Are you into boys?

Chapter 4: Training

*Chapter 4: Training*

*(Haven’s POV)*

I played with my food, trying so hard not to worry about Mom. Then I heard the car move into the compound.

I dropped my fork, rushing to open the front door. I opened it just in time to see my mom walking towards the front door.

“Mom!”, I shouted, hugging her immediately she got closer.

“I was so worried.”

She patted my back gently.

“I noticed all the rumours died down", I said as I took a step back.

“Yeah, the PR team had to work overnight.”

“Those bloggers and vloggers”, I slapped my forehead.

“They are just doing their job, Haven.”

“Job? They were trying to destroy our lives.”

“Don’t you think we already have the reputation for them to destroy?”

“That doesn’t give them any right. Besides, I already called Attorney Pearl. She has probably sent the letters out.”

“You did what?”

“ We can't give them the impression we're easy to bully ".

“But we are not easy to bully".

“Well, they better not think we are.”

Mom shook her head as she walked upstairs.

She came downstairs minutes later to join me for dinner.

“We're having a guest over tomorrow for dinner", Mom said.

“Guest? Who?”

“A new friend.”

"Who's this mysterious new friend?"

“His name is Jeremy Miles.”

“Jeremy who?”

“Miles. He is coming over for dinner. I kinda owe him a favour.”

“ We're owing favours to men now?"

“Haven?”

“Are you sure he had good intentions approaching you?”

“Do you have to read so deeply into everything, Haven?”

“Of course. Men, or should I say those pigs, never have any good intentions towards us. Look what Edward did to us. What about what that jerk did to me? Those people don’t want anything good to do with us. They just want to use us.”

“Haven”, her voice going soft now.

“Please don’t. Let’s not have this conversation again.”

I got up angrily slamming my hands on the table.

“It’s over my dead body that he is stepping foot into this house.”

“Just focus on your work, Haven. The launch for the new jewellery catalogue will be out just next week, let's not focus on the past.”

I scoffed and went upstairs.

Why does Mom have to brush such important issues off as if they mean nothing?

I went into my room and immediately reached for my phone.

I called my personal assistant.

“Hey, Phoebe.”

“Yes, Miss. What can I do for you? I already sent you your schedule for tomorrow”.

“Not that. I need you to investigate someone for me.”

“Someone?”

“Yes. Jeremy Miles. I want to know everything. very single thing it's possible to know about him".

There was a brief pause.

“Oh! Oh, okay, Miss. Right away.”

“Good.”

I hung up.

I was more than confident that Phoebe would get me what I needed.

Growing up in an environment that kept me so vulnerable, I became guarded. There was no way I was going to allow anyone to hurt us ever again.

Especially not my Mom.

If Jeremy Miles had good intentions, then fine.

But if he didn’t…I would find out before he got anywhere near her.

*(Ivy’s POV)*

My driver was two hours late to pick me up from school. Haven and the rest had already left.

“I am sorry, Miss Ivy. I had to drop your parents at the airport today.”

“Mom and Dad are gone again.”

“I know how disappointed you are, Miss Ivy, but they have a lot of work to do.”

I sighed, looking out the window.

When will those two ever have time for me?

They had been working themselves like dogs ever since we lost her. But it has been almost a decade. The show should have be over now.

I sat in the car a little bit longer when we got home. I didn’t want to go into that building anymore.

I didn’t want to go into an empty house with no other souls.

“You know what? Take me to Haven’s place.”

“Miss Ivy-”

“I said I want to go to Haven’s place. This house is too quiet. Too empty.”

“But the butler, me and the maids are here.”

“It’s not the same, Fred. It’s just not the same.”

I picked up my phone and called Haven to let her know I'd be spending the night.

Haven came to meet me at the door. I gave her a light hug.

“No luggage? What will you wear?”

She looked behind me, trying to see if maybe my driver was bringing my luggage.

“No, please. Today, I'm sharing all those limited-edition clothes with you", I laughed.

“Of course you will.”

“Come on. You know I deserve it.”

“You're unbelievable.

We head upstairs to her room.

I can't stay focused. I keep thinking about mom and dad and how they only left a simple message; "Sorry Honey, we have to go but don't forget to eat properly."

*(Haven’s POV)*

The next morning, Ivy was already up and ready to go over to her place.

Priscilla and Becca were supposed to come over, and today was the day we would finally put the plan into action.

I still couldn’t believe I had agreed to this.

But I had already made my decision.

Just then, Priscilla and Becca walked in. They had taken another car after us.

“I got the documents you asked for, Ivy.”

Priscilla handed Ivy an envelope.

“What documents?” I asked.

“There is an orphan at Priscilla’s uncle’s orphanage called Elven, with an ‘e’. He is a special child, a genius, I must say. But he fell into a coma six months ago.”

I stared at Ivy.

“So…?”

“So… you will be him.”

“No way.”

“Haven, it’s not that easy to make an identity out of thin air. You at least need roots, okay? Besides, the chances of Elven ever waking up are 0.01%. We can do this" Ivy assured.

“Besides, Elven has a unique charm to him. He looks a little like a girl, so we don’t have to do too much,” Priscilla said.

“I still think this is wrong,” Becca said, lowering her head.

“If you want to be a chicken, go be it alone.” Ivy said to Becca.

“Sorry.”, she said apologising as usual.

I looked at the documents again.

Elven Johnson.

That was going to be me.

For the next few months, Haven Emerald would have to disappear.

And Elven Johnson would take her place.

I knew this was crazy.

Actually, it was completely insane.

But I had already agreed to the bet.

There was no way I was backing down now.

I hated looking like a failure.

And more than anything, I hated admitting that I was scared.

Next, the trainers walked in.

There were two men and a woman.

They ran me through some scripts, which I thought were unnecessary. But they wanted to know how well I could act.

“Again,” one of the trainers said.

I sighed.

“Seriously?”

“Again.”

I repeated the line.

They watched everything. From my voice to the way I stood, walked, moved my hands and even the way I looked at people.

Apparently, becoming a boy was going to require much more than putting on men's clothes.

Priscilla and the rest were in the other room planning, maybe.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

This was really happening.

For a moment, I kind of wondered if the decision I made about taking on the bet, all because I didn’t want my pride wounded, was the right thing.

Was I really doing all this because I wanted to prove a point?

Or had I just walked myself into something I couldn’t get out of?

I shook my head.

No.

I had already made my choice.

There was no turning back now.

I was going to become Elven Johnson.

And somehow, I had to convince an entire boys’ school that I was one of them.