BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

Chapter 3: After the name

Sarah’s pov

The ride home was way too quiet for someone whose life just went viral. I sat in the back of the taxi, staring out the window, hoping everything would make sense again.

“You’re Michael’s daughter?”

That sentence kept replaying in my head no matter how hard I tried to shrug it off.

Nothing seemed to be adding up.

Before tonight, my main problems were money and school stress. Normal teenage suffering.

Now I had random rich people speaking about my family. It felt like everyone knew the big secret, everyone but me.

How lovely.

My phone kept buzzing over and over again. I already knew what it was before I checked.

The video. Still out there. Getting more views and likes. I mean I’ve always liked the idea of fame but definitely not in this way. I switched off my phone.

“Can this day end already?”, I muttered.

The taxi driver looked at me through the mirror. “You good kid?”.

“I’m fine,” I replied.

Well of course I wasn't fine, not even close.

The second I got to the front door, I realized I was cooked big time. The silence alone was enough of a sign.

I walked in and as expected, I found my mom sitting in the living room.

“Sarah”, she said.

No greetings or a smile. Just my name, with an awkwardly straight expression.

I swallowed. “Hi, Mom.”

“Don’t”, she cut me off.

She slowly stood up, looking at me like she was about to explode.

“Did you have any idea where you were?”.

“Yes”, I lied.

I clearly didn’t.

She let out a small laugh, with zero humor.

“No you didn’t”.

For a second neither of us said anything, then she spoke again.

A bit softer this time.

“Just stay away from that world Sarah. People like us don’t belong there.”

That was it. No explanation, no answers. Just a warning.

Then she turned around and left, like the conversation was over.

Great. Now I was even more confused.

That night I couldn’t sleep.

My brain kept replaying everything that happened, like I hadn’t suffered enough.

The spill, the embarrassment, Kelvin, and that weird lady.

“You’re Michael’s daughter?”, It wasn’t the question that bothered me. It was the look on her face when she asked.

I turned over in bed.

“Can my life be normal for once?”, I muttered while staring at the ceiling.

Of course not.

Two days later, I went back to work. Because apparently, life doesn’t pause just because your whole life seems to be crashing down.

I worked at a local diner close to my area. Nothing fancy.

Just dishes, noise, and entitled customers.

My manager handed me my apron.

“You’re late again!”, she said with a not so happy look.

“Well My bad, I’ve just been busy fighting for my life”, I muttered quietly.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing”, I responded.

“Get to work, Sarah”.

And just like that, life went back to normal. Like nothing had ever happened.

But deep down a part of me still felt slightly broken.

The front door opened and there he was. The person I’ve been trying not to think about. Because apparently the universe thought I hadn’t suffered enough.

As he walked in, I felt something familiar.

The same shift in atmosphere from the other night.

He stood at the entrance and all I could think was, what the hell was he doing here!?

This wasn’t exactly the kind of place someone like him would be caught dead in.

People noticed him almost immediately, not like I was surprised. He wasn’t even doing anything, yet all eyes were on him.

I looked away and went back to what I was doing. No way I’m dealing with this, I’ve had enough problems already.

“Table for one?”, my coworker asked.

“Yes,” Kelvin said.

“Ughhh, that voice again”, I muttered.

He really didn’t have to sound that good.

I grabbed a towel and started wiping a table that was already clean, trying to avoid eye contact or getting noticed.

“Sarah!” my coworker whispered, “You good?”.

“Yeah, I’m fine”, I said.

I was anything but fine.

And of course he decided to sit a few chairs away from me. great.

I walked over slowly with the tray, trying to act normal.

“Uhm Hi,” I said politely.

He looked up, and for a second neither of us spoke.

Why does this keep happening!

“It’s you”, he said

“Sadly”, I replied.

He paused for a second, trying not to smile.

“I didn’t know you worked here,” he said.

“And I didn’t know you were everywhere,” I replied before I could stop myself. He went silent and I froze a little.

Sigh, “I didn’t mean that out loud,” I added quickly.

He leaned back a little. “I’m just eating,”.

“Great. Do that far away from me,” I said.

And just like that, it got quiet again.

“Do you always have to be this tense?,” he asked with an overwhelmed look on his face.

“Do you always have to show up whenever I'm trying to have a normal life?,”

Fair.

I took his order as fast as I could and turned to leave. Then his voice stopped me.

“Sarah.”

My name again.

Why does it feel different each time he says it?.

I turned, with a firm expression.

“What?,”

He hesitated for a second. “Just forget about that night,”

I froze. And for some reason, my chest felt different, a bit lighter but tighter, I couldn’t really tell.

“What part exactly? The Public humiliation? The internet drama? Or oh wait, the emotional damage?”

He exhaled like he was trying not to laugh. “Just don’t let it define you,” he said.I stared at him with disbelief. Then shrugged.“Easy for you to say,” I said before turning around to leave, then he spoke again.

“Not everything is how it looks, Sarah.”

That made me pause. But for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to look back.

After my shift, I stepped outside exhausted.

Then I spotted my mom and I instantly knew something was wrong. She never comes here.

And even worse she looks worried, really worried.

Sarah,” she said quickly.

What now?” I asked.

She grabbed my arm firmly.

“I need you to listen to me,” she said.

“Stay away from that boy.”

My heart sank a little.

“What boy?”

She didn’t answer.

She just stared at me like I already knew. But I didn’t.

And that was the problem. “Why?” I asked.

She was about to say something but changed her mind.

“Just please.”

Then she walked away.

Leaving me standing there with multiple questions.

Classic.

The restaurant door opened again. I turned and it was Kelvin.

Of course, great timing

He didn’t move, he just stood there looking at me like he had decided something.

And I wasn’t sure If I wanted to hear it.