Meridian (Ariana/You)

Chapter 22

We took a cab from the restaurant and Ariana asked for the cab driver to leave us just a block down from the hotel. She had texted Joan for her to meet us outside of the hotel with some other clothes or something to cover me up with.

Pulling up next to a café that was just around the corner to the hotel, Joan waved at us as she opened the door on my side of the taxi.

"Sorry to hear that you've locked yourself out, dear." She said pulling me into a hug.

"I'm the one that should be apologizing for putting you through all this. Thank you for reaching out to the company and helping me out." I said, very appreciative of all of her efforts, she simply smiled and nodded at me.

Ariana walked up to my side as she hugged her mom.

"Do you have something to cover Y/N?" She asked her, curious to see what Joan had come up with.

"Here, put this on." She said handing me a very large hoodie and a wool beanie hat. She also handed me sunglasses.

"I swear; it must be a family thing you having sunglasses at night time." I laughed at Joan handing me sunglasses as she raised her eyebrow in confusion. Ariana got it though and laughed, throwing a 'I'll tell you later' to her mom.

What Joan handed me next got me very amused.

"I know...." she saw my reaction. "but I think they would recognize you if they can see your full face."

It was one of these faded blue surgical mask people would wear if they were sick in order to avoid contaminating others. Ariana also looked amused trying to visualize what I would end up looking like.

"I can't wait to see you in one of those." She laughed.

"Just let me do the talking and we will be fine." Joan said as I had put on all the items they had given me and finishing to tuck my hair into the beanie.

Ariana linked her arm in mine, amused at my undercover look, and we made our way into the hotel lobby. My heart was pounding out of my chest. Would the guys see through the disguise?

I immediately saw Oscar and Kevin, working at their desk. Or knowing Oscar, playing some online game rather than working.

 As Ariana entered, their whole composure changed, they went from all relaxed to suddenly tense and sitting upright. Oscar stupidly waved at Ariana, still thinking he had a chance and I just wanted to laugh. 

Everything was going well so far.

"Just a moment please." heard Kevin say from the reception desk as we were just starting to climb the stairs.

I spoke too fast.

I froze and tensed. Ariana felt that as she patted her hand on my arm in reassurance.

Kevin got closer to all of us and I was so afraid that he had seen through the disguise.

"We will need some identification from you or at least show your full face for security purposes." Kevin said to me as I saw him through the sunglasses. 

Why was he being so authoritarian? Half of the people that walked through the hotel with guests, we would never question. Maybe they were on high alert after the incident with Pete.

"Please excuse Ariana's cousin here. She his blind and mute so I will speak for her. She's suffering from a very bad sickness, hence the mask. I'm afraid she can't remove it as she could make all of you sick. Would you want the doctors note for proof?"

I played along in the fact that I was blind. It worked as Ariana had her arm linked around my arm. I couldn't help but be amused as Kevin looked absolutely uncomfortable not expecting that answer.