I haven't seen Chef Jake for the past week, not for lack of trying, but the man seemed to be MIA. Every time I had a free period, I went where Basic Cuisine classes were held trying to see if I could bump into him, but haven't had such luck. 

After almost getting caught sneaking in their classes, I decided  I would ask Beth tomorrow if she knew if Chef Jacob was still teaching at LCB. I’d have to be smart about it, so she doesn't get suspicious as to why I'm asking about my boss. 

Intermediate Cuisine has been challenging me, not in a bad way per se , but just as one of the Chef instructors said: this will separate professional chefs from cooks.  This week alone, I have been pushed so hard and achieved far more than I thought capable.

The only downside of this course was how time consuming it was. I’ve been seriously considering  resigning from my job at the restaurant, as with each passing day it was getting busier. I do, however, need to talk to Chef Jake before making a final decision, if only he weren't playing hide and seek with me.

If only I had the guts  to call him. Each time I  picked up my phone, I chickened out before  dialing his number. I wasn't sure if he would pick up my call and a part of me was scared of that rejection. Even now I opened his contact details, hesitating to phone him.

"Why don't you text him?" A voice said behind me.

Startled, I looked to see who was sneaking up on me. It was the woman who had caught Jake and I after we shared our first kiss. She was a beautiful and classy woman, I was still not sure what her role at the school was, but hoped I didn't have to worry about whatever she saw that day.

"Excuse me?" 

"You have been looking at your phone for the past, what? Ten minutes?" she said, sitting down on the vacant chair at my table.

Sophie had a lunch date with her sister off campus, so I was sitting alone.. She sat down slowly, too slowly if you asked me. As I observed her, I could see why she would fit in with Jake's world. She was posh and looked like all those classy women I served at the restaurant.

"Why him? It could be her?" I asked, getting an uneasy feeling and wondered what she was playing at. 

"Yeah...but you look like–" 

"I'm sorry, but can I help you with something?" I interrupted before she could finish whatever she was about to say.

I mentally berated myself for snapping, if she saw us kissing she could mean trouble for Jake and I. That's if he was still a Chef instructor here…

She smiled. "Where are my manners? I'm Emily and you are Amara, right?"

"Yeah."

"I have been watching you for a while now and I could tell that your mind is elsewhere. And each time I have seen you, you have this look in your eyes–-"

"What look?" I interrupted yet again, but keeping my tone light.

Emily analyzed me  and I did the same, making sure to be subtle about it. I wasn't intimidated by her, but I was wary of her and her reasons for sitting with me. 

Like two cats, we stared at one another, calculating and assessing each other. With our claws still hidden we continued our conversation. It was clear she thought I would break first and shy away, but unfortunately for her, I was from the streets and I knew how to play the long game.

Taking a sip of the iced coffee in her hand she said, "Lost. Unlike most students here, you always look lost, like you don't belong..." she said sweetly, yet there was underlying bitterness in her voice.

I didn't know if her words were meant to affect me, but as I looked at her, trying to get under my skin, I knew this wasn't about me as a student, it was about Jake.

"How observant!" I said under my breath. "You could say I am lost, I mean aren't we all? You walked straight to my table and one would say you are quite lost yourself. Wouldn't you agree?" I said with a fake smile.

To hell with treading lightly.

The classy lady transformed as soon as my jab registered, and was replaced by a spiteful woman. 

"Careful, surely you wouldn't want the entire school to know you go around kissing your instructors," she hissed.

I knew she had seen us, why else would she choose to sit at my table when there were several other empty tables.  Her threat rattled me, but I wouldn't give her that satisfaction. If she really wanted to, she would have reported us by now. She wanted something and I started to understand what it was or rather who. 

"Why would you keep quiet this entire time?” I leaned in, maintaining eye contact. “You love him, don’t you? .  Let's say you decide to speak out, who do you think will be hurt more by your allegations?" 

Emily’s eyes flickered between mine as the truth reflected in her gaze. Bingo. 

"And thanks by the way. I will text him and make sure he knows about our little chat." I said with a wink getting on my feet.

OMG! Where did that bravado come from? And what if she messes things up for me with management?

Before I walked away, my phone vibrated with a message. 

It was a picture from Sophie and it proved that I wasn't crazy, someone was definitely following me since the second term started.

Soph: The little birdie that told dad I wasn’t
           driving my car to school sent him this.      
           Do you recognize her?

"Why are you following me, Emily?" I asked, sitting back down on the chair. 

Her eyes bulged and she removed her hands from the table, a clear indication that she was nervous. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She denied, yet her body language betrayed her. Unlocking my phone, I showed her three pictures of her outside our apartment building on different days and the other one at the shopping center. This wasn’t a coincidence.

"I'm sure you are aware that stalking is a crime. I don’t know why you’re doing this, but stop following me around." I said, getting up to leave.

"I was hoping you would lead me to Jake. He resigned and we had an argument and–it doesn't matter." She confessed.

