'What can I say except you're welcome?' (WHO KNOWS WHERE THIS IS FROM? YOU GET A SHOUTOUT IN NEXT CHAP)

"Lara, let's not talk about me. Please." Emma firmly stated as she pulled out the recording device, and attempted to use sign language to explain that the girls had done this.

Lara pointed out and mimed, 'Can they hear us right now?' and Emma shook her head, insinuating that it was being recorded to be listened to later.

Lara sighed and stretched out her hand, miming, 'Gimme.'

Emma handed it over and Lara turned it off and deleted the file.

"I can't believe they'd do that," She began, "I'm not ready for all of this."

"To be honest, me neither." Emma played with her fingers on her lap, "I really don't want to be involved."

"I'm really sorry they put you up to this." Lara rubbed Emma's shoulder, "Wanna talk about it now?"

Emma shook her head and looked at Lara, "Not now. Maybe tonight, or when you're feeling better because... well, can I be honest with you?"

"Yes Emma, you should."

"Well..." She hesitated, "You look like absolute shit."

Lara lifted her eyebrows in shock at Emma's choice of words. Emma never cussed. At least, not in her presence.

Lara looked down at her laced fingers on her lap, "Because I feel like shit."

"You don't have to." Emma reminded.

Lara fell silent. It wasn't like she could just say it and expect the shit feeling to disappear. Wouldn't life be much easier if that were so?

Emma adjusted herself on the bed. "This is very uncomfortable for me to discuss with you but before I came here, Brie was telling the girls how she had confronted Jayden and had found out that he had a um, boner."

Confusion registered on Lara's face as she kept her eyes on Emma, "Huh?"

Emma elaborated, "Brie went to confront Jayden for what happened yesterday, and while doing so, she realized he had a boner. Then she assumed it was because he dreamt about you."

"Um... I see."

Lara didn't know exactly how to react to the news. This wasn't supposed to be good news to her... was it? The man didn't want any relationship with her. He had ended whatever they had so if he was having wet dreams about her, it was not her problem.

"Emma, I need you to do a favour for me."

Emma tried to hide the skepticism in her voice, "What's that?"

"I need you to switch jobs with me. I'll work with your sister and Mabel and you'll work for Jayden."

"But-"

"Please Em." Lara grabbed her hands, "Do this for me. You know the story. Please?"

"But how? Mrs. Benson will notice. I really don't want to be questioned or be in trouble, Lara."

"You won't be. We'll pull this off, trust me. I just can't see him. I don't want to wake up every morning to see his face, greet him or face the embarrassment all over again. The memory... It's either that or I leave this house."

Emma sighed. Her uncomfortableness very visible. "How long?"

"Till I find another job. I'll start looking today. Will you do this for me?"

Emma stared into Lara's pleading eyes and remained silent for several seconds. If she did and got in trouble for it, would it be worth it?

Emma saw the pain and need in Lara's eyes and began to nod slowly. She would do it.

For two weeks straight, Emma and Lara had been filling in for each other right under Mrs. Benson's nose. Lara had been working with Mabel and Ella in the hallways, the visiting room and the staircase, although she had always tried to do her part before any of them would, to avoid unnecessary conversation. She wanted out of the squad. She didn't need anymore drama.

Lara normally began working around 5am, latest by 5:45 which was when Mr Benson would leave the house for his morning jog, but she had always managed to keep herself out of sight.

She wondered if he and Brie were still having the affair under his wife and son's noses, but it wasn't her problem to deal with. She had her own share of problems.

And speaking of Jayden, for the past two weeks, she had tried her best to avoid him. His sight, his presence and most of all, thoughts about him. Anytime she would see him approaching, she would enter the next vacant room, or get lost immediately.

Emma had said that the first day she had begun filling in for her, he had asked where she was, and Emma had told him what had been going on. How she had asked that they switched jobs without Mrs. Benson's consent. Jayden must have understood her for doing so because he had made her job easier by waving off his mother's skeptical questions and mostly joining the family for breakfast downstairs.

He really wasn't planning on getting back with her.

And she tried not to care, even though her heart still hurt like it was constantly being poked by embroidery needles.

She was going to keep up the avoidance till she had found a new manageable job, and very soon, she would forget about this household and Jayden.

After mopping the hallway leading to the library and the indoor pool, Lara dropped to the floor with her back sliding down the wall. It was a warm Friday afternoon and she was completely exhausted. Emma's work was harder than she had thought. How had she managed?

Wiping the sweat off of her forehead and casually turning to her right side, she laid eyes on the person she had been trying to avoid for the past weeks; Jayden.

He was walking in her direction unknowingly with his head facing the ground whilst ruffling his untameable dark tresses. He was wearing a pair of blue swim shorts that revealed his strong, toned legs, with a blue towel hanging from his left shoulder, the tip slightly brushing across his alluring abs, and his other hand holding his phone to his ear as he spoke, "Okay. Good. I'll see you in five."

Lara wished she could just disappear so he wouldn't see her. She didn't want him to, and she probably had a chance to escape since he was on the phone, but sadly she had no magic lamp.

Jayden immediately rose his head, and the minute he did, he locked eyes with her.

They both held each other's strong gazes, with memories suddenly flooding back into their minds.

Lara's mind crammed with the one memory she had been dreading and had been trying to forget.

Whereas Jayden had memories of the erotic dream he had had of her.

Momentarily forgetting about the person on the other end of the call, Jayden watched as she began to rise to her feet, though clumsily because her knees had rendered themselves inactive due to the immense exhaustion that had clouded her nerve cells.

He hadn't had a moment with her since that fateful night due to her hide and seek, and heavens, had he missed seeing her beautiful face; her big innocent eyes and sweet soft pink lips.

He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but closed it right after when words had failed him as well.

He took one last look at her and began to walk away. Maybe his words would have made her feel uncomfortable. The girl was clearly summoning the gods to divide the earth into half and swallow her in. He was going to make it easy for her.

As he walked away from a frozen Lara and returned to his phone call, Brie rushed to the hallway and upon seeing Lara, exclaimed, "There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you. Hurry, Pierre's here, he wants to see you. Don't keep my brother waiting."

"Pierre's here?" Lara asked in shock and immediately turned to Jayden who had asked the same question simultaneously. If nothing could get him to talk, this definitely did.

He directed his gaze from Lara to Brie and questioned, with confusion and curiosity laced in his words, "Why does your brother want to see Lara?"

Brie folded her arms and said, "It's really none of your business."

Jayden gave her one last look before speaking into the phone, "I'm gonna have to call you back."

***

A/N: Amazing cook Pierre is back and is here to see Lara! Jayden seems concerned about it! What's up with that?

A/N: It's the weekend! It's Friday night! What are y'alls up to? I see you sneaking into your bag those clothes you're hiding from mum. WHERE IS YOU OFF TO?

A/N: If you don't get an update this Sunday, it'll be on Wednesday. If anything happens, I'll let you know from my message board.

A/N: Take care and don't forget to vote and comment! You're all so sweet.