Steven didn't send his usual "Good Morning" text that day. It was quite surprising, but maybe he had just forgotten.

Another day of work, she dressed up nicely, green palette-themed, a gloss that could seduce anyone at sight, and a perfume that was just ethereal.

Mira was able to leave on time, catch a cab, and arrive at the museum before her first tour. Donna wouldn't be able to complain, that was already a small victory.

Once she entered the doors the museum was already starting to get crowded, which made her a little nervous, not gonna lie, but she was also excited.

She greeted the receptionist, J.B., he was once again watching seals' videos, he probably only did that, she never really saw him working at all.

Mira prepared herself next to the areas where the tours should begin, and, met with her coworker, Dylan.

-Mira, hey!-She smiled.

-Hi!-She said back.- So, ready for work?

-You know I am!

Dylan was an astonishing woman, with dark skin, curly dark hair, and shiny eyes, as her delicate traces formed a polite smile. She was very smart and worked there longer than her, so had plenty more experience in that area.

-We've got 3 school tours, so be prepared. She lifted her thin eyebrows.

-Oh My God.-Mira muttered already imagining the disaster.

She looked around the saloon, still no sign of Steven. Wondering if he was okay, she sent a text:

"Hey, where are u? Did you come to work 2 days?"

-Mira!-Dylan called as the visitors' lines started to form at the entrance. -It's showtime.

Mira took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment, the silence was broken by multiple kids running and screaming like little monsters, no, no, angels. Yes, little angels. That's how she should think about it.

Opened her eyes, and walked towards the nightmare.

...

At lunchtime, both Dylan and Mira parted ways. The second one hoped that maybe could find Steven and they'd have lunch together at a Vegan restaurant she found nearby.

Walked towards the gift shop, and another staff was in her friend's place, which made her feel a bit worried.

The shop was the way she had organized with Steven, the products in that meticulous order no one else could've thought of.

-Excuse me.-Mira approached the staff man.-Where is the guy who works here? Steven Grant?

He tilted his head to the side, furrowing his eyebrows as she was saying some sort of joke.

-He just left, haven't you seen him?

-He comes to work today?

The man nodded agreeing.

-I'm just here to deliver these boxes.-He pointed to a pile nearby. So he wasn't replacing him, he was just passing by.

Steven came to work and didn't reply to her messages, almost as if he was avoiding her. She wondered why. Between these few days, nothing bad happened between them it was the opposite, after she convinced him to adopt Gus they had a great time together.

She walked away from the store, and tried to call him: he didn't pick up, worse, rejected the call. He was ignoring her perphaps? No, she didn't want to think about it that way. Maybe something had happened and he didn't feel okay to talk to anyone.

In conclusion, Mira went to the Vegan restaurant alone, had a montone and silent lunch, not being able to take the current situation off her mind, and got back to work at least 10 minutes early.

When she entered through the doors, finally saw him, and, in a vision she never thought would see him into.

Steven was behind the counter at the Gift shop, speaking very charmingly, smirking towards Dylan in front of him. She chuckled, leaned forward, and tried to show a bit more of the cleavage of her dress subtly while finding everything he said interesting.

They didn't seem to just talk, in fact, Steven barely spoke to Dylan most of the time, well, he didn't speak to anyone at all besides Mira. Which made her feel weird about that situation. After all, he avoided her the whole day and instead was laughing with a beautiful stranger.

But it isn't as if he was hers. She couldn't complain about it, nor ask about it. She was being selfish.

He continued to speak with the tourist guide, and, for a single moment, looked afar, towards Mira's direction, and something seemed to glisten in those mystical eyes, and his smile trembled as if a deep lust within them took control of his existence. Tried to act superior, gave a devilish smile, as to challenge her, and turned back to Dylan.

Mira was paralyzed, trying to believe that wasn't his purpose, that the smile he gave meant nothing. But just by looking at him, weirdly, it didn't seem like him at all.

Decided to not just stand there and walk forward, she wouldn't be intimidated by simple assumptions of her tricky mind. No, Steven was her friend, he wouldn't act that way.

At least not Steven.

-Hey...-She greeted them both.

