Together

117. New Employee

And she ain't messing with no other man
Me and her have something different
I really need all you to understand
That nobody's coming close
And I don't ever wanna run around
I spent my youth jumping in and out
But you know I fucking love her now
Like nobody ever could
-Ed Sheeran, Chance the Rapper, and PnB Rock

Kiara sets down two hot plates in front of the guests she's serving, asking if there is anything else they need before she leaves them to their meal. She's happy when they decline further assistance.

It was early. Well, early for her. Usually she has a closing shift and comes in later in the day, but she requested to be scheduled early so she would be able to spend New Year's Eve with JJ and the Pogues.

Nothing fancy going on, just hanging out at the chateau and ringing in the New Year together. A quiet new years is what was promised, though she couldn't ever be too sure with Sarah Cameron. Rose was at Tanny Hill with Wheezie, so trying anything over there was out, and Kiara would take money that Sarah wasn't going to let the small fishing shack of her boyfriend remain unpacked with people.

Either way, she's happy to be free of the restraints that Anna had on her the first week of winter break. Her mom hadn't brought up any more events since the last party, and she suspects it's because Anna could sense something was off.

Kiara had been somewhat withdrawn since she ran out of the house to seek safety in JJ's arms at the chateau. She was just having a hard time trusting her mom after it all. It's not Anna's fault Travis was like that, but she couldn't help being a little averse to anything associated with Kook society at the moment, including Anna.

"Kiara," Mike calls her from the threshold of the back of the restaurant. He motions her to follow him and she walks back to his office, looking behind her before as he takes a seat at his desk.

"What's up?" she asks.

"I wanted to talk to you about your college plans."

Oh God. She takes a tentative breath. Anna supposedly talked with him about her not majoring in business after the Christmas party, but there has been zero follow up on that. At least on Mike's end and, Kiara wasn't exactly brave enough to bring it up on her own.

Mike seems to be though.

"Yeah?" she slowly approaches, taking a seat on the chair in front of her.

"Well, what are your plans?"

She blinks, mouth running dry. Didn't her mom tell him? She fights the urge to look behind her again, but all she wants to do is look for Anna. It's as if Mike is reading her mind when she feels herself start to turn.

"Don't look for your mom," he chides. "Kie, you have to be the one to talk to me about these things."

"So, Mom did tell you?"

Mike frowns, obviously not pleased with whatever conversation Anna had with him, even if he is being gentle about it with their daughter. "I'd like to hear it from you."

She swallows hard, body feeling like there was heaviness in her chest that was dragging her under. "I've already told you my plans, Dad," she says.

Mike regards her, arms crossed and leaning back in his chair like he's trying not to interrupt, but has a lot he wants to say. She doesn't know what else there is to say, though. She definitely doesn't want to scream about it in the restaurant, but going cold doesn't seem like the right move either.

She couldn't just up and leave like she does when things are tense at home. He asked to talk to her. He's expecting her to defend her choices.

She sighs when it's clear he's going to wait her out. "I want to go into conservation. I want to major in environmental sciences and protect endangered habitats." She's rehearsed the line a dozen times, just so when someone asks she can give them a reason for her major. She hates it when people assume she's doing some liberal studies degree akin to underwater basket weaving.