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Chapter 10

Tiffany and Howard find themselves entering the slightly awkward phase of their friendship as they possibly begin to find themselves becoming conscious around each other. But the sly glances and small smiles that they unknowingly show each other bridges the nonexistent gap between them.

Group dinner is underway between Jeff, Tiffany, Howard and Bernice. Jeff tries to dispel some of the awkwardness and it seems like Howard is angry about seeing them together. Never one to pass up an opportunity to upstage Tiffany, Bernice offers to teach her about wine, ordering the 1978 Burgundy.

Tiffany wants to straighten out the situation to them and reveals that she was the one who asked Jeff out, much to the shock of the two. She explains that she wanted to thank him because he saved her from being framed. Tiffany continues on her roll as the wine is served to only educate Bernice about great wines, pointing out that the wine she chose is old and causes instability yet wines from 2005 are rich in flavor and are highly valued.

Jeff leans over to ask how Tiffany knew about that kind of stuff but she quickly covers for herself by saying that she just found it on the internet and that she typically doesn t drink. But seems like Howard is getting jealous seeing them interact with each other.

Bernice encourages Tiffany to drink more often and Howard asks her if she knows how to drink, she just tells him to keep quiet. Jeff tells them that since Tiffany doesn t drink, he ll drink for her. Bernice looks for Howard to do the same thing so he takes the entire glass and downs hers, and his, while staring at Tiffany. Bernice keeps the drinks coming, though, and both boys continually drink the wine as if they re having a competition with one another. By the end of the meal Howard passed out drunk and Jeff decides to call it a night. Bernice has a driver waiting for her so they let her go first, with Jeff promising to take care of Howard. Tiffany complains that Howard shouldn t have had so much and excuses herself, but before she leaves, Jeff reveals that Howard was actually the one who helped clear her name. She looks at him sympathetically before being sent on her way by Jeff.

When they re alone Howard jumps and wakes up, immediately asking for Tiffany, even wanting to go after her after Jeff tells him that she went back to school. They make a pit stop first as Howard goes to the gym, wanting to take Jeff on in a duel by the means of a basketball game. Don t tell me this is like him trying to claim his territory through the winner of the game. Despite Howard? being drunk, Jeff doesn t back down and they begin their duel. Only, Howard's basketball skills are unlike what they were before, he can actually play. Even though his senses are inhibited by his intoxication, he s actually managing to get every basket in, much to Jeff's surprise. By the end Jeff has passed out on the floor criticizing Howard for always wanting to act cool during the match when he can clearly play basketball well, but it turns out that he s just talking to himself as Howard is nowhere to be found.

Instead, Howard has made his way into the girls dorm and begins yelling for Tiffany. He knocks on the doors, drawing the students out of their rooms as they wonder what the racket is. Noticing them, he greets them and asks if any of them have seen her. Upstairs, Tiffany and Laurence hear the racket and decide to go down to hear.

In the meantime, Howard has picked up a megaphone and speaks into it as he continues to look for Tiffany. Once he sees her, he yells for her to go over and she runs to hit him wondering why he s there at that hour. He tells her to be quiet and also tells her not to tell people that he, Howard Norman, is there all while saying that into the megaphone.

Tiffany does her best to quiet him and wonders what he wants to say, threatening to leave if he doesn t say anything. But Howard has a question to ask her, and it s about her relationship with all of the guys who are around her, like Andrew and Jeff. She explains that it was for her business and they helped her earn money. When Howard hears that, he tells her that he has a lot of money and hands over his wallet and spare cash and change to her.

He then grabs her shoulders and asks that she should not speak to them before declaring her his. He leans closer for what looks like a kiss but ends up passing out on Tiffany's shoulder after she leans backwards to avoid him. Was that just a drunken confession? It did seem like he was giving her and Jeff the looks of jealousy when they were at the restaurant.

Jeff finally finds him there and wonders if he had anything to say to Tiffany since he went to go find her but Tiffany makes it seem like nothing just happened and sends the two on their way as she stands there with all of Howard's money. With everyone staring at her because of the incident, she apologizes to everyone and quickly goes back to her room.

The next day at school everyone is talking about what happened at the dorm, even imitating Howard's actions. Howard enters at that moment and he can feel the eyes on him. Laurence leaves Tiffany and Howard to it and they sit there awkwardly for a moment before Tiffany hurriedly hands him back his wallet. They then try to pretend like they re normal again, with Howard? reading and Tiffany coloring but Jeff can see right through it when he brings them breakfast, pointing out their unusual behaviors before leaving.

Later, Tiffany is called out by Daniel who shows her the article about what happened. It frames her as a pitiful assistant getting yelled at and Tiffany says that they should interpret it as a love confession. Daniel asks that they keep it down in public even though they hate each other and informs her that people already doubt her identity as his assistant, therefore they should put on an entire show and play her up as his assistant, meaning she has to go to his shoot later. Tiffany doesn t seem entirely upset at that. Daniel then explains the situation to Howard, who totally isn t paying attention. He tries to tell him that the boss is unhappy about it, and we get another product placement for that money app. Howard understands the situation and wants to know what it is exactly that Daniel wants. He explains that he has a movie shoot the next day with a famous director and Tiffany will be accompanying him as his assistant. Daniel enters the van, the following day, to go to the movie shoot along with them but suddenly gets called aside for other business leaving Tiffany and Howard to go alone. It s a slightly awkward atmosphere in the car but Tiffany is the first one to break the ice to ask if he can hear her, since he has headphones in. But then he makes the move of responding and saying he can t.

She wants to know why he visited the dorms but he tells her that it was only to say that she s his assistant and hopes that she won t create any trouble and embarrass him. Tiffany doesn t really believe that answer but Howard stands by it asking what else he would tell her leaving the slight awkwardness to return.

When they arrive at the location the two are approached by paparazzi who ask Howard about the movie shoot. They also talk about the rumor saying that he bullies his assistant and Tiffany steps in to introduce herself as his assistant and to say that she s not being bullied, that they are very close. Thankfully security comes over at that moment to save them.

The two meet the director, who looks a little young, and they re told to wait on the side for their scenes later. They sit by the pool and Howard hands Tiffany a binder with the script saying she should understand as well. But she quickly gets bored wondering when it ll be their turn. The wait doesn t seem to bother Howard. When she sees the co-director, she asks him about their turn and when told that they still have to wait, she begins to make a comment, slightly angering him. She tries to explain that everyone is suffering because of the cold and Howard doesn t seem all that thrilled when the co-director has a slight attitude with Tiffany. He tries to calm her down and explain that it might be a while before their turn and offers her his jacket. She worries that he ll be cold but he assures her he ll be fine. By the time their turn does come around she was fast asleep and Howard gets informed that there ll be another scene added, one that involves getting pushed into the pool. Howard seems a little nervous and tries to talk his way around or out of it, but the co-director gets snippy with him as well. Tiffany finally wakes up to discover it s their turn but that Howard will have to swim. He seems nervous and fidgety at the mention of water and Tiffany notices his hands shaking.

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