Page 14 of Chasing After You
Miley tilts her head, sizing me up. “So if you’re an Olympian and your dad is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, why are you working as an intern?”
I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans, trying to keep my thin patience in check before I snap. “I worked hard for my degree, and for my place here. I used my mother’s maiden name while applying. I don’t want any special treatment.”
“Maybe I’d be more inclined to believe you if your mother’s maiden name wasn’t the same as the head coach’s,” she says, and I know she’s not wrong. It’s a deep blow, but I refuse to let them see it affect me.
The others have fallen quiet, avoiding looking at me.
Stand tall. Don’t let them see they can hurt you.
“Well, I’m sorry you feel that way. I know you probably think this is all just handed to me, but my parents and family don’t give handouts. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duke inthreeyears while competing at a collegiate level of gymnastics because I work hard foreverythingI have. My parents didn’t do fucking shit to get me this job, not that I should have to prove that to any of you. You don’t see me asking what strings you pulled to get your jobs,” I snap, standing to grab my things. I’d like to add a nice littlefuck youin there, but I do have to work with them still.
“Mira, you don’t have to go,” Ginger says, offering me a small, embarrassed smile.
“No, I do. I know when I’m not wanted, and for the record, I make a great friend if any of you tried to look past my fucking last name.” I leave on that note, walking quickly out of the bar, trying to keep my pride intact.
I miss my parents. I miss my brothers. I miss Emily. A part of me wants to say I miss Henry, but how can you miss something you’ve never had?
This has been the longest day ever.
I climb into my car and pull my phone out, immediately calling my brother. I sniffle loudly, trying to keep the tears at bay. Regardless, a few slip past, wetting my cheeks.
JJ answers after a few rings, and my leg is bouncing anxiously. “Hey Mira, I was just talking about you with Mom. She’s on the line too.”
I wipe my cheeks quickly, trying to dry them even though my family isn’t here to see me cry. “Well, why wouldn’t you be talking about me? I’m awesome,” I joke, trying to mask any hint of how upset I am.
“Damn right. Don’t let anyone tell you differently,” Mom says, without knowing that’s exactly what I needed to hear right now.
“Thanks, Mom,” I say, trying to disguise the crack in my voice with a short cough. It’s a pathetic attempt, and we all know it.
“You okay?” JJ asks.
“Been better. Just a bad day,” I answer, wiping my cheeks again. I can’t believe I’m crying over those idiots. I feel ridiculous letting them get to me like this. I’m freaking awesome, and if they can’t see that, it’s their loss.
“Who was it? I’ll kick their asses,” Mom says heatedly, and it does make me feel better to think of her beating them up. I wouldn’t put it past her.
“No one I can’t handle myself,” I say, feeling a little bit better about sitting in my car crying because my coworkers don’t like me.Damn. This is a new low.
“Does Henry know them? I’m sure he’d have no problem putting them in their place,” JJ says, and I roll my eyes.
“I’m fine, I swear. I just miss you all. It’s weird being at the house without everyone there.”
“Henry isn’t part of the reason you’re upset, right?” Mom asks as I start my car.
“I’m sure you know about the campaign the organization put together to boost Henry’s popularity. My boss is handling everything, so I’m helping with it, but I’m struggling to be professional with Henry. He’s being a little difficult about . . . well,everything. Today was only our first day, but I don’t want him to be upset with me, because it’s not personal? I guess maybe it’s a good thing I was assigned to this, since I’m not sure I could stand working closely with the other interns every day. They treat me like I’m a zoo animal, like I’m only there because of Dad and Uncle Owen, which is bullshit, but I can’t make them believe it.”
I am just so frustrated with everything.
JJ sighs, and I feel bad complaining about this to them. I’m twenty, and I should be able to handle this. I’ve only been dealing with it my whole life, growing up in the spotlight. JJ’s felt it nearly as much as I have, but his life has been slightly more normal.
He chose to go to high school, whereas I was homeschooled to keep up with my gymnastics training schedule. JJ might not have competed in the Olympics, but he was listed as one of the top recruits of his graduating class, prior to committing to Beaumont University. There were a lot of eyes on him in the athletic world, being Sebastian Walker’s eldest son and all.
Hunter and Bailey have had better luck hiding in plain sight, but they’re still not normal teenagers by any means.
“Mira, I’m sure Henry knows it’s your job. I don’t think he’ll be upset with you as long as you don’t use anything personal from outside of work. It’s a fine line you’re going to have to walk, but you knew he was on the team when you took the job, and that this could be a potential conflict of interest.” Mom is surprisingly the calm voice of reason.This doesn’t happen very often.“However, fuck your coworkers because they don’t even know you. Let them stare and see how far you go.”Yeah, that calmness didn’t last long.
I wipe my eyes, laughing. Some things just never change.
“Dude, you’re awesome. They’re just jealous. Mom’s right, they don’t even know you, so fuck them.”
