Mai Legacy
1.16 - Le Café de la Pain
It’d been a week since Maverick had been over, and Leah was on her way to a dinner with him.
On her way out, she passed Seth in the hall.
“Don’t even think I’m telling you where I’m going after what you did,” she snarled.
Seth rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t even that bad! You two aren’t even dating yet.”
Leah crossed her arms. “But I’m clearly interested Seth, and as my older brother, don't you think you should respect that, huh? Do I need to remind you for the millionth time that walking back into the room and hearing that you’d made out with him had to be the most awkward conversation I’ve had in my life? Plus, you're not even gay. And you told him so after! I can't believe you.”
“You're saying that conversation was more awkward than the sex talk from mom and dad? Sure, Leah.”
Leah growled in frustration. “Just… just stay out of my way, Seth!”
She slammed the front door behind her, and Seth could hear the sound of her heels clicking across the front patio.
It was a good thing James and Susan weren’t home. Seth and Leah had an unspoken agreement not to tell them about any of this because they both knew how they felt about petty arguments. And their lectures? Brutal.
After a minute, Seth crept out the door and followed Leah. He’d make sure the two of them didn't get together if it was the last thing he did.
Leah got to the restaurant, and after looking around, sat down on a bench outside to wait for Maverick. Unbeknownst to her, Seth watched from across the street of the restaurant as Leah met up with Maverick, said something to him, then headed inside with him.
Then, it was time for phase two of his plan.
“How have you been since the whole… Seth thing?” Leah asked Maverick once they were seated.
Maverick grimaced. “I’m just… I’m so confused about everything. My feelings.”
“Feelings?”
“Like, do I feel them for you? Do I feel anything for Seth? Or do I just feel nothing at all?”
Leah smiled sympathetically. “Maverick, honey, Seth only made out with you to make me jealous and try to take you away from me. To think he actually feels anything for you is just dumb.”
Meanwhile, Seth watched their conversation from a bush outside the restaurant. Spotting him from inside, one waiter’s eyes widened, and he laughed and gestured over another. Another came over, smiled slightly and shook her head.
The second waiter eventually walked away, then the first returned to the kitchen. Seth breathed a huge sigh of relief. They weren’t going to tell Leah he was snooping! Instead, he was greeted by a tap on the shoulder.
Jumping, Seth quickly stood up and turned around. He was met with the second waiter.
“What are you doing back here?” she sighed.
“Um… well… you see, I lost my… er…” Seth muttered.
The waiter cut him off. “Don’t even bother. You’re watching that couple, aren't you?”
After a brief hesitation, Seth nodded shamefully.
“Tell me why or I’ll have my friend tell that couple and I’ll call the police,” the waiter said.
“Alright, look. She’s my sister, and if she gets romantic with this guy, it’s more likely she’ll inherit my family’s legacy because that would mean she’s better than me at everything and… and…”
The waiter smiled. “Just gotta say it out loud to realize how ridiculous you’re actually acting. Trust me, I have to do it all the time,” she held out her hand. “Jocelyn.”
Seth slowly extended his. “Seth.”
Inside, the dinner was going… decently.
“You’ve got to come over again some time, Maverick!” Leah insisted.
“I just- I don’t think I could look at Seth in the same way again after last time. I can't even look at him in the hallways at school, Leah, believe it or not that was my first kiss,” Maverick moaned, still clearly conflicted.
Leah sat up straight, outraged. “He stole your first kiss? Oh, that is it! I am going to call him out in front of my parents this time, I don’t even care if we both get chewed out anymore!”
“No, Leah, it’s fine-“
“It isn’t Maverick, not at all, a first kiss is a big deal!”
“It’s just a kiss, it was going to happen eventually. Just calm down, Leah. Please.”
In the end, the evening wasn’t great for anyone. Leah tried to get Maverick to fall in love with her and failed, Maverick ended up even more terrified of the Mai family, and Seth failed to stop Leah from interacting with Maverick.
Jocelyn, however, was having a great time. She'd gone to the same high school Seth and Leah were going to at the current moment. Although she graduated their freshman year, she was very familiar with the Mai family, as every tabloid had covered their drama a few years back. Now, she relied on her little brother, who regularly came back home talking about the latest stupid thing the Mais had done. Jocelyn was just pleased she'd finally met a member of the family she'd read about for so long.