“Menu!” Kyla not-so-quietly whispered to her. She was a junior at another school, and she gasped at her mistake.

“I’m so sorry,” she apologized hastily, running to grab four menus. She raced to us with the menus in her hands, when she finally came in front of us, she scrambled to hand them to us but it slipped right out of her hands.

Kyla glared at the poor girl which made her fidget more under her gaze.

Well, I’ve had enough of this.

Standing up, I took the menus from her hands after she picked them up and turned to my friends, “Welcome to One-Eighty Degrees Coffee, here are our menus and we hope that you enjoy your stay,” I relayed to them the recommendations at the waitress shrunk at her spot behind me.

Jasper grinned at me as I answered questions about the menu. I knew that he memorized everything in it, but I also knew that he wanted me to play the waitress part for him.

Kyla and Tristan looked at me and I gave them a dry look. Their eyes were apologetic as they told me their orders. I wrote down my own meal on the notepad, before I grabbed their menus back and handed them back to our waitress.

“Don’t be nervous,” I whispered to her, “I’m leaving everything up to you.”

She looked up at me, her eyes twinkling with gratitude and admiration as she meekly nodded and retreated to the kitchen.

Turning to my best friend, I plastered a fake smile that was obviously forced, “Kyla, why don’t you show Jasper that thing we saw in the parking lot earlier.”

“What thing?” she questioned and when I looked at her, telling her to go along with whatever I was saying, her mouth formed into an ‘o’ shape.

She stood up and gestured to Jasper, “Let’s go.”

They went out and I stared at Tristan, shaking my head at him, “You need to tell him.”

He looked down and nodded, “I know.”

Smiling encouragingly at him, I gave his shoulder a friendly pat, “I have no idea why you’re hiding this,” I told him, “But Jasper’s one of the most understanding person out there, trust me, I know.”

The corners of his lips started to lift up as he allowed my words to sink, “I really am glad that you and Jasper are friends again.”

“Me too,” I let out softly.

With those words, I gave him a small push to the direction of the kitchen, “Tell the little lass that everything is off,” I said, referring to our young waitress.

I decided that I’ll do my job as the waitress. I grabbed my apron as he prepared our orders, telling the chefs in the kitchen that this meal was something special. He placed everything out on the tray, nodding right at me.

We knew that Kyla and Jasper were back on our table, probably wondering where we are.

Pushing the doors of the kitchen with the tray in my hand, I walked to the table the four of us were previously occupying.

“Oh you went back to work,” Jasper pointed out when I started to lay down the plates and glasses on the table, “Where’s Trist?”

I didn’t answer him, I handed the tray to one of the waiters walking by before I sat down on my chair. Kyla quirked her brow, asking me the silent question where her crush is.

I smile at her, telling her to just eat her food.

Jasper forked in a portion of his food inside him mouth and hummed in approval.

“Good?” I asked and he automatically nodded.

“The best,” he let out, stuffing his mouth.

“Would you want to meet our cook?”

Kyla squeezed my hand, finally getting what I’m doing. She looked worriedly at me but I smiled at her.

People, we have a new plan.

Jasper looked taken back at my question but he agreed anyways, “Okay?”

I stood up, retreating back to the kitchen where Tristan was pacing back and forth nervously. The staff in the kitchen caught up quickly that something was up and allowed their youngest cook to worry.

“Ready?” I asked, he nodded nervously.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at me, “Ready.”

Before we were out of the door, I turned to him, “Just so you know, I’m glad Jasper chose you to become his best friend when I left him, instead of a douche.”

He smiled at my words, following me out of the door.

One day, he’s going to explain to me the reason for keeping this a secret, but until them, I’ll trust him on it.

The shock was visible on Jasper’s face when we approached our table again. Kyla gripped the edges of the chair, he nails digging to the wood.

Everything happened in slow motion, Jasper stood up and left the café without a single word. Tristan froze next to me, Kyla followed with her the direction where Jasper disappeared, and I only shook my head in disappointment.

“Follow him,” I pushed, he looked at me in disbelief but I only nodded to the direction of the door.

He sprinted off quickly, swinging the glass door of the café open as he chased after his best friend.

“That could have gotten worse,” Kyla sighed, standing next to me, “I mean, a fight could have happened.”

Impossible, those two loved each other as friends so much that nothing can break them. This was just a small scuffle.

We slowly walked to the door, opening it and even from the door, we could hear their conversation. We only picked up bits of it, but it was clear that they were yelling.

“Years!” we heard Jasper yell, “You knew about it!”

Tristan knew about what?

“… acted like… doesn’t want to,” was Tristan faint reply.

Acted like what?

I know it’s wrong to eavesdrop but this getting more interesting by the second.

 “Ever thought about me, bud?”

“You thought it was easy for me to face you knowing I was hiding something?”

They’re talking about the reason why Tristan kept it a secret.

I wanted to hear more, slowly approaching where their voices were coming from, Kyla took a hold of my hands. I looked back at her and she only shook her head.

This was a conversation between them, we had no right to be associated about it.

“Let’s go back,” she mouthed, pulling me back to the inside of the café.

----------------------------

*wipes sweat* I finally got this up with so much struggle.

Is it weird that I've been stuck for a week then after listening to one song, I suddenly got into the mood to write this whole chapter?

I seriously have no idea where this story is going, in all honesty but I swear that I won't let you guys down!

Question: What's the reason why Tristan kept this a secret?

Love you guys, I'm losing my touch but I promise to get back soon. Comment, vote and follow!