British Exchange Agent

Chapter 18

Jewel looked up, glancing at me in confusion.

"What?"

But my eyes were fixed at the face a good few feet away, which was scanning the phone in his hand. What was Cyrus doing on the plane? Why was he on the same flight as me?

"Kayla?"

I tore my eyes away from him and glanced at Jewel, who was watching me with her forehead creased. I flashed her a worried smile - hopefully not as nervous as I felt.

"Sorry, I just thought I saw someone."

She nodded, slightly doubtfully, and focused her gaze back on her bruised knuckles. Turning back to look where Cyrus sat, my breath caught in my throats when my eyes landed on an empty seat.

"Kayla?"

I jolted, my head snapping over to my right. His voice was low, and deceivingly calm.

"Cyrus? What are you doing here?" I asked, sounding innocently confused. He raised an eyebrow.

"I could ask you the same thing."

"I'm with my friend - she had a boxing tournament." I smiled, slightly nervously, and pointed to Jewel, shrugging. "Last minute plans are my thing."

Jewel looked up and frowned, watching me carefully. I sent her a pleading look, and she pursed her lips, looking back down. I turned back to Cyrus, whose dark eyes had narrowed.

"Boxing tournament." He repeated, trying the word on his tongue. Jewel ignored him, staring at her hands, causing us to hover in an awkward silence.

"Why did you visit Mexico, Cyrus?" I eventually asked, my tone light. He shrugged.

"Same reason as you."

"You went to a boxing tournament?" I asked, my eyebrows lifting slightly in surprise. His dark grey eyes stared into mine.

"As much as you did."

Silence.

"I'm taking your seat." Jewel finally spoke, her eyes fixed on Cyrus defiantly. She stood up, causing me to grab her wrist.

"Wait!" I instructed. "I need your new number, remember?" I glanced at Cyrus. "Changing phones can be such a hassle, can't it?"

"Oh. Right." Jewel said blankly, taking out a small, worn phone. She recited the number off to me then entered mine in her contacts, before offering a slight wave.

"Thanks." She said with a ghost of a smile, before striding over to Cyrus's seat and plonking herself down. I turned my attention back to him, watching his grey eyes. Cyrus eyed me for a minute before sitting down in Jewel's seat, leaning back.

"Where did you visit?"

"Sorry?" I asked. He glanced at Jewel, before turning to face me.

"Any good tourist attractions?"

"Oh." I wracked my brain, before coming up blank. "I'm not really sure - I just kind of... found my way around different places."

Cyrus nodded slowly.

"Have you been to San Miguel de Allende?"

I forced my expression to look casual and collected as he studied it.

"No, unfortunately not. Maybe next time." I replied vaguely. "Do you have any family in Mexico?"

Cyrus's grey eyes turned black.

"I don't have family."

I faked a frown.

"But didn't you say something about your mum being a... bartender was it? Or was it a café worker? Waitress?"