A/N: Another damn idea getting put through to paper (in a sense, lol). Been watching Maid-Sama! and honestly just love the dynamic between the characters so I figured fuck it, up the drama, add even more situations for said drama and switch around some roles and this story was born. Will very loosely base itself on the source material for the most part, with several bits and pieces taken and insterted. I hope someone enjoys this, although I'll probably keep writing it whether or not I get anything more on this than views lol. Peace.

Prologue

The Big Secret

Crystal Springs North High School, October 10th, 2021..

The student council meeting room was loud today, the various class reps all trying to voice their opinion on what the themes for the many classrooms would be for the upcoming Halloween Festival. It had been decided that the classes that shared a door to one another would be one attraction for each two rooms while every other single classroom was its own entity. Unfortunately, beyond that nothing has come to a head as of a solution. Or maybe it could if the student council president could hear anything clearly. She stood up, hands slamming the desk in front of her to gain the others' attention as she cleared her throat. "Enough! One at a time, please! Now, what have the boys been asking to do?"

No one missed the edge in the president's voice. It was common knowledge she treated most if not all of them men at school like they were nothing but degenerates, stemming from her own father's abandoning of herself, her mother and younger sister. "Well, representative Negron-"

"I don't even want to know what that delinquent has thought up this time to annoy me."

"I doubt he does it on purpose, Sameera. Didn't you two used to be best friends when you were kids? Before your dad left?"

"Yes, he was but ever since then he's been nothing but a troublemaker. A high honor roll student, but a troublemaker nonetheless. All he does now is do more and more lucrative crap to get a rise out of me."

"And hilariously, it works. You always blow up at him like you're mad but then you both still get seen walking home together now and then."

"Ulp." Sameera cleared her throat from the unladylike noise. "Be that as it may, he stays quiet when we walk, there's nothing else to it. Now, what did he say?"

"He said his class wants to host a café-"

"If the rest of that sentence includes anything to do with costumes that would make their class either a laughing stock or embarrass this school, then it goes right in the trash."

"That's still pretty harsh, Meera. It is Halloween, you know. People expect costumes at these things. No, he wanted it to be vampire butler themed."

"Of course he did. Even when a delinquent he's still such a nerd. Alright, fine. But the costumes have to be full butler, tatters are only allowed on the exterior of the suit and no excess skin to be shown, got it?"

"Yes, of course, Miss. President. Now, um.. what did you want to do about him?" The council member asked, pointing towards the door where seventeen year old Nick Negron stood, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk.

"Gah! What are you even doing here, Negron?"

"I am a member of the council, remember. No, I wanted to check in on my class's request, because it's pretty late already so I'm heading home. Didn't you have something to do right after school was supposed to end, Sameera?"

Sameera was about to say something rude to him, but remembered he was actually right, even if she was excused until her student council duties were complete and he shouldn't have known anything about such plans of hers. "No, I'm alright until I'm done here. You go on ahead, Nick, and do your damn homework. I'm only covering you for so much before I kick you off the council myself."

"I was appointed to this council the same as you were, Sameera. By vote. Don't pull any of that Star Wars shit with me. You only have authority as far as the ensuing vote would go, and I'm quite beloved despite my.. what do you just love to call it? Oh, yeah, delinquency. It wouldn't work out." With a laugh, Nick turned to leave. "And thanks for the approval. I promise I'll keep the other guys in my class in check this time."

"Make sure you do, stupid Nick." She grumbled, sighing. "Alright, who else has their attraction figured out?" The room fell into chaos once again, Sameera groaning. Fuck, this will never end..

Nick walked out of the school, checking his phone for the exact time. Better get out soon, Meera. Otherwise you'll miss a day in your busy schedule. He thought, looking up at the student council classroom with a chuckle, shaking his head and walking down the street towards the only still-open arcade in town. He still had some spare dollars from his own odd jobs around town to blow and apparently some time before he'd head down to his usual haunt in town. Maybe this time I'll finally show her who's really always watching her work.. He laughed again, realizing just how much he sounded like a stalker there.

A half hour later, Sameera sighed and stretched in the glow of the setting sun, realizing she needed to hurry as she called her job. "Hey, Sue. No, the meeting ran late. You remember how chaotic high school must have been. No, I'm on my way now. Yeah, I'll stay back tonight and close up shop, that's fine. I need the money." She said, grunting in the affirmative one last time before hanging up the phone, putting it back in her pocket and walking towards her job, passing by the arcade and an eagle-eyed Nick who waited several minutes (and then died in his current game) before following her down the street, knowing where she was going. He had been going to the same place to watch her work for long enough at this point, after all.

Café Cristál..

It was only about fifteen minutes later that Sameera entered the café through the back entrance, greeting her manager as she rushed herself into the bathroom to change. Not a minute later and while she was still half-dressed, she heard her manager Susan call for her. "Sam, your regular's here!"

"Shit, of course he is! The guy just always knows when I'm showing up at work. Fucking stalker.." She said, shaking her head as she finished changing into the modest maid uniform, looking at herself in the mirror as she tied her dark red hair into its usual work ponytail.

Sameera had been working part-time at Café Cristál since soon after starting high school, her technical three year anniversary working with the other girls there having just passed. In most of that time, since the holiday season of her first year, she'd had several regular customers come and go through the shop but only one who had stayed coming throughout all her time there, and ridiculously enough she didn't even know the guys name. Granted, none of the staff did, all they knew was that he asked for her by name and she had stuck to being his usual maid/server. As she came out of the back, she saw the customer sitting at the usual table by the front window. She took a breath and shook herself for a moment before walking over. "Welcome back, Master!" She greeted enthusiastically, a habit learned from so long working at a place made for entertaining men even while she held that loathing for the other gender within her. "What can I get you to start today?"

