Chapter Two

Kouvr

Eyes were always on me when I was out in public. Eyes that had seen my streams and YouTube channel, which usually resulted in giving autographs.

But these eyes were different. Burning into me. I’d felt this before, so it wasn’t a new feeling. But no matter how much I turned around and looked, I saw no one with burning eyes. No fan wanting an autograph.

“Kovy,” my mom squealed when she saw me.

Forgetting about the watchful eyes, I smiled brightly at my mother. I had been waiting outside the restaurant we decided to eat at, though I wasn’t waiting for long. My arms wrapped around her, and I sighed into her warmth. I always felt safer with someone else in public—never knowing when a creepy man would stalk me or follow me home.

“Let’s go in,” I said to her, opening the front door. She went in and told the hostess two seats. The hostess gave us a window booth, and we sat across from each other.

The restaurant was just a small breakfast diner that we’d been going to our whole lives. It was an old retro red and black theme. Almost filled the brim, the sound of chatter and laughter filled the air. Inhaling, I smelt the fried oil of the French fries I was craving. My mouth watered and my stomach growled.

My mother smiled, looking down at the menu, although I’m sure she already knew it from memory by now. “How’s the YouTube thing?”

I wanted to laugh. It had been two years since I became a full-time YouTuber, and my mom still sounded bitter. Growing up, money was the main priority, though I’d made plenty of money doing what I loved. She just didn’t think it would sustain me and lately, I’d started to think that too.

“It’s good, mom. How’s the teaching thingy?”

She sent me a look that had me smiling. “I actually just got a new job in a new classroom, so really well.”

My heart swelled a bit. “Good, that’s good. Are you the teacher?”

She shook her head. “Just an aid, for now. I’ll work my way up.”

That was her dream, and I supported it. I wished she did mine.

The server stopped at our table and beamed, “Can I start you out with any drinks?”

“Can I just get a coffee?” my mom asked, and the server nodded.

“Orange juice for me,” I ordered.

She walked away, though I was ready to order. I usually got the same thing—always a creature of habit.

“So, this YouTube thing. Are you going to get back into it? How’s the money looking? Are you-”

“Mom.”

She sighed, looking up at me. “You’ve taken long enough off, right?”

“Yeah, I guess,” I muttered.

“A whole year is good enough, Kouvr. You have to make money.”

“Believe it or not, I am. I am making money while sitting here with you.”

She clicked her teeth as if she didn’t believe it. Even if I showed her the numbers, she wouldn’t believe it. As a single, hard-working mother, how could someone make money just by breathing or having a meal with their mom? I wanted nothing more than to change her mind about that.

My first year as a YouTuber really picked up quickly. It was almost overwhelming—okay, it was overwhelming. I had taken a short break before these threats, which made things longer.

“You’re not even working hard,” she huffed as the waitress set down her hot cup of coffee and my orange juice.

“Am I supposed to?” I countered.

“Are you ready to order?” the server asked, eyes bouncing between us as if we were having a heated conversation.

My mother nodded, ordering her breakfast, and then I ordered a BLT club sandwich. I wasn’t much of a breakfast girlie, but I tried to at least eat something.

The server took our menus, and her blonde hair bounced as she walked away.

“You have to work hard to get what you want in life,” my mom started again, grabbing sugars and creams for her coffee. “All these luxuries and cars and-”

“I don’t want that,” I muttered.

“What do you want then, Kouvr?”

“Financial freedom. To never have to worry about bills or where our next meal will be. And I want others to experience that, too.”

She rolled her blue eyes. “You can’t give others what you don’t have.”

Yet .

“Fair, mom,” I sighed. “but I don’t think life is supposed to be so hard.”

She stared at me. My mother didn’t have an easy life. She grew up in the Pits until she had the money to get us out when I was younger. “Life is always hard. It’s just how it is. You live paycheck to paycheck-”

I shook my head.

“And you struggle until the day you die,” she finished, sending me a look.

“And where does ‘living life to the fullest’ fit in there?”

“In vacations and time you have left with family.”

“That’s it?” I leaned back in my chair.

She huffed, not liking my answer. “Kouvr, honey. You will soon figure out how the world works and…”

I tuned her out when something outside caught my eye. Flying quantum cars flew overhead above the skyscrapers. Only a few roamed the streets down on the ground. People crowded the streets, trying to sell whatever they could to make money for their families. I often wondered if they were happy or pretending to be.

My mom thought people were happy just to survive, but that didn’t feel like truly living.

My eyes landed on a merchant who was selling apples. The only difference was that these weren’t the apples we were taught in school. These were yellow and almost in the shape of a pineapple. Fruits weren’t even the same as they used to be; They were lab creations now. There weren’t farms anymore, growing layers and layers of beautiful crops.

“And this is why you’re struggling, you’re not even listening.”

My eyes snapped to my mother. “Struggling?” A smile was on my lips, but I held back the laugh.

