For the 3 days Mira has been working in that museum she noticed 3 things about the place.

1- Donna was a bitch. Honestly, she would be mean to anyone without reason, and to be honest, Mira almost lost her patience with her, and she had just started to work there.

2- Being a Tour guide is not easy, people cross limits, touch the stuff, and talk nonstop. That is, without speaking of the school visits, God, that was true hell.

3- The best exposition so far, and, her place where she could find a bit of peace was the Egyptian one. Sometimes it would be empty and she'd look over those statues again and again nonstop. It was still too fascinating and surreal to her.

From the amount of time she spent there, there always found a familiar visitant, Steven. They didn't argue for these three days, she decided to forget what happened and don't touch the subject again.

They didn't talk much but were respectful to each other, most of the time he was locked in that basement preparing stuff for the gift shop, since Donna asked him to organize the inventory within this week only.

At that morning, when Mira entered the Egyptian area, he was already there, earlier than usual, observing and admiring one of the exhibits full of gold.

The woman decided to stand by his side today, it wouldn't hurt.

-You took my spot today.-She joked without looking at him.

He just then noticed her presence and gave a light smile.

-Oh, sorry...-He stuttered.

-It's alright.-She replied.- Good to see you have been freed from that basement.

Steven couldn't help but laugh.

-I know right?-He replied.-I'll be working only at the souvenir shop for now. Enough basement full of rats.

-Ew, rats?!-She gasped.

-Don't worry, they are quite friendly.-He joked.

Mira laughed, Steven followed, and he couldn't help but notice how beautiful her smile was. Whoever dated her must be lucky, he thought.

Besides the museum, Mira noticed 3 things about Steven.

1- He had an accent, typical of the UK, but it was quite weird for her to get used to it at first, since when he met her, he had a clear USA accent in his speech. She asked about it a few times but he alleged to don't remember what she was talking about at all.

2- He was extremely kind, and shy. He would be clumsy, let things fall, and stutter to talking or speaking his mind. He'd often get offended by Donna and wouldn't say anything. But he'd also help kids learn, as good as a tour guide, and always help others when needed...well in his way.

3-Wich she'd only notice now:

-You come here a lot.-She commented.- I guess you like Egyptian History.

-Hm? Yes, yes, I do.-He replied, quite surprised about someone asking about his interests.- I mean, how couldn't I? -He looked admired at the exhibit- There's so much humanity still doesn't know, this is just the tip of the iceberg.-She observed him with attention-  How many civilizations lived before us, how much they have learned and discovered that we didn't. And the mysteries they still contain out there, waiting to be revealed.-He shook his head -Pyramids and gods are just a part of it.

Now she noticed it:

3- He was extremely intelligent and passionate.

Mira looked a bit admired at his speech, and how he observed high the posters on the wall. His head a bit lifted up, the sharp jawline exposed, and some of his hair strands falling in front of his eyes. She would dare to say that he was quite handsome, and the more she spoke, the more attractive he would become by his intelligence:

-I mean, the human mind is capable of so many things. We limit ourselves to thinking that everything is just tales and myths, but what if there's more?-He seemed so excited to speak about those things- What if the Egyptians hid greater secrets? What if there's something else besides the legend of Ammit?-He spoke excited- And the fact that people nowadays are not even willing to know about it, it's quiet....-

-...frustrating-They finished the sentence at once. Smiled shy at the answer, as if their minds connected for a mere second.

-I'm sorry, I must be making you bored with all of this.

-Oh, you aren't! Really.-She assured him.-In fact, I do agree with all you've said.

-Do you?-He asked with a smile, but at the same time not believing her answer.

-Why wouldn't I?

-It's just that...it's quite rare to find people who are fond of this topic.

-Well.-She bumped his shoulder lightly against his in a playful act- I guess you're not alone anymore.

He chuckled shy, with his hands in his pockets, and she laughed too.

They stood like that for a while, in the silence, sometimes sharing those intellectual ideas, commenting and agreeing on many discussions. And, within that period, there wasn't anywhere else they'd rather be.

...

-How can't anyone get your name right?-Mira laughed.

-I do not know!-He smiled.

It has been almost 3 weeks now since they talked, they shared numbers, even though Steven was too shy to even message her. She was one of the few people he talked with at work, and, she'd often sneak him into the tours along with the museum in secret, without Donna's knowledge.

-I mean, you don't look like someone named Scott.-She commented.

-What do I look like? I'm curious.

-Hm...-She thought for a second.- Maybe Oscar.-He nodded agreeing on a bit - Or Jake.

-Jake?

-Uhum.

-Hm...Interesting. Should I change it?

-What? No!-She laughed.-I like Steven.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

-Okay, I'll keep Steven. -He joked- For now.

They had entered the museum, and Mira insisted that day to help him organize the gift shop.