In his seat, Nick smiled beneath the pointed hood of the hoodie he wore (that also covered enough of his face to go incognito at the Café for so long without his childhood friend realizing just who she was serving most days). "Hello, Sam. Looking stunning, as usual. I'll just have the ice water for now, please. With lemon."

Sameera wrote the drink down on her little notepad, realizing it was different than the usual. Today he was asking for lemon with the water, which wasn't an unusual order by far but he usually only had the water at first without a lemon wedge. "Thinking something different today, Master?"

"Yeah, you know what they say. Variety is the spice of life."

Sameera nodded even while there was a bell ringing in her head. Why is that so.. Oh, Nick.. She thought, remembering it was one of Nick's favorite sayings when they were younger, the thought bringing her to smile. "Yes, I believe it is. I'll be right back with your water."

"Take your time, Sameera." The customer said, and Sameera bristled in the doorway to the kitchen. None of the customers knew her full name at the Café, even the other staff avoided using it unless they were otherwise alone. How does he..

In his seat, Nick chuckled as he saw Sameera stop for a second. "You'll know who I am soon enough, Meera."

When she came back with Nick's drink, she smiled as she set it down. "Here you go, Master. Have you figured out what you'd like to order, yet?"

"Hmm, yes I have. Can I have the Sapphire Omelette Special, please?"

"Of course, Master. Would you care for home fries or mashed potatoes?"

"Mashed, please and thank you, Sam."

"Right away, Master." She turned on her heel towards the kitchen again. "If I may, Master. Why do I always get the feeling I know you?"

Nick smirked. Ah, she finally realizes something. "Well, I mean, you do know me, still probably far better than anyone else, Sameera." He pulled back his hood and for the first time since she'd started working at the Café, Sameera found herself both speechless and pissed off beyond all reason.

Without another word and with incredible restraint (which didn't translate to her notepad, now crumpled in half in one hand), Sameera went back to the kitchen to place the order. "How the fuck did he..? Who does that asshole think he is?!" She said to herself as she walked around the kitchen in circles until the chef stopped her.

"Sam! Calm yourself. What's going on?" He asked.

"That.. that fuck I always serve while knowing nothing about him is a guy from my school! God, he's gonna tell everyone I work at a fucking maid café and the whole school is going to look at me like I'm a freak!"

The chef shook his head with a booming laugh. "Oh, I don't think he's telling anyone about this, Sam." The girl looked at the older man, the Manager's older brother, curiously. "Think about it. How long has that guy been coming to the café?"

Sameera sighed. "Practically since I started. It's like he.. like he fucking stalked me."

"That's probably not it, either, although maybe he should check his methods at that point." Sameera snorted despite herself. "If this boy from school had said something about you working here, don't you think you'd have heard something about it by now? You've been working here three years already. Is there any other reason why he might have taken it upon himself to stalk you at work?"

No! Um.. maybe? I mean, we used to be best friends before my tenth birthday.."

"Ahh, that's it, then. You don't talk to him like that anymore because of your father." Sameera sighed. "Sam, your father wasn't in the right mind for years before he left that day. The father you knew had already been gone. The accident down at the fire station-"

"I don't need to hear it, Will. You've told me several times already. Even if that was why, it isn't like he doesn't see me in school."

"True, but maybe, just maybe, he's trying to look out for you from the shadows, since you two don't talk anymore. Sometimes it isn't the action that's important, but the reasons behind it."

"You even sound like him, then. His damn dad and his philosophical sayings."

"Oh, it's Nick? Don't look at me like that, I know most of you kids' parents whether they're still around or not. Maybe you should try to talk to him about it. If it bothers you that much."

Sameera hummed, nodding. "Yeah, maybe. Anyway, let me get back to it."

"Don't push yourself too hard, Meera. You have a tendency to take on too much for yourself. Maybe it isn't a bad thing having Nick around a bit, eh? Seems he's just out to keep you in his sights."

Yeah, that is what it seems like, but why? She asked herself as she continued working.

Later, as the café finally closed and Nick went home (assumedly), Sameera stretched one last time before shutting the lights off, heading towards the back door with the several trash bags in her hands. Having already changed back into her casual clothes, Sameera thanked herself for the extra maneuverability the everyday clothes afforded her over the somewhat stiffer maid outfit.

She locked the back door as she exited, lugging the trash bags out into the alley that ran behind the shop. She was made aware by someone else's presence as she heard the sound of an exhale, looking at the wall opposite the shop to find Nick standing there, his hood on but not covering his face anymore as it had been earlier. "Jesus H. Fuck, Nick! Give me a heart attack, why don't you? Are you fucking stalking me?"

"Oh, what? Upset your old friend enjoys seeing you at least look happy?" Nick said, taking another drag of the hand-rolled joint.

"I am happy, thank you very much. I don't need you hovering around me outside of school for that. By the way, why haven't you told anyone at school about this? You'd finally succeed at ruining me as council president."

"You think I want to usurp you? No thanks. You aren't the only one with things to do outside of school, you know."

"Like what? Blow cash at the arcade? You haven't changed. Still just a kid w-" Sameera lost her ability to speak as she found herself with her back pressed against the brick wall of the café, Nick's face hovering inches away from her own, her dark skin hopefully not visibly darkened in the crappy lighting of the alleyway.

"Oh, no go on. Do continue that sentence, I'm just dying to know what my former best friend really thinks of me." Nick said challengingly, his brown eyes staring through Sameera's own violet blue eyes and directly into her soul. Or at least, she thought it felt like that.