Something she said caught my attention, “What do you mean he resigned?”

“When he took the offer to be a Chef instructor, he planned to stay with us for three terms. But last Friday he resigned effective immediately, and I figured it had to do with you as soon as  I heard.”

        ~~~~~~~~~~📱🐆~~~~~~~~~~

"What?! She was stalking you?" April asked, in disbelief.

"I still can't believe we were being followed this entire time." Sophie added with a shake of her head. 

"Jake must be really into you to resign just like that. What are you having for supper?" April followed me to the kitchen where I was rummaging through the fridge.

“Or he got tired of my playing hard to get and decided to move on.” The thought tugged at my heart, but I didn’t dwell on it long. I enjoyed the time we spent together, but maybe this was for the best. 

"Everything in here is fresh and healthy, I'm craving some greasy food." 

April looked in the fridge and gagged before shutting it close. I glanced at Soph who was going through her phone and she looked like someone had just killed her cat, April clapped her hands and smiled big.

"Go freshen up, we are going out!" April exclaimed happily.

We looked at her, wondering what she had in mind. I just hoped it wouldn’t require me to get dressed up. When neither of us moved she said, "Get a move on, ladies."

Not in the mood to argue with her, we did as we were told. April didn't tell us where she was taking us, which made it difficult to decide on what to wear. After much deliberation on my outfit I wore khaki cargo pants, a white tank top, white sneakers and a black denim jacket, with my hair let down.

I love how perky my boobs looked in this tank top.

"We are matching!" Sophie said as we walked to the living room where April was waiting for us.Making sure that we had everything we needed we left for the subway. 

As we got off the train, I turned to April with a glint in my eyes, "I have an idea where you’re taking us," 

"Oh yeah?"

"Red Stilettos." Soph and I said in unison and giggled.

"Correct!" A said walking ahead of us and we ran to catch up with her long strides.

"What I don't understand is why we would be going to the club when we are in need of food?" I asked, looking between the two girls.

"J’s Fast Food," they said as we crossed the road.

I hope he's here.

How dare he give me the best kisses I’ve ever had then disappear?

"Babes, aren't you the one who kissed him last time?" Soph asked.

I must have said it out loud. "I can't remember who kissed who," 

We were welcomed by the smell of greasy delicious food as we walked in. A waitress took us to an empty booth and took our orders. "Let me bring your drinks, your food will be ready in five minutes." 

Later on, as we were eating our burgers and fries, a familiar man approached us talking on the phone. “I have a  call for you.” He said, handing me his phone but my  eyes locked on April.

"Who wants to talk to me?" I asked him, taking the device in his hands.

"It's Jake." He answered, and April excused herself and I got distracted by Jake’s voice trying to get my attention.

"Sorry, hi." 

"I have been trying to call you, I need your help." 

"Uh- yeah. My phone’s at home. What up? And how did you know I was here." 

“Cameron called me when he thought he recognized you as the girl I was dancing with at Red Stilettos.”

Could it be the same Cameron?

“Okay.. You said you need my help? You go MIA on me for an entire week and the first thing you say once you resurface is that you need my help? No explanation whatsoever?”

For a few seconds all I heard on the other end of the phone was his breathing, the silence was getting on my last nerve. He will have to give me something if he truly expects me to help him out.

“It wasn’t my intention to go radio silent, but I truly don’t know where we stand, especially after the way we parted last Friday.”

“I know, but it doesn’t mean it justifies your actions.”

“You’re right and I would like to explain more once I’m back home. Is that okay?”

“Okay.. Back to why you called, what do you need help with?”

"It's my parents' anniversary tomorrow, and we planned a surprise party for them. It was my duty to cater food, but my plane was canceled, so I'm going to be late,"

"Okay.."

"I need you to go to my parents' house early tomorrow morning and be in charge of food and Sophie in charge of desserts"

"What? Why don’t you hire a catering company or ask the Chefs at Mia Margherita to take care of the food?"

'It’s short notice and there’s a function at the restaurant tomorrow, and Beth can only spare three of the staff from the restaurant to help me,you included."

"I don't think I can do it. This is your parents we are talking about–"

"Kitten, listen to me. You are the only one I can trust with this. I'm going to send you the menu and my parents' address, please text me when you’re home so we can go over it. You can do this alright?"

"Okay, but don't blame me if your parents don’t like the food,"

"You will do fine. I trust you."

"Mkay."

"See you tomorrow." He said, ending the call.

My food must be cold by now, but that would have to wait. “Where did April go?”

“She’s outside talking to the owner of that phone,” Sophia gestured to the cell in my hands.”Do they know each other?”

"I’m not sure. Let’s order take away and take this in doggy bags. Jake wants us to prepare a meal for his parents' anniversary tomorrow." 

"Who's us?" 

"You and I.” I stated.

"What? I mean it could make our resumes look good in the future, but are we ready?"

“I don’t know, but he believes we are.”