37

"I think it's too much to the left...Can you move it to the right a little." Michelle ordered from the far end of the presentation hall. Since they were the Professor Lee's assistants, they had been put in charge of organising of the presentation hall.

"Move it a little more..." She was saying when Andre, who was standing beside her burst into a soft chuckle, which took he attention, right away.

"What is it? Is something wrong?" She asked.

"It's unbelievable, you know."

"What is?"

"The fact that you've been staying in the professor's office until now." He replied.

She'd been rendered homeless, due to the issue, with her landlord and that had resulted in her moving into the professor's office, which hadn't gone too well, as Andre had caught her the previous night.

She'd been so startled to see him, until he'd explained he'd come over to collect some documents which he'd forgotten earlier that morning.

"You..." Michelle started and the prop man flinched as he dropped the banner, thinking she was referring to him.

"Is something wrong, miss?"

"No, it's okay. The banner should be perfect now, when you hang it." She replied, before she darted her eyes towards him. "I'm only sleeping there, until tonight, so keep it a secret." She whispered.

"What about tomorrow? And the day after that? Where would you sleep?...And don't forget, I know you have no friends...So the only option is..."

"There's no way I'm asking my parents for help." She cut him short, and he could understand why. They'd been opposed to her choice of career and hadn't wanted anything to do with her after she'd graduated from college.

"I wasn't going to say that." Andre said and she frowned as she turned back to listen to what he had to say. "My roommate just moved out of the state for a job, a couple of weeks ago. So you can stay over at my house."

She swallowed. "What are you talking about m Are you asking me to live with you?"

"Of course." He replied and Michelle couldn't believe her ears.

"You? Me? Living together? That's total..."

"Then, do you have a better plan?" He asked, with a disgruntled sigh.

Words dries up in her mouth. "Well..."

"Just think about it. You can pay the rent you paid at your old apartment, if you'll feel uncomfortable, just staying at my place." He said and turned to see one of the workers had slightly tilted the banner, while they'd been talking.

"Hey, raise the left side. It's tilted." He ordered, walking towards them, to make the necessary corrections.

Tahti kept taking in deep breaths, as she stood by the staircase to the rooftop. It was the D-Day, that would determine the rate at which her work would be completed.

"Are you nervous?" Jennie asked, from behind her as she neared and she nodded.

"More than I thought I would be." She replied.

"You should keep your hair like this."

"Really?"

She'd gone for the hairstyle she'd worn on her birthday, figuring it'd be good if she looked different on the presentation.

"By the way, did you get an assistant? I overheard some people talking about who they would have as assistants." Jennie told her and she sighed. She'd been too busy to think of choosing assistants, before the presentation.

"Not yet. I should have done that, too. I'd be screwed if no on volunteers."

Jennie raised a hand to pat her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure, there'll be volunteers."

"I really hope so." She replied, before recalling she'd overheard Sol asking around for Jennie, before she'd made her way to the stairs. "I almost forgot. Did you talk to Sol?" She asked and Jennie slowly lowered her hand to turn towards studio B, which was ahead of them.

"I don't want to talk to her." She replied as Tahti didn't need a soothsayer to tell her the girls had fought again.

"What is it? Did something happen?"

"You know too, right?" Jennie asked and Tahti tore her eyes off her as she turned to her. "You knew Sol decided not to leave as an exchange student, right?"

"I didn't." She lied. "I didn't know. Did she say she was staying?"

Jennie scoffed as she folded her arms. "You're so obvious....I'm trying to hold back until her presentation is over, so I'm ignoring her until then...But, it's really driving me crazy."

"Good thinking." Tahti smiled and patted her shoulder. "Just yell at her once her presentation is over."

"Thai is really annoying. If she's going to treat me like this, she shouldn't call me her bestie. She's making me feel like I'm obsessing over her." Jennie whined and Tahti smile widened, feeling like a mother who was advising her little girl.

Jennie liked to whine to her anytime Sol and her had an argument.

"Goodness, look at me." Jennie said, slapping her forehead. "Today's your presentation, so I should let you revise through your work, instead of complaining to you...I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Sure."

"Good luck." Jennie cheered.

"Thanks." She replied, with a smile as she watched Jennie spin on her heel to leave.

Sighing, Tahti turned back to lock eyes with Demir, who was working in studio B. It was the second time they'd lock eyes after they'd needed things, and she noticed the cold and unfriendly look he'd worn the first time, was no longer there.

Her phone rang and she tore her eyes off him to take out her phone from her bag. She smiled, on seeing it was Josh and she walked away from the railing to take the call.

"Hey, Josh."

"Hi, Tahti. How are things looking up? Ready for your presentation?" He asked and she could detect the enthusiasm in his voice.

"I'm just nervous. I have to do my best on he presentation and get an assistant." She replied, considering the worst that would happen if she didn't manage to get one. She'd probably not get her piece ready in time, for the final exhibition, which meant another year in school.

"I'm sure you'll do well, but if you can't get an assistant, I'll help you. I'm good at taking orders, you know."

"Really?" She smiled. It was just like in the past. Josh always had a way of brightening up her day.

"You promise, right? You can't go back on your word, but what do I do if no one volunteers?...I'm worried..." She was saying, when she felt someone cup her neck from behind.

Startled, she whirled round to see Demir standing there, and all her insides tightened into tangled knots at the sight of him.

"Josh, can I call you later? My friend is here."

"Sure. I'll call you later, then."

"Okay." She replied and hung up before raising her eyes to him. It was going to be difficult to act like she hadn't missed him, but nevertheless, she was going to try. "What was that for?"

"I was jealous."

Keep your head steady, Tahti, she swallowed and reminded herself not to fall for his tricks.

"What?"

"You look better with your hair up."

She lowered her head to avoid his eyes, when he said that. She'd ripped off her hair band from her hair, the night they had ended things, wanting to remove every trace of Demir in her life. But she couldn't part with the sun catcher and the dress he'd gifted her as she felt attached to them.

"How long are you going to avoid me?" He asked and she raised her head.

"Me? Avoid you? You were the one who ignored me when we ran into each other at the stairs, remember?" She asked and he smiled, one which sent icicles.up her spine.

"At the stairs, right? Did that bother you?... I guessed it worked."

"What's wrong with you?" She scoffed, but it disappeared when he leaned closer to cup her face in his hands.

"Good luck on you presentation." He smiled and dropped his hands, before he turned to leave.