Sameera couldn't believe she was acting like this. She was tough, she never let anyone at school get away with jack shit when it came to anything the boys did in their day. Just the other day, Sameera had quite literally thrown a freshman boy through a window because he was harassing another girl and had been for several days already. But with Nick, especially in the compromising and highly suggestive pose the two high schoolers were in. "Y-you're a fucking terror to me, alright? You're lucky I could even keep my goddamn control inside after you revealed who you were. Why didn't you just tell me you knew about my fucking embarrassing part-time job? Or better yet, the rest of school? It would achieve your goal of making me a laughing stock to every one of our peers so they'll never take me seriously again in class. They'd get to call me all sorts of horrible, disgraceful things and-"

"You mean like No-Heara Sameera from third grade when you lost your hearing for a week and I made sure you kept up with the work? Or what about Midget Meera in sixth grade when you were the shortest in the entire entering class? I've never told anyone at what is now our school about any of that. In fact, if anyone ever trash talks you, I start a fight. Think about that for a bit." Sameera looked away, one hand over her heart as if Nick was going to go all Indiana Jones and try and rip her heart out with his hand. "The reason I've kept this, this job you at least can simulate looking as happy as I remember you back when we were close a secret for so long, three long fucking years already? It's because you look relaxed and happy and free when you're working, and if that's the only way I ever get to see the Sameera I made so many promises to again, instead of the absolute chilly bitch you are to me and every other guy in school ever since your dad left back then.. Then I'll keep that secret until I'm in my grave because you and your friendship didn't just mean nothing to me. It was everything for me, you were my first friend, and I've made sure I stay with you in school, wherever you wind up going hoping one day your fucking ice box of a heart will finally thaw and you'll come back to me. The real you I can see hidden behind the veil of unending hatred of your father's leaving your family that resulted in your overall sexist and frankly fucked up attitude towards all things male, myself obviously included."

Sameera was breathing heavier, her heart racing as she heard her former best friend pour his heart out. Why is he saying any of this to me? He'd eventually leave me too, if I let him back in.. She thought as he continued. "I see the shit no one else seems to notice, or ignore if they do, about you. About how you're going to school on fumes some days, and I know it isn't because of no sleep because I know you also do your homework in the student council meetings like I do to make sure I can always keep an eye on you. Yes, I get this may all seem stalkerish, alright? But even with that handicap, I'll keep doing this. My odd jobs here and there, fighting punks for running their mouths in school, following you and experiencing the amazingly rare sight of the old you here at the café. All of it. And maybe, if you'd just find it in yourself to actually fucking take my word for once, then believe me when I say the you I see working is and always has been the real you.

"This stupid delusion you must have about all men being untrustworthy because your father left just like half of our damn schoolmates' parents did, their mothers in some cases? The thought that you let even one in- me- means you're set up to get hurt, is a goddamn joke." He pushed himself off of the wall, pivoting around. "I'm going home. Feel free to tag along if you don't trust the streets." Without another word, he stalked off in the direction of their houses.

It took Sameera a minute to regain total control of herself and her thoughts, none of which were decipherable at the moment as Nick's words, the emotion she felt from them as he had half-shouted in her face, clashed with the already locked-in mindset that all men are out to eventually hurt women. Out to hurt her. She didn't really know what she wanted to believe anymore, but she eventually managed to keep a straight face and realized Nick was nowhere in sight. Looking around at the dark alley, she took off towards home, eventually catching up to Nick to slow her pace back down, opting to stay quiet and avoid any further rage. Nicky.. Did I make you so rageful? Just from distancing myself?

You didn't distance yourself, idiot. You sawed him up, grinding his heart for good measure, stuffed him in a black trash bag and prayed to whatever God would listen that no one would think anything of the smell until the rats had picked him clean. Or the pigs. They'll eat anything. Came a second voice in her head, making the girl look around as if she was missing someone in the immediate area talking to her.

The fuck? Are you my conscience? Cuz as true as that description may be, that was hella dark for a moral compass to say to someone..

I guess you could consider me your conscience, although I'm not here to tell you right from wrong. You're already seventeen already, for fuck's sake, get some common sense. What you should be doing is actually talking to the handsome and smart boy about what he meant about his fighting in school. He is a delinquent, right miss student council president?

Sameera looked up ahead where Nick walked, just to her right enough to see that his eyes were shining. Crying? Why? "Nick?" She asked softly, afraid to voice herself any louder than that.

She heard him sigh, looking back towards her. "What, Sameera?"

The girl jumped at the roughness in his voice. "What did you mean? About your fighting because someone else was running their mouth?"

"They talk shit about you, other guys in school. I catch any of them saying something about you in front of me, they get a beatdown because I won't have them talk badly about you. I don't know why I fight to defend your honor, not now when even I am a target for your ire. I mean, you're not a defenseless princess or anything, but couldn't anyone use a knight to come to their aid now and then?"

Sameera rolled her eyes at the analogy. "I'm not doing this with you. I am not okay with you right now, but you're the only one who will probably give me a straight answer. If you want to, I mean. But thank you, I guess, for defending me when I can't be there. But you shouldn't do it, the senseless fighting. Let them talk, I am that way now, Nick. Whether or not you think it's some form of act, I won't have you fighting all the time. That homework comment shouldn't have needed to be two-sided."

"Aw, look, you do care." Nick replied sarcastically. "You need to lay off the other guys a bit too, though, Sameera. I'm not saying to let them have their way entirely, just find a compromise with them. Despite what you may think, not all of us are pricks like the parents that left our families struggling."

"I-i know that. You have to understand how deeply that affected me, my dad leaving. I was a daddy's girl, and he just thought it would be okay to pack up his shit and leave while everyone else was otherwise out of the house. My distrust of the male gender shouldn't be the worst thing in the world."

"Well, to me it is. I was a momma's boy, Meera, and my mom left my dad and me years before your father did the same to yours. I never let that stop me from being your best friend."

