chapter nine

"you're indeed stupid" he said, rolling his eyes with slight amusement. She had seen through him all along. Truly, he had only played along with her because he wasn't in for long talks and would not want her to say more mean words to persuade him. He was wildly appalled at her intelligence " but you're incredible"

A compliment? Laura thought to her self and shrugged her shoulders. What mattered most that moment was that they needed to get back home in time because it was already very late in the night but how could that happened when darren hasn't even granted his permission yet?

"She's really incredible. She'd even die for her friend if she had to, isn't that lovely" Tanner mocked and shared laugh with darren, whose eyes was on laura.

Laura sighed in annoyance as the boys laughed at them like they'd done something silly but she was still not having any of their mockery.

"Darren Please, why don't you free us at once? I left my cell phone at home and my parents might have called. I'm sure they'd be worried by now" Laura said softly, hoping they'd pity her and let them go.

Tanner who had been stealing quick glances at dorian ever since he came in finally regained his composure and replied Laura " it's late, can't you tell?"

She knew right it was late but they had no choice, they had to get to school tommorow. " I'm aware of that but we can't ditch school, and

we can't sleep over, yunno" Laura inputed before Tanner could ask them to sleep over. It was the last thing on her mind that moment.

Darren'a expression changed immediately he heard her. His aura became even more aloof in split seconds. "Who cares if you don't sleep over?" He spat angrily, "you can find your way out of here, I don't care".

What was wrong with him? Laura wondered inwardly and stood up sharply and went over to her friend and pulled her out of bed.

"Thank you, we'll find our way back home" she appreciated sincerely and walked herself and dorian to the door without a backward glance, totally turning a deaf ear to dorian's warning to wait.

"When you get lost in the hallways, don't blame anyone" darren warned with an emotionless tone and discarded them.

The girls stopped dead in their tracks and froze on the spot when they heard what darren said. They'd had been in such a hurry that they didn't even ask for their way back to the courtyard. They were indeed stupid.

"We...erm...I..." Dorian stuttered, pulling the hem of her blue hoodie nervously. " Could you please give us the directions to get back to the streets?"

Laura nodded In agreement to what dorian said "afterall, you brought us here"

Darren sheered and chuckled.

"I won't stop you from going back but don't expect me to give you directions or take you home"

The girls were speechless. How were they supposed to get home if he refused to take them? They needed to persuade him or face the consequences.

Laura cleared her throat and squinted her eyes like a naive little girl and tried to act like the innocent one in the drama. " I'm very much aware I caused all this but can you please put my parents into consideration? They'd be so worried and might have called the cops" Laura cooed with puppy eyes. That was the only thing she could use to get him presently. She hasn't forgotten darren was a bully and could be ruthless at times but they had no choice.

"What if I say no?"

Laura eyes dropped. "Remember I still have things to tell you" she reminded, hoping she'd get him this time.

She did succeed, because darren's expression darkened again and he unexpectedly picked up his car keys from the keys compartment beside him. "Let's go"

Laura and dorian were the most happiest at that moment. They smiled at each other and celebrated their luck silently as darren rose up and walked towards the door.

"Will be back soon" he said to tanner and walked out of the room, leaving the door open for the girls to follow him.

Tanner watched as they left the room and slumped into his bed Immediately they were out of sight.

They walked through the hallways for a while before they finally got outside . A black telsa already packed elegantly differently in the garage.

Laura and dorian enjoyed the surroundings for a while before darren ordered them into the car in his aggressive state and drove out the the residence immediately they settled in.

An hour later, the car stopped right in front of dorian's small apartment and dropped them off and drove off almost immediately they alighted.

The girls retreated into the house and sank into the sofas in the living room tiredly, each of them feeling exhausted after what seemed like an eternity in the car.

Dorian has been silent most of the time because she'd felt to ashamed to talk. Everything that happened today was her fault and she had to admit it. Everywhere they went, she was always causing problems for them, she thought and placed a hand on her head and sobbed out loud. The tears she'd been keeping in for so long gushing down like a stream while she kept saying "I'm so sorry Laura, I'm so sorry!"

Laura was awestruck. What was wrong with her friend again tonight? She was always having this mood swings she didn't like and could only blame herself for making her feel that way. Life was such a d*ck to good people!

She went over to where dorian was and pacified her. "Dori, I should be sorry for putting you through all this. I'm such a bad friend that I can even protect you from bad people"

Laura felt embittered and downcasted. She wished she had super power like matrix to protect her friend forever.

Dorian shook her head in disagreement. "No, I shouldn't be a burden to you". There was a tiny of loneliness and desperation in her voice.

"Whatever. It's okay by me, I'm not complaining" she reassured and rested her head on her shoulders. " You're going to push through this"

The duo patted each other's back till they fell asleep on the couch.