She was putting books on a shelf, while he decorated the counter, even though he insisted:

-You don't have to do this.-He didn't want to be a burden.

They had perfect sync while walking and picking objects in the small souvenir shop, a true team.

-But I want to.-She said while finishing a row of books on the shelf, she was quite a perfectionist, to say the least.-But really, you need to speak out, you know.

-Speak out?

-Yeah, you can't just let people treat you that way.

-They don't treat me differently...

One of the staff of the museum passed in front of them carrying a huge box, delivered it at the counter, making other objects that were at the counter before fall on the floor. The man with the beard adjusted the cap on his head and spoke lazily:

-Hey Sam, can I drop this here? Donna's been asking for me to put it on the storage, could you do that to me, Sam, my dude?- He asked Steven.

Mira immediately looked at her coworker, but he didn't react, instead, he just agreed and carried the box.

-Alright, Randy.-He nodded.

Randy was about to leave but Mira couldn't help herself:

-Hey.- She said, the man turned to her- Before dropping your tasks for him to do, at least have some respect and say his real name.-Her friend tried to stop her- It's Steven, with a V. Got it?

The guy widened his eyes at her sharp tone, she wasn't joking, her serious expression could paralyze anyone.

-G-Got it.-He replied.

-Good. And...-She grabbed the heavy box and placed it with a loud sound back on the counter, pointing to him- Do your job and take this out of here.

And, with those words, he grabbed the box, nodded multiple times his head, like a scared puppy, and quickly left.

-Why did you do that??-Steven panicked.

-He is so rude, how long have you been working here? -She spoke annoyed- Come on, you have a tag on your shirt! They should at least read.-Steven chuckled.-Don't laugh, that's serious.

-Sorry... and thank you...For defending me.- He said and she lifted her shoulders indifferent- But you're crazy.

-Well, the best people are.-She smiled at him, every time she did that he couldn't help but smile back- Now pack up this stuff, I have a tour in 5 minutes.

...

Mira woke up with a notification popping on her phone. Observed the window outside, still dark, with only a few stars. Looked at the time, 3 a.m.

She wondered who could've been at that hour. She yawned slowly and looked at the messenger app, one text, and from...Steven? He barely texted her, especially at that time. Why would he be awake?

She did notice that he'd be often tired at work, almost as if he didn't sleep, with black circles around his eyes, but she didn't expect him to text at that hour.

It wasn't a text, more like those emojis and functions, a reaction to start a conversation:

"Steven waved at you"

She found it funny, besides that, no one waved nowadays, Steven used his phone like a grandpa, putting on his glasses to see the letters. She did offer to increase the font size sometimes, but he said that he didn't want to change the phone settings, he would be confused to adjust them later.

Without thinking much about it, she texted back:

"hey, night owl. Why aren't you in bed?"

She didn't even realize that she was quite anxious about his reply, not being able to sleep until she received his answer, staring without blinking at the shining screen.

He had visualized her answer, and she wondered what was taking him so long to reply. Maybe he was thinking of what to say. Sounded like something he'd do.

"Texted by accident. Bye."

She lifted her eyebrows at the message, not really what she expected him to say. She wondered if there was something wrong, did she give him a bad impression by replying to him that way? No, that couldn't be it.

"it's okay lol"

"But you didn't answer my question, why are you still awake? :p, we have work tomorrow don't forget"

Took a solid second for him to type back.

"nothing"

He was a bit cold, but she allowed it, maybe he just couldn't sleep, and that was probably it.

"Trouble to sleep?"

This time the answer took a long time to be sent.

"No."

At this point, she didn't know what to say.

"...are you okay? You seem a bit...off mood"

The next sentence finished the conversation.

"Fucking stop texting me."

She almost gasped, and read the text at least 3 times to be sure her eyes were not deceiving her. It was there, in Arial font on the screen, inside a white speech balloon.

He called her out just like that, and for what? Why? He was the one who texted, she just tried to help. He didn't seem sleepy at all to give such a weird reply. The least he could do was give a reason or say goodbye more appropriately.

"Steven?"

He just read the text.

"What the hell? You know what? Don't text me either. You creep."

He did visualize but didn't reply either.

She put the phone with rage back in its' place. Lied and hid herself into the sheets, but wouldn't be able to sleep.

Why did he treat her like that? She thought they had hit off well. Maybe that wasn't the case. She should've known since that first time she met him. She wouldn't be fooled twice.

Mira just closed her eyes and tried to get rid of Steven's image of her head.

Task failed successfully.

...

He untied the chains attached to him, believing that nothing happened, that he was alright. Sighed in relief, and went to the bathroom.

Later, while putting on his shirt and getting ready for work, Steven looked at his phone, and noticed something he didn't quite recall doing.

"What the hell? You know what? Don't text me either. You creep."

He gasped, and let the phone fall on the floor, only to desperately grab it later, with his hands shaking as he put the phone closer to his sight to believe it was correct.