The silence had returned between them, what started out as a simple question was now easily much more than that. And currently, neither teen really had it in them to keep it going much longer before one of them- maybe both- totally broke down from their shared feelings of hurt and just exploded on the other. A regular powder keg of a situation. "I'm sorry. I was so much younger, always so stupid.." Usually if it involved you, with and without trouble following. "Dad leaving us all alone.. It made me hate you so much because you were the closest guy to me back then. It made me bitter pretty quickly, as I'm sure you remember. And from that, I became a bitch towards all the guys in school. I was just.. so damn sure I couldn't trust any of them not to leave me in a similar fashion, or worse.."

Nick looked at her, his expression neutral. "You were afraid a guy would.. Meera, but me? The guy who walked in on you changing multiple times as kids and never once bragged or otherwise boasted about that fact. You're one of the most sought-after women in school, you know."

Sameera stopped walking. "I'm what?"

Nick chuckled. "Of course you didn't. Not surprising. It's like a forbidden fruit situation. Everyone wants you, but you're unreachable because you have this stigma against men when the actual occurrence of such actions to warrant such an attitude has only happened once. Honestly, if I was you, I would have done what I did when my mom died. Maybe then I wouldn't have lost the most important thing left to me back then. I'll see you later." He said, turning as they had reached their neighborhood, his home closer to the cafe than Sameera's own.

Now alone as she finished the short walk down to her own house several plots away, Sameera realized this whole time she had been gripping the front of her shirt over her chest, the whiteness of her knuckles telling her just how hard the grip had in fact been. Nick.. Why are you such a mystery to me now? You haven't changed as much as you'd like to believe, but then you show me you're almost an entirely different person. You're right, too. Sometimes even I wish I had gone to you when my father left.. just like you did the instant your own mother walked out.. Fuck, I became my father without even realizing it.. and an even worse friend.. She sighed heavily, taking one more look towards Nick's house, swearing she saw Nick in the upstairs window for a moment before the curtain was drawn.

The Next Morning..

Sameera screamed as her foot sank into the floorboards by the front door, cursing at the latest in the list of things to fix around the house. If I ever get the time to. "Mom! You and Nashrah watch out for these damn holes! I'll figure out fixing them later this week!" She called as she exited her house, shrieking in surprise as she found Nick sitting on her porch, newspaper in his hands. "Nick?! What the hell are you doing just sitting outside my house?" She asked him, her now usual attitude back out.

"I've been waiting for you, hoping you came out before we would be late to school. I don't trust this city and it's streets anymore, you know. Not since the shooting at the bowling alley." A couple of years earlier, a disgruntled employee shot up and killed over thirty people during what was supposed to be a regularly-scheduled league game. "I'd rather make sure you make it to school, preferably without apparently breaking your ankle." He smirked, looking at the red spot on her leg from the floorboards chafing her skin.

"I'm fine, Nick. You don't have to baby me or anything. You know better than most I can handle myself- eep!" Nick was in her face again, and Sameera couldn't understand why the simple action made her freeze up like a deer caught in headlights.

He chuckled. "Yeah, I know. But I still worry, and you.. well I don't like seeing you hurt, is all. I'd miss my gorgeous maid after school if you did injure yourself like that." He smirked at the blush on his oldest friends' face and backed off, walking away towards school.

"Wait up! What about-"

"I'm not going to tell anyone about your job, Sameera. Again, if I wanted to see you embarrassed, I would have told half the school back when I first found out. As I've also told you already, I like seeing how you are when working. You also being coveted by the other guys in school already would probably end badly for you but great for the café so yes, your secret is safe with me."

"You know, it isn't like I need protection at my job. The other café staff are just as versed in self-defense as I am."

"While I have no doubt, you also freeze up whenever I'm closer to you than the social distancing quota so I'd rather not leave it to chance. Would hate to see that pretty face messed up by some lowlife miscreant."

Sameera couldn't hide her smile but still rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Nick. As long as you don't disrupt my job, I could care less whether or not you even show up." But with everything said between us last night, can I really and truly say that? If there was one thing Sameera hated more than the idiot men that usually surrounded her, it was being unsure of anything, especially herself. She hated the uncertainty of her own feelings about any of this, but she couldn't deny Nick had been right the night before and those thoughts wouldn't stop nagging at the back of Sameera's mind. Hopefully, school would help clear her mind of the boy standing not three feet away from her.

Unfortunately, by the time the daily student council meeting came up, Sameera was still stuck on her thoughts of Nick, most notably how he had entered the room when the meeting began, said he had something to do and left, but not before dropping off a cup of coffee in front of his old childhood friend, the gesture making Sameera thankful thanks to how draining it had been trying to keep up appearances while suffering the inner turmoil Nick had unknowingly unlocked.

The meeting had been going fine, more and more class projects for the Halloween Festival being figured out until the vice president, Sameera's friend Leona Farrow brought up the cup still steaming in front of the council president. "So, that's different."

Sameera's eyes widened as she answered. "Yeah, I guess it is."

"So.. why, then? Not that all of us here don't know that boy has a major hang up over you already."

Taking a sip of the coffee, Sameera coughed as it went down the right pipe, looking at her de facto best friend. "What the hell are you talking about?"

That made Leona laugh in a way that made Sameera highly suspicious. "Oh, girl. If you need me to tell you that, then I think you've been wasting away in that pit of sexism for way too long."

"Enough of the games, Leona. What do you know?"

"I know something. Or maybe I don't. Either way, you need to help yourself at this point, Sameera. That's all I'm going to say on the matter. Any clue where he's off to now?"

"Nope, not that I really give a shit. Nick can go find himself dying in a ditch for all I care." Even as she said the words, Sameera felt a pang of disgust blossom in her stomach, at herself if she had to guess.

"Ouch, Meera. That's harsh, even for you. Makes me feel sorry for Nick, honestly, with your attitude."

"Ugh! Then you go be his friend, then!"

