004: Becoming A Streamer.

ALAINA

*ONE WEEK LATER*

9:30 am.

I woke up like a mummified corpse from a casket. Pretty sure I looked like one, too. My lids felt pretty heavy as I barely got any sleep.

Today was my first ever live stream and the thought of it was etched in my head all night long! Even right now.

With a swift movement, I was up steady on my feet. I tried to ignore the glimpse of my bird nest of hair in the mirror and pushed myself into Lorraine's room. Today was D-Day!

The excitement pumped into my veins endlessly. I knocked once and let myself in. “Lorrie!” She was still coiled under her blanket like a fetus when I playfully yanked it off her. “Wake up, silly! It's timeee!”

She stealthily stood up, yawning and stretching. “The day you become famous!” She screeched, though her voice was groggy and she instantly shuffled out of bed.

I giggled because I didn't know whose hair looked worse. “It's a big day, my little celebrity.”

That could be farfetched. I scrunched my nose. “All I'm trying to do is make a living.”

Lorraine took my hands as I settled by the edge of her bed. “And you're going to be famous while doing so! What are you going to wear on your first day? We still have a few hours before you begin, right?”

I nodded, biting on my fingernail. “Come with me. I picked out a few dresses that might be perfect for today!” My cheeks already started to hurt from grinning too wide. We both ventured into my room.

Well, the room Lorraine had kindly let me stay in and I happily pointed to the dresses in question. “These bad boys!”

“More like grandpas.” Lorraine cocked a brow as she eyed the dresses, crucially examining them one after the other. “Are you planning to cosplay a nun, Allie?”

“A nun?” I echoed, already knowing where this conversation was leading. I snatched one of the dresses from her and held it over my body. “This is one of the best dresses I've got…” I examined it myself again. “And it has pockets!”

“The whole dress itself is one massive pocket.” Lorraine rolled her eyes, scanning my wardrobe already. “You're going to be a worldwide superstar streamer, not a widow, okay?” She turned to me and hissed. “This won't do.”

Before I could protest, I was hauled back into Lorraine's room with a wide array of dresses sprawled over her bed.

“These are better options. Are there any you might like?”

I picked up one of the dresses. “Is this supposed to be a top?”

“No, silly! It's a dress!”

I picked up another. “Why's this so revealing?”

“Because…that's the appeal.” She turned around and picked out one that finally caught my eyes, though I felt it shouldn't. It was black tube dress with sequined edges, not to mention it was a body con and would have my curves on display. “This. This would be perfect for you, Allie.”

I squirmed, taking the dress from her. “But…it's so…”

“Shhh.” Lorraine placed her index finger on her lips. “No buts. It's lovely. Don't you think you need something eye-catching for a start?”

Lorraine was right, but I was skeptical about it. I hadn't worn a dress like this in years, not even for Logan. Suddenly, I was contemplating doing it for the cameras? I winced, unable to decide.

“And I know what you might be thinking,” Lorraine quickly added, snapping me out of my reverie. She handed me a small carton box. “Which is why I prepared this in advance.”

I took the box from her, awed without even knowing what it contained. As I opened it, a Venetian red mask with an alluring side feather came into play. My mouth fell open in awe as I reveled in its beauty.

“Lorraine…”

“Don't you dare go all mushy on me,” She patted my shoulder. “What do you think? Pretty, right?”

My lips curled as my heart swelled with joy. “It's perfect. Just perfect. Thank you so much!”

“Let's get this started!”

“Yay!”

“Wait a second. Today's stream is about cooking, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Do you have everything ready?”

Uh. Oh. I grinned sheepishly. “I forgot the…ingredients…”

“Alaina!”

***

I sighed as I pushed my cart down the aisle, taking basic essentials from the shelves rows and whistling a tune.

Glancing at my phone,a strained gasp spilled from my mouth! I was way dangerously behind on time. I couldn't afford to make a mess of my first day, not with Lorraine on standby.

As I rushed to grab the essentials, I realized I'd forgotten the most crucial ingredient: chicken! "Chicken!" I exclaimed, slapping my forehead. Who makes chicken curry without chicken?!

I got off that aisle. My path was blocked by a cart overflowing with groceries. It was parked horizontally, as if left there on purpose, and the owner was just a few steps away— a hooded figure that backed me, and could be a male, judging from the height.

“Excuse me. Could you move your cart?” I called out slowly, as calmly as I could. I was in a haste.

“Nobody would want that sweetheart, that's stupid…” The individual called out without bothering to look back at me. He was perusing a can of cat food, and the hoodie he had on did so much to hide his face.

I squinted. Something about their voice seemed distinctly familiar. My patience was wearing thin but this wasn't a day to waste energy on rude strangers.

Why did I have to deal with other bastards like Logan? “What the hell? Move your cart out of the way!”

“Please, do not burst my eardrums! You're way too much to deal with-”

“Move, you cocky little bottom feeder!” I pushed their cart with mine and watched it skedaddle in a graceless tumble to the other side of the aisle.

Good grievance!

I pushed past them and stomped as hard as I could just to get on their nerves as much as they did mine.

As I pushed past the figure, our shoulders collided, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body. It was almost stifling, none unlike anything I'd felt before and it forced me to stop in my tracks.

“What the-” The hooded figure slowly removed their airpods, revealing a pair of piercing blue eyes that seemed to bore into my soul. My heart raced as I took in the chiseled features and strong jawline.

And then, it hit me - the realization that I was staring into the face of Alpha Alexander, my ex-husband's best friend and a constant thorn in my side.

“Allie?” A smirk grew on his face as his husky voice called out.

I froze.