Chapter 13 (Engagement part2)

Sally becoming Keres as a result of Legend's insult had it's consequences. The school hated her for tarnishing their image as a no violent and drug free school even when they were entangled in a bribery scandal and for trying to act fresh with their Queen. It only meant she could never go back to being Sally. Keres had to step in and do the needful for her because the girls in her class were out to get her neck.

"Darn it" she cursed when the pencil in her hands broke for the fifth time in 10 minutes. She sure had a tight grip. Keres was writing the apology letter again because she decided to curse at the Principal in her first letter. She called him the side kick of Diego, a dog who ate the leftovers of his owner. While she was still battling with the pencils Nikolay walked in.

"Hey, Sally" he called

"Nikolay" She said without turning to him

"How did you know it was me?" He asked

"You're the only one who calls me Sally in school" she said

"What are you doing here?" He asked

"Isn't it obvious?" She asked

"It is, but why in the cafeteria?" He asked

"The smell of food keeps me going" she said

"That's funny" he said sitting beside her

"Why are you sitting here?" She asked

"Keeping you company? You look bored" he said

"Whatever" she said rolling her eyes

"The letter looks nice. Whoever's reading it would be shocked it's coming from you" he said looking at the write up

"It's an essay. It's supposed to be a lie" she said

She turned back to the apology letter and remembered the pencil was broken

"Fuck" she said startling him

"Can you imagine I was given a pencil to write with? What am I? A kindergarten?" She asked

"Why'd they give you a pencil?" He asked

"So I won't stab someone with a pen?"

Three Police officers walked up to them looking all stern and ready to take down any threat.

"Just great" she said

"Officers, do I look like I'm taking drugs right now?" She asked. The officers exchanged puzzled looks

"Even if I wanted to take drugs I'll do it in the restroom where you can't see me so use your brains and stop monitoring me" she said getting pissed off

"Um, Sally, they're here for me and not you" Nikolay said

"Huh? What crime did you commit? Did you rape someone?" She asked

"What?!" He asked bewildered

"No, they're protecting me" he said

"Oh, so I've become a bad egg that the school would ask the Cops to protect students from me? Did I ask you to come sit here? Why the hell are you making me feel like I've got the flu?!" she asked

"No, my Father asked them to do so because someone threatened my family" he said

"Oh" she said realizing her mistake

"Why are you so quick to accuse people?" He asked

"Am I supposed to answer that?" She asked

"No" he said

"Okay, let's change the subject" she said dropping her pencil

"Sure" he agreed

"You and Legend. Ian said you guys are engaged. Is that true?" She asked

"No, don't talk about that" he said

"Well, I'm curious and I want to know" she insisted

"Okay, we aren't engaged" he said

"You don't have to lie you know. It's not something to be ashamed of. I mean, it's not like she's ugly or something" she said

"No, really we aren't engaged" he said

"Okay. I just thought that's why she suddenly had a beef with us" she said

"Us?" He asked

"I mean me. Me" she corrected

"No, it's not because of that. Legend just seems to have her own troubles. Don't pay her any attention" he said

"Sally" he called

"Hmm..?" She asked reading the letter with a frown on her face

"Do you perhaps remember what happened that day you took those drugs?" He asked

"Yep. I woke up in a holding cell" she said

"No, not that. Before you passed out, before the Police came" he said

"Is this about knowing who put the drug in my lunch?" She asked

"Maybe?" He said

"Well, forget it because I know who it is" she said

"Who?" He asked

"You wouldn't want to know" she said

"Come on" he pressed

"Ian" she said

"What?! Your brother?!" He asked

"We aren't siblings, remember?" she said

"Yes, but why would he want to do that?" He asked

"When you see him ask him yourself" she said

"Okay, but do you remember what you did to someone before you passed out?" He asked

"Someone? Who?" She asked

"You were with someone at that time" he said

"Who?" She asked again

"Me" he said

"Oh, I guess I kicked you down there. Didn't I?" She asked

"So you don't remember?" He asked

"Do people normally remember what they do before they pass out?" She asked

"Yes" he said

"Have you ever passed out?" She asked

"Continue with what you were doing" he said getting up angrily

"Why are you angry?" She asked turning towards him

"Why do something you can't remember in the first place?!" he shouted and walked away with the Police officers following

"Geez, did he just yell at me?" She asked looking amused

"Whatever" she said turning back to her paper and pencil

"Darn it" she said getting up

She walked down the hall way and took a short cut to the Teachers room.