"I already am his friend. Contrary to what your mind keeps throwing in your mouth to say and think, Nick is a pretty damn stand-up guy. And he's the only guy at this school even considered worth a date at all, since most of the others are all giving in to their hormones way too much."

"All men are perverts, Lee, even Nick. He just knows how to hide it best of them all, I guess."

"Or, ridiculously, maybe he knows what he wants already. Your little bias is starting to get on people's nerves, you know. One of these days you're going to get attacked by those you keep scorning, and honestly? I'd be surprised if anyone other than Nick even came to your rescue in such a situation. You may be tough, but you're nowhere near being invincible."

Sameera huffed. "I never said I was." She looked at the clock on the wall and gasped. "Shit, is that the time? I'm gonna be late. Lee, can you handle the rest of the paperwork for today?"

"Yeah, of course. Am I ever going to know just what my best friend does for money these days? The secrecy you put on it makes it seem like you're a hooker."

Sameera looked at her friend with a bored, disgusted look. "The fuck, Leona?"

"Well, you're the one who hides it from everyone. I mean, we all know you have a job. We just don't know what it is because you won't tell anyone."

"Then maybe go talk to Nick. He knows what my job is, but I don't know if he'll spill the beans. He's kept it a secret from the rest of school this far."

Leona looked at Sameera with a strange expression. "Oh? So Nick has seen you at work and you swore him to secrecy, then?"

"Nope. The secrecy has been him all along. Well, I gotta go. See you tomorrow, Leona."

"Tomorrow's Saturday!" Leona called out as Sameera was already rushing out of the classroom. "Seriously, where's your head at, today?"

I wish I knew.. Sameera thought as she continued her hurried trip out of the school, unaware of the three other boys watching her run off from the side of the building.

"Hehehe, this is our chance, boys. Let's go show that bitch you don't mess with us Crystal Springs boys." With the other two nodding, the trio started following behind Sameera, the girl ever unaware of her followers.

Sameera only gave a passing glance at Nick, leaning against the alley wall like he had been the night before, rolling her eyes as she hurried into the cafe. Nick, who was actually scrolling through random memes online while smoking another joint, barely noticed her pass by, but looked as he heard rushing footsteps towards the alley. He saw his underclassmen Joe Tegal, Seth Pirene and Hayden Frye as they appeared around the corner of the café. "Shit, where'd she go?"

Nick picked his head up, narrowing his eyes at the trio. "Hey, you three!"

Joe, the leader of the trio, looked at Nick and froze in recognition. At least, for a moment before he sprang into a fighting pose, suddenly confident against the otherwise proclaimed fighting king of the school. "Negron? What the hell are you doing here at a maid café? Better yet, have you seen that student council bitch pass by here? We just saw her turn into this alleyway."

Nick shook his head, knowing full well who they were talking about and realizing the door he'd heard moments before must have been Sameera going inside for her shift. "Why are you three suddenly after her? You guys do know what happens to anyone who decides to set Sameera in their sights, right? Or more importantly, what I do to those people. So, do you?" He asked, his voice dangerous.

Joe still felt brave, however. "So what? You can't rule the school in fights forever, Negron! You couldn't stop what we have planned for that bitch, anyway. You're all talk."

"Joe, shut up! You know he isn't just talk because of what happened to Leroy the other day. Are you trying to get killed?"

"He's going to be the one dead after we're through with him. Get him." At once, the three freshmen rushed towards Nick, who tilted his head to one side, a loud crack sounding from his neck as he grinned at the idiots coming towards him.

Without even throwing a punch, Nick moved out of the way of Joe and Hayden throwing matching punches in opposite directions, to which the result was that they both ended up on the ground. Seth, knowing they had fucked up and was hesitant about the fight in the first place, put his hands up as Nick stepped closer to him menacingly. "N-no, please! Don't hurt me, I'm just a stupid follower!" He cried much to Nick's amusement.

"You guys wanted to know why I was here, right? Well, our reasons are related, for sure, but not the same. Come, I'll get these two idiots." He said, picking up the other two boys, shaking them back to waking consciousness as he practically dragged them to the front of the café, Seth behind him. He nodded towards the interior of the café, where Sameera was already running around for orders, her ponytail bobbing up and down as she crossed the café from one side to the other. "She's happy here, and I never want her to lose that smile, got it? It's something all too rare these days."

"That's.. Sameera? But she seems nothing like the tough student council president we all fear."

Nick laughed. "Fear? Oh, Sameera could never invoke fear in me, I know her all too well. But, now that you know this secret of hers, I'm gonna have to give you three an ultimatum. Either you ignore my warnings of leaving her alone in a negative way or I make sure my fist enters your lungs. Your choice."

The three all looked at each other, sweating from fear of the older boy. "Yeah, s-sure, we'll back off, promise. We won't tell a soul about her being a maid, swear." Joe said quickly.

Nick smiled. "Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I have plans." He tossed the boys he was holding to the side as he entered the café himself, giving a side-long glance at the trio as he sat down and Sameera came over to him, still smiling despite who was there.

"Welcome back, Master!" Sameera said to Nick, hating herself for choosing to work in such a line of work. "What can I get you today?"

The trio watched the interaction with immense curiosity. "You know, she's really cute."

"Don't let Nick hear you say that," Seth said. "Seems he's got a bit of a protective streak on everyone's most hated girl at school."

"She's not that bad, it's just to us guys. Honestly, I kinda wanna go in, too. You guys got any cash?"

Both of the other two boys shook their heads making Joe sigh. "Damn. Well then, we'll just come back. We know where this place is, now. Come on, let's get home before our moms think we're up to no good."

"Yeah, like those days are surely over." With that, the trio walked off back towards their neighborhood.

Sameera frowned at Nick as he finished his order. "Why do you like it here so much, really?"

