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“For the last time," I groaned, "I'm not going to put on the tail!”

Korine wilted. “But you'll look so much cuter to them with this on!”

“Cuter towho?”

“Everyone on the internet!”

Pursing my lips, I leaned against the striped wall. “Then I definitely don't want to wear it.”

“Fine. The ears are enough, I guess.”

“I don't know why I ever agreed to make these videos in the first place,” I said.

Stepping back, Korine fiddled with the camera. “It's called vlogging.”

I gave her a blank look.

“Video blog? Social media? Do those words mean anything to you?”

“Not a thing.”

Pulling air into her cheeks, she blasted it out in exasperation. “Amina, ever since you did the first video for Caffeline's Instagram, our business has shot up. At this rate, the owner will give me—us—raises!"

Being a waitress wasn't my dream, but... more money was tempting. I put on a big smile. “Good point. I'm ready when you are.”

She pushed a button on the laptop she’d arranged, then flashed me a thumbs-up. Cradling the cat, I swayed side to side and started to sing. It was a silly song, something I'd penned during my abundance of hours strolling the streets. It's funny how the world looks when you have nowhere to call home. Even funnier is how you can be inspired to write a cheerful song out of all that gloom.

Smiling at the camera, I trilled the last line, then grabbed the cat's paw so it looked like he was waving. “See you guys next week!”

Korine shut the laptop, eyeing me carefully. “Anyone ever tell you that you're not bad?”

“Not bad?” I laughed.

“As in, you sing really good. Surely someone has told you that."

Placing the cat onto the floor, I bent away so my face was hidden. “You're the first."

She wasn't.

“That's weird, I'd think—”

“Let's get upfront before the place gets too busy for Nana.” Effectively ending the probing conversation, I adjusted my cat ears and opened the storage room door. The bitter scent of coffee filled my nose.

Nana caught my eye, her long blonde braid flipping as she hurried over. “Hey,” I said.

“Hey yourself.” Sticking out her tongue, she jerked her head at the packed tables. “I don't care that you guys make your dumb videos, but don't leave me alone for so long!”

“They aren'tmydumb—never mind.” I snatched a pad of paper and put on a giant smile, shouldering around Nana to get to the newest customers. “Hey there! How can I help you?”

The day moved on without any more incidents. Around three in the afternoon, the place calmed down enough that I could take a break and grab some water. Sipping it, I spotted Korine as she hovered by a shelf of coffee mugs. When I saw her glancing at her smart-phone, then at me with worry twisting her features, my heart tightened. After dealing with Murdoch, I was on high alert.

I paced towards her. She saw me coming and ducked into the hallway by the storage room where we could be alone. Leaning into the wall, she whispered, “Amina. Holy shit.”

“What is it?” I whispered back. The whites of her eyes were making me nervous.

She lifted her phone and turned it so I could see the screen. The Insta account for the café looked back at me. “Okay,” I started, confused. “What am I...?” I never finished. Below the newest video I'd made with Korine there was a comment.

Violet_BeatsnBlast:Hello, this is Beats and Blast Records. We're trying to reach your employee in this video. Check your DMs.