She nodded. “Why do you think I’m paying for breakfast?”

“I live comfortably, Mom. Bills get paid, and I have more than enough around me. What more do I need?”

“Income.” She held up her hands in defense before pushing them into her pin-straight brown hair. “I’m just saying. If this YouTube business was going well, you wouldn’t be-”

“It is going well.” It wasn’t what it used to be when I was posting, but it was still generating monthly money, which was a win in my book.

“And when was the last time you posted?” she cocked a brow.

The food arrived just in time, set on the table before us. The server smiled as she moved away, telling us to enjoy ourselves.

“That’s the thing about my job. I don’t have to be consistent right now. I was able to take a whole year off to take care of my mental health and make money the whole time.”

“That’s amazing. Some people don’t have that luxury,” she muttered with a sigh.

I nodded, grabbing a fry from my plate. “I know. I’m very grateful for the situation I am in.”

My mom shrugged, digging into her food.

“I’ll be getting back into it soon,” I sighed. “And then money will go up again.”

She nodded as if she didn’t believe me.

My chest ached. I hated having these conversations with her. I told her once about my finances, which were going down because of my non-posting. Never again. But so far, it went back up, and bills were finally getting paid.

“You always have a job with me, Kovy.”

My eyes rolled. “Thanks for the support, Mom.”

She let out a chuckle before sipping her coffee. “When you want to come back to reality, let me know.”

Kyree

Reality.

I wanted to laugh at Kouvr’s mother. Reality wasn’t the greatest, right now; families broken and hungry or people working multiple jobs just to stay afloat.

Kouvr certainly grew up differently as my mother supported each and every career I dreamed of doing, even if I didn’t do them in the end.

Now Kouvr kept quiet, digging into her food and sighing. She loved BLTs, especially from this place, The Grille. She loved the way they cooked their fries; Perfectly golden on the outside and just the right crunch.

Her eyes closed for a moment, munching on said fries.

My heart swelled, seeing her enjoy the food. I almost imagined her enjoying my food the same way she enjoyed this mom and pop restaurant’s food. Eyes closed, a sigh falling from her perfect pink lips.

My girl was a foodie, and I loved it.

And that was why I learned how to cook these fries to perfection, exactly how she liked them.

“Can I get you anything else?” The same server Kouvr had was waiting on me too.

I glanced at Kouvr’s table, where her mom sat with her back toward me. My view was clear, and I could see all of Kouvr’s face. “No. Can I pay for my table and those two young ladies’ tables?”

Her eyes moved to whom I gestured to.

“Just say it’s from a fan,” I said, sliding my card to the server.

“Will do.” She beamed, moving to pay the tabs.

Kouvr’s shoulder sagged in relief when she took another bite of her BLT.

A small smile curled on my lips. I wished her mother weren’t so hard on her, though I knew what it was like growing up in the Pits and never having money. It made you a fiend for money, and sometimes, people did whatever they could to get it.

Making it out of the Pits was one of Kouvr mom’s greatest accomplishments. She maintained it with two jobs and did Kouvr.

Kouvr’s channel wasn’t doing horrible, still thriving with old videos. People loved her: loved her attitude, her personality, and her light. She had the ability to bring others from a dark place, even if it was only for a moment.

“Is she your girlfriend?” the server asked, voice a bit too loud for my liking.

I cocked a brow.

“You’re staring at her like she’s the love of your life,” she said with a bit of bitterness in her voice.

“She is,” I said, signing the receipts she put in front of me and tipping her well. “I just like making sure her meals are taken care of when she’s out.”

“And labeling it as a ‘fan’ did it?” She cocked a brow. This server had been flirting with me the whole time, and I couldn’t help but think that if Kouvr was sitting with me, this worker would never act like that. And Kouvr wouldn’t have put up with it anyway.

“Yes, and if you want this tip,” I started, setting down a fifty-dollar bill on the table. “You will do what I said to do.”

She inhaled sharply. I already gave her more than she deserved. She flirted the whole time, even though she saw my “loving” stares at my girlfriend. “Of course.”

I was being reckless.

More so than usually.

I usually kept my distance and never admitted that Kouvr was my girlfriend .

My chest ached, and I stood, leaving the bill. Either way, I would be gone when the server told Kouvr someone paid for her food. I didn’t care what she said.

I left the restaurant but moved to a few vendors outside. I scooped the fruit, having quick glances back at Kouvr.

When they were done eating, Kouvr and her mother fought over who would pay, but the server beamed and told her… whatever. That her boyfriend paid for it or that a fan did?

When her eyes scanned the restaurant, I looked away as if I was going to be seen on the outside. Glancing up, I saw her and her mother stand to leave after leaving the waitress another tip.

“Dude, are you going to buy anything?” Someone snapped at me, making me glance over.

I grabbed the random weird looking fruit and threw him a few bucks. My girl was on the move.