Nick raised his eyebrow as he leaned on the table. "I already told you, Sam. This is the only place I can truly see you, not that crap persona you radiate during school."

"Sam? You two go to school together?" Came another voice as another one of the maids, Giselle, approached the two.

Sameera huffed. "Unfortunately. Nick here has apparently taken to stalking me at work, saying he keeps coming because he feels this me is the real me."

"Well, despite what you're implying by that statement, this is where you seem the most at home, isn't it? And I doubt it's stalking, he looks too kind for that sort of behavior."

"Thank you. I am actually pretty troublesome, though. Of course, I doubt Sameera's told you girls any of the old stories of our childhood."

"No, she most certainly hasn't. And I'd remember hearing about such a good-looking young man, trouble or not. Remember, Sam, you only live once." Giselle giggled as walked away, leaving Nick and a red-faced Sameera standing there.

"She seems nice." Nick said, chuckling at Sameera's exasperated expression.

"You are driving me crazy now that I know it's been you these three years, you know. Can't you just let me work in peace and leave me alone?"

"Aw, come on now, Meera. I don't make trouble for you here, do I?"

"W-well no, but," Not outwardly, but inside my head..? "You still can't just show up here every day and not expect me to get sick of your ugly mug."

"She didn't seem to think it was that ugly. I mean, at least I didn't grow an overbite like Joshua did."

"Leave Josh alone! Why do you have to always be like that? Can't you just be normal for a change?"

"Normal? Where's the fun in that? It isn't like I have much waiting for me at home, is there? Oh, wait, you wouldn't actually know what I've gone through at home since we fell out, would you?"

"Like I really care, Nick!" What's that supposed to mean? "I gotta go." She said, hurrying off to the kitchen.

Giselle was talking to Will when she entered, and the older girl smirked at her. "He's definitely a step up from your other regulars, isn't he?"

Will chuckled. "Oh, stop, Elle. Sameera is figuring things out. She's too smart to just ignore the issue." But what is the issue?! "But we don't have to hold her hand about it. Or make innuendoes like you like to."

"But that's no fun. Sameera has an admirer! And you know damn well that Sue will put on an event day soon just to see how he reacts."

"She better not! We already had swimsuit day last week, it's too soon for another event isn't it?"

Will shook his head. "You've worked here long enough to know, Meera. There's usually one per week, but Sue has been opting for menu specials lately instead."

"Ugh! That's all I need, for Nick to see in even more compromising outfits. It's bad enough he's seen me chan- shutting up now." Sameera tried walking out of the room but Giselle pulled her back by the collar of her dress.

"You're not getting away with that slip, Meera. What has he done?"

Will laughed. "Isn't it obvious, Giselle? The boy's walked in on her before, probably before there was distance between them." Not everyone at the café knew about Sameera's family history, and for that she was grateful. "But I doubt there was much correction done about it."

Sameera felt her cheeks heat up even more. "Alright, this is too awkward now. I'm out of here." She said, turning out of the kitchen and towards the back door, Nick's eyes watching the obviously embarrassed girl as she retreated outside.

Soon after, Giselle wound up bringing him his order with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. It seems Sam's a little.. volatile right now."

"I could imagine. I think she's just got a lot on her mind, and others adding onto that load is bringing her closer and closer to her breaking point."

Giselle hummed. "You really have a bead on her, don't you?"

"I've known her most of our lives, the last few years notwithstanding. For me, she's never been hard to read."

"Well, whatever the reason, she's lucky to have such a persistent stalker." Giselle winked at him. "I don't think she realizes just how lucky she is. Enjoy, Nick."

"Thanks." Nick nodded as Giselle left the table and Nick felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.

Oh, now you're flirting with Giselle? Said the text from an otherwise unknown number, the owner of which Nick could see standing outside the café, leaning on the wall next to the window.

Nick raised his eyebrow. How do you even have my number?

A girl never reveals her secrets.

Bullshit. And I wasn't flirting, for your information. Giselle was apologizing for you leaving your post.

I had to get out of there, alright? Sorry..

Don't be sorry you needed a minute. A heads up would have been nice, is all.

Yeah.. The texts stopped there, allowing Nick to finish his meal before he left, thanking Giselle for covering Sameera as he went to leave.

Nick wasn't exactly surprised to find Sameera still outside, obviously waiting for him. When she saw the questioning look he gave her, she sighed. "I think we need to talk."

"Funny, that same thought occurred to me as well. Are you sure we even can without arguing?"

"I'm not really that bad, am I?"

"To me? Exclusively that bad. Other guys get your wrath just a bit less intensely than you usually throw at me."

"Alright, I guess that is fair." She said, falling in step next to Nick as they traversed the dark city streets. "I'm sorry I left like that, I have a responsibility in this job and I fucked that up."

"Don't worry about it. I saw it coming before you even went into the kitchen. I still know you, Meera."

"I.. yeah, I can tell. It makes my mind beg me to want to know how. You look at me and you just see the same girl you grew up with, don't you? Whereas I look at you and.. Honestly I don't know what I'm looking at anymore. Who I'm looking at."

"And.. what's that mean?"

"Don't play stupid, Nick. It really doesn't suit you, delinquent or not." Nick didn't miss the small smile that graced her lips as she continued. "You're just so.. different. I mean, I guess I am at fault for that to some degree but-"

"Sameera, you made me this way. Maybe it wasn't intentional, maybe it was, but either way it happened. I understood where you were coming from, and there's something else you don't know about that day, when your father left.."

Sameera looked at him, quiet anger hidden behind a curious gaze. "What are you talking about?"

Nick frowned. "I had a doctor's appointment that day, so I was home when he left. I was outside enjoying the weather waiting for dad to finish getting ready, and he came outside with that single suitcase and I knew right away. I confronted him about it, told him what it would do to his wife, his kids." He looked at her, as serious as he'd ever looked. "He told me I was right, but that he had to leave. He wouldn't specify anything more, but then he said the only thing that really mattered to me, stuck with me. He told me to take care of you, saying I was the best friend any girl could ever ask for. Fat lot that's done since then."

