chapter 21

While Ken walked over to Lola's apartment he wondered why she never came for class and why she requested his presence so urgently.

The thought of her gave him a sick, dry feeling in his mouth and made his heart thump hard and unevenly.

When he reached Lola's apartment, he climbed the steps leading to the door and rang the bell. After the unusual delay, Lola opened the door.

"Oh, hello there, please do come in.' Lola said with a bright smile.

" Oh okay." he said and moved past her into the hall.

" Can I get you anything, water or whisky?" she asked.

"No, I'm okay don't bother. I don't want to take long, I have a class to attend." Objected Ken.

"Yeah, of course. Don't worry it will only take me a second, come on sit down, I will be right back. Please I insist."

The note in her voice warned him not to argue with her, so he just sat down wondering what she might be up to.

Lola fixed up two drinks, came back, she had to put one glass on the table at Ken's side and sat down.

They looked at each other, and she suddenly smiled.

"Don't mind me, Ken," she said. "I usually get a little bit tense sometimes. I've been waiting all day for you to come, so that we could talk and have a drink just like this."

"I should have thought, it is the worst thing for you to do. Missing important class for this. We could even talk at school if it's bothering you that much." Ken said and sipped on his drink.

"Worst thing?" she laughed. "You leave me to judge that. Now it's about time you listen to me." she paused, drank some more whisky and then continued.

"Listen, we all know the type of person Vivian is, maybe she's probably like that because of the people or friends she used to have, they must have betrayed her or did something horribly bad to her or maybe they must have abandoned her without proper reason or disappointed her big time. So maybe that's why she's like that, so unfeeling and cold and cruel.

That being the fact, Nucho and I planned a surprise party for Vivian just to show her how much we value her as our friend and just how much thankful and appreciative we are for opening up our minds and eyes to the corrupt deeds of the principal and the mayor and to prove to her just how different I am from her old friends. That's why Nucho and I haven't showed up at school today. So all you have to do is keep Vivian distracted and by your side all the time till we are done with the preparation then I will call you and send you the location later on. Don't let her off your sight at all costs, understood?"

All the time she was talking, Ken was cautiously sipping on his drink and nodding his head. .

He placed the glass down and face her.

By now Ken was getting vexed about Lola's endeavors to persuade friendship with Vivian.

"Why should I be the one to keep Vivian distracted, and if I didn't know any better, you are only doing this for your own benefits, you are only doing this to win over Vivian's trust and friendship. When will you ever learn to give up Lola, Vivian doesn't like or desire to be your friend. Don't worse your precious time on her."

"Ouch, that's so mean and harsh of you Ken. But yes, you are right am doing it for my own interests and so is Nucho. And you just have to keep her distracted because you are the only one she talks to freely and doesn't hold anything against. As for me she dislike me that's obvious, and with Nucho, they always end up arguing and exchanging hurtful words, that's also obvious since the very first day Vivian came to this school. So it all ends up to the last person and that's you.

We just have to prove it to her that we are clearly different from the people she knew in the past. Can you please help us out with that, please."

Ken's objective was to disapprove of their endeavors.

'You are so wrong in thinking that am in good terms with Vivian, you honestly don't have the slightest idea the kind of hell I go through with that girl. How she shuts me out and how hard it is to make her talk to me. She's really an expert in giving someone a hard time without even trying to.' Ken thought to himself.

"Alright Lola, I will help you out in this little act of yours, but only this once. Next time you would better go through someone else. And if that's all I should be going now I'm already late for class." Ken said, and putting the glass down, he stood up.

"Hey," she said suddenly, got to her feet and stood so close next to Ken that he could feel her breath.

Ken looked down at her. "What?" he asked.

"Are you sure you are not trying to hid anything from me, for real?" she asked sadly with a look in her eyes that made her look so young and lovely and desirable.

The feeling of having Ken so close to her, sent a hot wave of blood crawling up her spine.

"Listen, if you want to know something just say it, alright, if not would you let me go to class." said Ken and made an effort to push her away from him, then turned and walked over to the door.

"Bye for now Lola, I will be waiting for your call." he said and left.

Lola stood there, staring at the door, long after he had gone.

"If you keep on pushing me away like am some sort of trash, you will soon regret it Ken. You will regret it in the worse possible way. I swear." she said.

Ken was now in her blood like a virus: as deadly and as dangerous as that.