Dylan continued to smile and greeted her back, but Steven...there was something different in him, almost as if she caught him doing something wrong.

He didn't greet her.

-So...-Mira tried to don't think too much about it.-Guess we're back early for work huh?

-Yeah, I talked with this guy so much that I lost track of time and skipped lunch.-Dylan chuckled.-He bought me a McDonald's burger, a true gentleman.

Mira couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows. A vegan? Buying McDonalds? She didn't speak about it, of course, it would seem rude for her to say out loud a doubt about his morals, but inside, she kept thinking about it.

-Yeah...-Mira nodded- He's a gentleman...-She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, and Steven avoided her glance.

-So, I gotta get ready, see you later, Mira?-Dylan grabbed her things.
-Yeah, She was barely listening to her words, all she could do was stare at Steven, who didn't say to her not even once since she arrived.

-And you...-Dylan spoke in a flirting tone and a smirk- It's a date then.

He gave a half-player smile and she walked away, Mira just stayed there, observing amused by the sudden scene she witnessed.

-Wow...-She muttered.- A date? -She looked at him.-That's...nice. She seems...nice.

He ignored her words, just standing behind the counter, observing the crescent movement of visitors inside the museum.

-Since when are you two friends?-She asked curiously. He just lifted his shoulders indifferently.- Well, I hope it all goes great for you. That's very, very, nice.-She confirmed again those words, somehow it seemed like she was saying those words more to herself than to him- Who knows? Maybe you've found the girl of your dreams!-She chuckled.-Invite me to the wedding, please!

He didn't laugh, but something in her manners, the way she smiled reflected a hidden pain. Something weird pointed inside his chest, but he decided to keep the way he ordered himself, to stay on that path.

-Oh, why didn't you answer my messages? -She asked.-I..I mean, is your battery dead? I have a charger-

-Didn't have time for that.-Was his answer as he organized some kid snacks on a display.
-Uhm...got She looked at his diligent hands organizing, something was fascinating about them that she loved about, how they had that complete and precisive control and those jumpy veins. Shook her head, and stopped staring.-Sugary snacks? Huh...-She grabbed one of the packages- It's weird, isn't it? I mean, it's not as it does have much to do with Egypt...they didn't have these back then...they ate figs and dates, and-

-Are you gonna buy that?-He spoke coldly.

She blinked twice.

-Excuse me?

-If you won't buy it, put it back pointed to the box.

He didn't seem to be joking and decided not to talk further, actually, he killed the mood once again. Put the package back in the box. Mira stood in silence for a second, then realized:

-You're doing it again.

-What?-He looked at her.

-That accent- She gestured to her throat- The American one.

-I'm not.

-Yes, you are. Why are you doing that?-She chuckled.

-I am not. He looked down at his phone.-Isn't your tour's time now?

-Oh.-She looked at the time.-I guess you're right... See you later?

He didn't reply and she walked back to the tour.

...

At the end of the day, she watched Dylan say goodbye to the last line of tourists. She was so efficient at her work, so diligent, something she believed to never be capable of doing. There was that adorable, yet friendly way in her manners, that made to believe she was still single, maybe by her personal choice. "Well, she won't be single for too long" Mira's thoughts haunted her.

She shook up the ideas, she had nothing to do with that after all. If Steven wanted to go out with that...perfect, kind woman, then be it. She wouldn't say otherwise. After all, he was just her friend, and she never thought of him as anything else, and wouldn't think either. He wished him to be happy, to find someone he loved.

All she hoped was that what they had wouldn't change.

-Hellooo.-She greeted him at the gift shop, he was packing up to leave.-May I escort you to your house, Mr.Grant?-She joked.

-No. I'm good " he said, putting the strap bag above his shoulder.

-Oh come on, and besides, I might be able to see Gus.-She suggested.

He looked at her confused for a moment.

-Gus? Your fish? The one we adopted?-She told him.

-Right...-He nodded.-Now's not a good time.

-Oh, come on Steven!-She touched her shoulder- Why are you running away all day long? Almost look like a wanted man in the FBI.

He looked at her with a serious, deadly expression, which made her take her hand from his shoulder instantly.

He took his bag and got out of the shop, all she could say was:

-Bye.