Sameera stopped, not surprised her father had said such a thing, but that Nick had promised him the one thing Nick would never have denied. That had lead him into what was now his almost weekly fights with other guys in school, as he himself had put it 'talking shit about her'. "That's why you started being the tough nerd, always with me academically but still fighting, all just to protect me? Because they were the last words from a scared coward?"

Nick sighed. "Yeah, partially. Mostly, though? I wanted to protect what was special to me. I would promise anyone anything if it involved you and your safety, now as much as back then." It was then he looked away from her again, Sameera frowning in even more confusion.

"But why? Why am I so important to you when I treat you like a fucking prick most of the time? How is it even any of your business?"

"It might not be my business, really. I know that. But I don't give a shit because.. ugh, it's not important, really." Liar. Sameera thought, still knowing her old friend better than she previously would have expected. "What is important is that you've always been the most important thing in this world to me, Sameera, that's why it was you I turned to when my mother ran away to God knows where. I hate you for turning your back on our friendship like it meant nothing. And if you can't figure out what that means then you really have to reexamine yourself, because as veiled as I am deliberately making them, the clues should be pretty fucking obvious." He sighed, flexing one hand in and out of a fist. He wanted her to realize what she was doing to him, what she had always done to him, and everything he'd been telling her, even doing for the last three years should have made the obvious even more so, but Sameera was either in denial or couldn't pick a side in her own head.

Sameera was about to say his name when she looked and realized they had passed his house and Nick had separated from her. I guess that talk was finished. Ugh, why are you so frustrating, Nick? She sighed, walking into her house. Now even more confused, she realized that Nick had a point. Maybe she should reevaluate herself. At this point, the conflicting thoughts and emotions flying through her head constantly the last two days, she needed some actual clarity.

The next morning, being Saturday, meant Sameera wasn't expected at the café until the afternoon and she then had plenty of time to herself. Deciding before she went to bed the previous night to follow Nick's advice, she had been sitting at her computer for the past twenty minutes, thinking about how she had acted since the day her father abandoned her and the rest of her small family. Unfortunately, she found herself unable to break her thoughts out of the ever present bias she had this developed as a result. She sighed, looking out her bedroom window towards Nick's house, grateful there were a couple of houses between their possible line of sight.

She jumped as her phone vibrated against the desk moments later, snapping her out of her admittedly chaotic thoughts. She answered the phone quickly. "Leona? What's up?"

"We're going shopping, so get ready. About time you answered the phone, too." Leona's voice sounded over the phone.

"Shopping? Leez I'm not really feeling up to something like that right now. I'm kind of.. in the middle of something at the moment."

"Don't care, I'm already here. So get your ass ready!" The line went dead and Sameera sighed. I guess I'll have to come back to this, then. She thought, quickly finding something to change into for the morning as she went to meet Leona just outside her house, sitting exactly where Nick had the previous morning.

"Why do you always ambush me to go on these trips?" Sameera asked her shorter friend.

"Because you won't go out with me if I ask and then show up to find you not even home. I've learned your tricks, Meera, just not your secrets."

Sameera rolled her eyes as they started walking downtown towards the shopping district. "You'd do better not trying to figure everything out about me, you know."

"I could, yeah, but then I'd fall behind to how Nick knows you, or seems to at least. Did you talk to him yesterday after school?"

"I saw him for a little bit, yeah. He was going home from wherever he goes, and I was leaving work so we just fell in step until we got home." Sameera lied through her teeth.

"Oh, well that's disappointing. No reason why he brought you coffee yesterday?"

"I did ask, actually. He said he could see I wasn't getting enough sleep and could use a pick-me-up. Nothing as romantic or whatever was running through your mind as to a reason."

"Hmm, well he is an enigma. I guess only time will tell what'll happen with you two."

"You're not the only one to say something like that. Just what is it that I don't know that makes everyone think Nick and I are anything other than the comfortably distant ex-friends that we are?"

"Maybe everyone else just sees what you aren't, Meera, I can't be completely sure. Just know that despite what you may think about men in general, that opinion only goes as far as Nick is willing to stop the idiots in school from bad-mouthing you."

"You know about that?"

"Know? Girl, I've witnessed him go to town on those dumbasses over you. Why is it so hard for you to understand the boy you may hate has absolutely none of that hatred in him, least of all towards you?"

"It isn't that I don't understand it, Leona, please. I get it, but it doesn't make sense to me, alright? Nick is quite possibly the biggest mystery in my life now, other than whatever could have caused my father to abandon his family, not that I really give a shit either way at this point."

"You'd be in the same boat as Nick there, at least. He wants to know why his mom suddenly packed up and left, but at the same time it isn't something he worries about constantly. Unlike you."

"What are you even-"

"Don't, Meera. I know better than most that your father is such a sore subject for you that you actively avoid any mention of the man. You would quite possibly kill someone to get the truth about that."

"Yeah, maybe.."

"Anyway, we only have a couple of classes left to organize for the festival. Are you coming to school in costume that day?"

"We all have to, don't we? Anyone not wearing a costume was threatened with detention already, weren't they?"

"Yeah, they were. Good job remembering you own decree, your highness." Leona laughed to Sameera frowning.

"Oh, fuck you Leona."

"Love you too, bitch." The two continued talking as they walked through town on their way to do their shopping.

Nick, meanwhile, was home alone as his father was at work, the teenager bored as he laid across the couch in the living room. With the window cracked open and a slight breeze rolling through the room, Nick could also hear hushed conversations outside, car doors opening and closing nearby and even a baby crying. No one around has a newborn right now, right? He thought, not paying much attention to it until he heard the sound of crying get louder and closer. Having his eyes closed in his boredom, they shot open as there was a knock on the door, followed by a voice Nick hadn't heard since he was only a child, calling out for someone to answer.

