Sugar & Salt ✩ Michael Jackson

Ten: Hotshot Tells The Truth

After Hotshot broke into my apartment like a burglar, he disappeared for three weeks. These days, I didn't think I would see him again. And that was...upsetting. How could I let my guard down just for a second with him? He rejected me. Me. I was supposed to reject him! It was kind of our thing. Now, I'm a waitress hung on a secret agent guarding a device that could make Earth combust.

Andrea was drinking some tea as we talked about Michael. It was about four o clock and the lunchtime rush just passed by.

"God, I can't believe I let him get under my skin! How did I get gooey like all the other girls do when it comes to him?"

"Because he's worth getting gooey for." Andrea replied lightheartedly. "Come on, Aliana. Of course, you were going to fall for him. Every girl would."

"That's the thing: I wasn't like every girl. His pretty face and one-liners didn't bother me. I shot down him down every time. He was incredibly annoying. Not to mention everywhere he goes, trouble follows. I practically despised the man. But my curiosity got the best of me and I just had to know more about him. Now, I'm like every girl."

"Maybe it's good he left before it went any further."

Maybe it was. It's not like I was in love with the man. But I was really into him. I cared about him a lot, which is something I didn't want to do. Not after he set me up for failure. Or maybe I was the one who set myself up. I mean I knew he was dangerous, so why did I entertain him?

Without changing my uniform, I headed to a mall across town after work. In the shoe aisle, I tried to look for Mary Janes identical pair to the white ones I had on now. Unfortunately, it didn't have my size. I picked up one of the display shoes and headed to the front desk. A nice, dark-skinned woman with the most beautiful curls greeted me with a smile.

"Hi, do you have these in a size 11?"

"Size 11? You know what they say about big feet." I heard Michael's voice go.

I jumped and shot my head his way. Once again, he appeared out of thin air, wearing a pink button-up topped off with a black blazer with an oval brooch and matching black slacks. His curls spilled on his shoulders, some pieces framing his face.

I grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side. "What the hell are you doing here now?! A shootout? Bombing?"

He flashed a bright smile at me. "Can't I come by to see you, Sugar?"

I scoffed. "After you rejected me? No."

"Oh, come on, you know that's not what I did." He said, pouting. "Thought you knew you've got me wrapped around your finger."

"I admitted that I had feelings for you and you told me I wasn't supposed to because you were too dangerous for me. How is that not rejecting me?"

"Please don't be upset, Aliana. It's much more complicated than that. If you knew-"

"What trouble you were in, I'd understand." I finished, vexed. "That's the thing: I don't know. You can't expect me to not be upset over something I don't understand. And I get you can't tell me, but that doesn't give you a pass to continue to flirt with me."

"Hm." He pondered. "Maybe I'll just tell you, then."

I laughed at his absurdity. "Right, just so you can flirt with me?"

"A bit more than that if you're cheeky enough." He said, winking.

The flirtatious glint in his eyes disappeared when he looked behind me. Without a word, he tugged my arm to pull me down. Before I shoot him a glare, a deafening explosion went off. I knew something was going to happen now here we are in midst of warfare. My body crashed onto the hard wooden floor along with huge pieces of debris, hitting the back of my head hard. And I mean, hard. My vision completely went black.