Avery rubbed her hands together. The sun was warm but the wind was cold. The grass rustled under her feet. Her pace quickened with every passing second. It escaped her mind that she had company with her. She bit her thumb and glared at the ground.
"Is there sothing wrong, Mrs. Hathaway?" Mikael asked, pumping his legs to catch up. Jordan stayed behind to look over the details with the crew.
"I don't know. Is there?" She suddenly exclaid as she made a full stop. Away from most earshots, she tossed her hands in the air and faced him. "Or am I just nervous for nothing?"
Mikael frowned. "This wouldn't be about how I know Ms. Hart's secret, right?"
Avery made a face. It was hard to describe but it was close to a Picasso painting. "It's not that I don't trust you or anything but you know, one is in the spotlight and the other is not. It's a perfect kind ofbalance."
She trailed off and sighed. If the madam was being honest, Eve probably enjoyed the benefits of her double lifeher privacy being at the top and it had always been to their advantage. The young woman had faced many things over the past few months. It was about ti she caught a break.
Pressing his lips together, Mikael thought about her words. "If you think that would be trouble, I believe the principal would understand."
"But the girls" Avery started to protest. She groaned at her own indecisiveness. "Such a beautiful family. If I'm being honest, I can't think of anyone more fitting for this campaign. One of them already has the experience too so it would be a smooth shoot."
The madam searched for the three siblings. Eve and her sisters chatted by themselves a few ters away. Their laughter managed to reach their ears even if faint. "And no one here is about to create a scandal about you and another woman"
"I think you're getting ahead of yourself a little," Mikael cut in with his hands raised. He followed her line of sight. The atmosphere seed lively and peaceful. He understood why the madam was wary.
It was a small thing but it could be the beginning of a change in their lives.
"Am I?" Avery crossed his arms over her chest. "Because it sounds a bit familiar to ."
Mikael sent her a side-eye look, understanding her point. "How about we ask them?"
"Right. They should decide like how I had told the principal in the first place."
He waited for her to resu walking.
Except it didn't seem to be happening any ti soon. Circling around her, he gave her back a little push. It may be seen as rude of him but everyone needed it every now and then.
The madam offered no resistance. She got the ssage and strolled down the park. The twins got up from their seats. They held empty cups of bobba tea, heading for the nearest trash. The timing couldn't be more perfect.
"Eve!" Avery called out and waved her hand.
"Mrs. Hathaway!" Eve widened her eyes, finally noticing the two approach. She rose to her feet and flickered her gaze to the second person present. "And Mr. Davis. What a surprise."
Mikael nodded in her direction. "Ms. Hart."
"So, Eve" The madam cleared her throat. She reached for the young woman's hand and sat her down, also doing the sa. She used the silence to gather her thoughts.
Eve scowled in confusion. "... Yes?"
"The academy wants to do a campaign. If you've seen the one for The Magical Symphony, you'd know what I am talking about."
"I have, yes."
"Anyway, so Mr. Davis is the model for the ad and, um, the administration would like to ask if it would be okay for him to accompany the girls for today's events?" Avery spoke in broken sentences. It should be good enough. The question was a simple one. There was no need to be worried.
Eve would make the right choice.
"I'm sorry. Can you repeat that?" Eve blinked. For a second there, the conversation seed more appropriate for Evangeline than for her current state. She turned her head towards Mikael but he had left their side.
"Well, the girls want another adult to join them, right?" The madam recalled. "The principal heard it and thought they'd love it if Mr. Davis would fill in for ."
Mikael had followed the twins. Although the trash can was nearby, the crowded park easily made a person anxious. The two girls talked in volus too soft for him to hear. He stayed in their path and waited for them to head back.
Along the way, Eri and Ede both stopped walking.
Their heads tilted up until they t a pair of radiant blue eyes.
Ede narrowed her eyes. "You look familiar."
"I do?" The male model scrunched his eyebrows. This could either be good or be really bad.
"Yeah." She nodded, her eyes still squinted. "But I can't put my finger on it."
"Hm. I think we saw him in Andie's room." Eri added to the conversation.
"Is he on the posters?"
"Could be."
Ede rubbed her chin, lost in her thoughts. "So he's a celebrity."
"Possibly."
Then, she shuffled her feet and faced her sister. "What's he doing here then?"
Mikael stepped closer before he knelt down on one knee. The girls had receded into their bubble, acting like he wasn't present. He cleared his throat and showed them his best smileone known to make hearts lt. "I was hoping I could hang around with you guys for today. I promise that I won't let the team down."
That caught their attention imdiately. "Really?!"
"Yes."
"Aweso!" Eri cheered. She fist pumped the air and yelled towards their table. "Hey, Eve! We found a guy to play with us in the gas!"
"Wait, you're not a creep, right?" Ede asked on second thought.
Raising his left hand, Mikael used his right one to draw a cross over his chest. "I swear that I'm not. Both Mrs. Hathaway and your sister can vouch for ."
"You know our sister?"
"I've worked with her a couple of tis."
The twins backed a few steps away. Their hands covered their mouths as they whispered privately to each other. Their brown eyes never left Mikael's face. The bad feeling from earlier ca rushing back for him.
Ede went first. "What do you think?"
"I think Ambivian is much more handso."
"Really? He looks like an old guy who found a potion to make him look young but found out it wasn't that effective."
"So like this guy better?"
"Not that much. Isn't there a third guy sowhere?"
Eve and Avery jogged up to the group. The forr went straight for the twins while the latter stopped beside Mikael. Their discussion hadn't ended but the points had been made. They recognized the risk of the ordealthat was when they were interrupted.
"What were you telling , Eri?" Eve confird.
"Rember how you said we could find soone to join our group for the gas and how you won't complain whoever we picked?" Her younger sister recapped in one breath. Then, she pointed towards Mikael by puckering up her lips. "Well, we picked him."
"I an, it's either him or Gin," Ede added. "The choice was obvious."
Still hesitant, Eve shifted her attention towards Mikael. "Is this really okay with you, Mr. Davis?"
"As Mrs. Hathaway has told you, the crew recomnded you and your sisters for the ad," he responded despite the look in her eyes. "I was just getting to know your siblings and I'm happy to hear that they're willing to let play with you all."
As far as he knew, if the couple was serious, this was bound to happen sooner or later. This may not be the best situation but it did help ease Eve into the idea that she'd be in the spotlight more once she revealed herself. Her glasses wouldn't be enough to hide her anymore.
Eri tugged on her older sister's sweater. "Eve. You promised."
Turning back, Eve heaved a sigh. "Ah, fine. Thank you for joining us, Mr. Davis."
"Please. Call , Mikael."
All of them, including Gin, walked back to the main tent. The cara crew briefed Eve and the twins about the proceedings. The principal had started the opening ceremony while they prepared. The three siblings were sent for makeup and hair.
"For our first ga of the day," the principal announced into the microphone. He gestured towards the lanes divided by fences made of sticks. "The Sack Race! This ga is a bonus and the players are chosen from drawing lots. May we have the box of paper slips?"
The makeup artist checked her work for the last ti. She nodded her head in approval and sent the siblings to the race. Regardless of the drawn numbers, they would be a part of the ga. Mikael walked up to them and asked an important question.
"Which one of you will be playing?" He directed at the twins.
"Eri's playing. I don't like this ga. It makes my feet hurt."
Beaming from ear to ear, Eri grabbed Mikael's and Eve's hands. She dragged them towards the middle lane. "Guess, you'll be my mom and dad for today."
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