Mira texted him at 3 a.m. He was the one who started the chat. Which was weird since he didn't remember any of it. Maybe he sleepwalked again? He didn't know what happened to him at night.

Most of the time he tried to stay awake, and that night he failed.

Which resulted in a way to upset Mira.

He hurried to work, rushing through the streets, already mentally preparing a speech inside his mind, well, preparing is different than actually saying. Inside, he was mortified, overthinking all the possibilities she could ignore him forever.

It was quite incredible, he managed to push away the only person who bothered themselves to talk with him.

Once he entered through those doors, trying to catch his breath from the running, he lost it again.

She was there, kindly teaching a young little girl the story of Giza. Her hair adorning her exposed shoulders in a pink tube dress, as she held a flier with one of her hands and pointed to the exhibit in front of them. She smiled purely, genuinely as the girl showed great interest in what she was saying, at the end of the conversation, the kid followed her parents and Mira stood there, alone.

Steven could move if his legs allowed him to. He barely knew how to meet her there, how to say hi after what happened. And the situation got even more awkward when she looked back, around the saloon, and saw his figure.

The smile on her plumped lips turned into a straight line. She avoided eye contact and started to walk away.

Steven stumbled and tripped but was able to reach her. Touched her shoulder for a brief second, making her turn around, the touch of her skin was electrifying, as if she was touching something holy.

Quickly took his hand away, she crossed her arms.

-What now?-She questioned.

-I'm sorry.-He threw away all the speech he prepared.- I'm so sorry.

-Oh really? Then "fucking stop texting me"-She walked away.

Of course, it wouldn't be easy. Mira wasn't the type of person to forget things easily, and depending on the subject, neither forgive. But he followed her, trying to keep up with her fast walking, for someone wearing heels she was pretty quick.

-I had no intention to say that, I swear.-He replied- In fact, I don't even remember texting you.

-Not again.

-I'm being honest.-He insisted.- I-I never texted you!

She grabbed the phone faster than light, showing him the chat.

-Oh, so that's not you?-She still held the phone.

-Uh....-He wished to say no.-In my defense-

-This isn't court, Steven.

-Right...-He cleared his throat- So...- her eyes were killing him-I. I have some problems...-She nodded in a way to tell him to keep going- Sleeping problems, to be exact...somehow I don't know what happens when I sleep...I do things I don't use to.

-You...sleepwalk? Since when does that includes texting?

-Maybe it does.-He told her.-I'm still not sure.

-Of that's true, have you gone to a doctor?

-I prefer not to.

-Why not?

-Not a fan of hospitals...

-Still, if what you're telling me it's true-

-It is true.-He spoke desperately.

She took a deep breath trying to understand his point.

-If what you are telling me is true, you should seek help. Like,  really, seek help.-She looked at the text on the phone.-How can someone text while sleeping?

He chuckled.

-Trust me I'd like to know too.

She looked at him, his eyes asking for another chance, so sweet, so kind, how could someone lie with eyes like those? He would need to be an evil and devilish creature to do so. But she couldn't associate that type of creature with him.

-You better sleep.-She pointed to him.-Or I'll make you sleep myself.

-So do you forgive me?-His face lightened in a bright mood.

-Forgive is a strong word, you didn't commit a sin, chill, let's just move on and forget about this.-She said and he sighed relieved- But don't speak to me like that again.

Steven gave a half-smile,she teased:

-Now, I think you should hurry, 'cause Donna's after you. It may be because someone told her you were taking a nap in the storage.-She made a suspicious expression.

Steven opened his mouth in an "O" shaps then cackled:

-You set me up!-He exclaimed.

-Take this as vengeance and now we're even.-She grinned.

-I did not know you had that in you, miss Anand-He spoke gently.

-Oh, there are many things you don't know about me, Mr.Grant.-She observed slowly the details of his face.

She leaned closer for a moment, and something inside his chest bloomed and raced, which he didn't know why. And somehow, it felt like the words came out of his mouth without his will to do so, involuntarily like the deepest fragments of his soul wished to be spoken:

-I'd love for you to show me.-There was something intriguing about his expression, something charming yet mysterious.

Mira never noticed that side of him, maybe neither did him. But she couldn't help but glance slightly at his lips, which spoke the word so slowly, so seductively.

-Maybe someday I can show you.-She answered at the same level, not being able to take his eyes from him.

And they could stay like that for a while, well, maybe not for a while, the tension in that atmosphere was so lethal that no one could predict what could've happened if they stayed like that for a bit longer.

-SCOTT! THERE YOU ARE!-A voice cut the air and the climax of the moment.

-I think that's your cue.-Mira chuckled.-See you later?-She started to walk away.

-Yeah.-He replied again as a pile of nerves. While Donna yelled in his ear- Yeah...