The teen was at the front door quicker than he could think, opening it with a shocked expression at the sight of his mother Keira standing on the doorstep, a covered bundle moving in her arms (A baby? Nick thought) and standing behind her was another child, possibly eleven or thereabouts, holding hands with none other than Sameera's father Aram. His anger boiling at the sight of the older man, Nick struggled to focus on his own mother, who was looking at him sadly. "Mom?"

"Hello, Nicky. Look at how you've grown up.."

"Get out of here, mom, before I do something I'd rather not. You have no right to even be here. Not after what you did. Both of you, but especially you," The teen pointed to Aram. "You're lucky I don't bash your face in right now, Aram." Both runaway parents could see the anger raging within the teen, his hands clenching at his sides and his body vibrating with the negative feelings.

Later..

Nick sat at his regular table at Café Cristál, having just arrived still in a daze from the morning's events. When he saw Sameera exit the kitchen, his breath hitched at the sight of her in a dress fitting of an event at European palaces. It still hugged her curves but kept itself modest and was a shade of pink that accented both her hair and eyes very well. It took him a moment to regain his senses as she tried getting his attention. "Where were you?" She asked when he had given her his drink request.

"Uh.. Yeah, I don't think you really wanna know." Nick said simply, Sameera feeling his gaze scanning her body. "Wish I had known about the event today, you make me seem very underdressed tonight."

While the comment made her smile, Sameera rolled her eyes. "Yeah, this was sprung on me tonight, too. But thank you, I guess. Seriously though, why were you obviously lost in the sea of your mind?"

Nick sighed heavily. "Something happened today, and being honest, I can't decide whether I should go compete in that underground fight club everyone in school swears isn't real or just leave everything for a day or two.."

Now Sameera could tell something was seriously wrong, seeing as Nick wasn't his usually chipper yet focused self. She sat down across the table, frowning as she adjusted the dress. "Alright, talk. What happened?"

"Sam, no. It'll only-"

"Tell me, Nick, or I swear I'll tell the rest the rest of the student council about how long you sucked your thumb growing up."

Nick was surprised at the sudden interest, since Sameera had shown close to none before now. "You wouldn't dare, I have worse dirt on you. I'm being serious, though, Sameera. I'd rather not sour your mood at work with it. After, alright? I don't want to cause you to skip out early again."

Sameera bit her lip. What's got you so.. lost all of a sudden? "Fine, but I'm holding you to that. Just cheer up, 'kay? Your mood isn't doing much better at not souring mine." She giggled as she got back up, Nick nodding.

"Oh, by the way, you have new admirers." He told her, pointing to another table where Joe, Seth and Hayden were sitting, all looking at the older girl with hearts in their eyes.

"Are those.. the three idiots starting fights all the time among the freshmen?"

"Yep. Apparently, they were after you yesterday, followed you all the way here but lost you when you came into the café. They tried fighting me, wound up defeated pretty quickly and then I showed them just why I was even there in the first place. Swore them to secrecy with threat of ripping off all their nails, too."

"Jesus, Nick, what the fuck?!"

"I'm kidding! No, I didn't have to threaten them, not when I handed them their asses in seconds."

Sameera sighed. "You boys and letting your fists do the talking. Alright, just sit tight, Nick. I'll have your order ready quick." She nodded at him and went towards the kitchen to drop the order off. Whatever could have happened today, Nick? You were nothing like this yesterday.. Sameera had given up on driving Nick from her mind at this point, the thoughts of her old friend and the feelings attached to them happening with increasing frequency over the last day and Sameera knew her mind had to be trying to tell her something. The only question was what that was.

As she practically dragged the last of the day's trash into the alley behind the café, Sameera saw Nick waiting for her against the wall, another joint in his hand. Where does he keep getting all this money for weed? Odd jobs can't pay that well to keep him smoking. She thought as she nodded at him. "Just gotta change, I'll be right back out." Nick nodded and gave her a thumbs up as he took a hit, his head bobbing to whatever music he had playing on the one earbud she saw in his ear.

When she came back out, now dressed in black leggings and the new purple shirt Leona and her had bought earlier, she sighed. "That shift felt like it took forever. Sorry you're always waiting for me for so long, Nick."

"It's nothing, Sam. I'd rather be here, at least near you, then anywhere right now."

"You're.. Nick, you're really starting to worry me tonight. You're not yourself. What happened?"

Something big that I really don't know how to handle, and I think that's why my mind keeps fucking screaming like a damn banshee to be next to you. That, or the fact it involves you, too."

"What could possibly have happened that has to do with me?" She asked, looking at him as they walked. "The closest we even are these days is how we are right now. I don't see-"

"They're back, Sameera, alright? Both of them, plus two."

Sameera had no idea what he meant until his words sank in. Both of them.. no, he can't possibly.. "Our parents?" She asked carefully, breathing to try and control the bubbling anger she felt in her chest. Nick couldn't find words to reply and so he only nodded in response. "You saw them?"

"Saw them? They fucking showed up at my house this morning! Them and their.. kids.."

"Their.. wait, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Nick nodded. "My mom left pregnant with your father's child, and now they have a second, a newborn."

The shock on Sameera's face gave way to an anger Nick had never witnessed before, the girl's hair practically floating in nonexistent wind as she shouted to the heavens. "That.. that fucking.. Oh, God, what the fuck.." Now she felt the tears falling.

Nick sighed sadly. "Yeah, I had the same reaction. Cursed them both out and told them never to step foot around us again, although I doubt that'll happen." The rest of their walk was silent, but neither of them could tell anyone else when their hands had found each other's.