The backyard lawn

She hummed a song and walked on but stopped in her tracks at the sight of two juniors making out

"Ahem" she coughed

They noticed her presence and split up

"Don't worry, I won't tell on you. Love should go on" she said and walked past them

They turned around and ran for their lives

"Silly kids" she said laughing

She got to the Teachers room and stood outside the door fuming with rage as she thought of ways to lash at Mrs. Andre. She opened the door and stepped in. Suddenly, an image flashed through her mind. She and Nikolay kissing

"No, it can't be" she said trying to think about what happened

The Teachers looked at her like she had gone mad

"No" she repeated

"Darn you!" She screamed startling all the Teachers in the room

"She has finally gone mad" Mr. Luke said shaking his head negatively. She threw the letter on Mrs. Andre's desk and raced out of the Teachers room.

"Sal, you're back" Ray said as she walked into the classroom

"Yeah" she said and sat on her seat beside Nikolay who turned the other way

"Nikolay" She called

He lay his head on the desk totally ignoring her. Legend noticing him ignore Keres thought all was going to end well for her. It was her opportunity to get closer to him.

"Please can you help me out with this problem?" Ray asked walking to Keres' desk

"You want to ask help from Sal on a math problem?" Ian asked

"Nice one" he said

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" Ray asked and handed her the book

"Binary numbers?!" She asked

"Keep your voice down" Ray said covering her mouth with his hands

"It's embarrassing as it is already coming to you" he added

"Then why'd you come?" She asked

"Because you wouldn't laugh" he said

"What if I start laughing?" She asked

"Then I'd know you don't mean it" he said

"Son of a..." She muttered

"Okay, here we go. Let's start with an easy one" she said picking up a pen

"Um .. Nikolay can you switch places with me please" Ray asked

"Sure" Nikolay said and glared at Keres before he went to Ray's desk

"Yes, he left the desk so something is definitely going on" Legend confirmed

"Go on" Ray urged

"Okay, 11111base 2+111base 2" she began to teach him. After a few minutes the free lecture was over and Ray was beginning to feel intelligent

"Wow, thanks. I feel like I'll be rich in the future" he said packing up his books

"I was never sure of it before but now that I've mastered this, one hundred percent. Thanks" he added

"Welcome"

"But let me ask, what were you doing with your brain all these while for you not to know the binary numbers?" She whispered

"Mind your business" he said and walked back to his desk

"Nikolay, I'm done now so you can go back" he said

"Let me stay here for today, sit with her" Nikolay said with his eyes closed

"Okay" Ray said and went back to sit with Keres

"Welcome back. Now tell me!"

"What are you doing?" Ian asked Keres as she took her food out of the cafeteria

"Well, I'm not blind to see that those folks in there don't want me to ruin their lunch by sharing the same eating space with them" she said

"I'm coming with you then" he said and followed her outside

"Where are they going to?" Ray asked swallowing his food. Nikolay saw them leaving and began to follow them

"No, he shouldn't meet her" Legend thought and went after him

"Nikolay!" She yelled in the hallway. They were the only ones there

"Yes?" He asked turning towards her

"Are you okay?" She asked

"What do you mean?" He asked puzzled

"Well, I saw you leave your desk for Ray's" she said

"Why? Has she done something and you now know the kind of person she really is? I knew that one day you'll come to your senses" she said smiling

"Just so you know, I'm not mad at you and if you need me anytime I'm available" she said. What was she a slut?

"Are you done?" He asked

"Huh?" She asked

"It's true I was running away from Sally" he said. That brought a smile to her face.

"But, I was running away from her because I couldn't control myself around her" he said

"What?" Legend asked flabbergasted

"She looked really gorgeous sitting beside me and that was blinding so I laid my head down" he said

"Stop!" Legend said looking away

"Her lips....." he continued

"....I wanted to kiss them. Again. But I knew that if I did I'd get her into trouble so to control my desires I left our desk" he concluded

"Why?" He asked

"You didn't perhaps think we had an argument did you? And even if we did, we'll end it with a kiss" he said and walked away

"Nikolay no matter what you do with Sally you'll still be mine. Do you hear me?!" She asked throwing her shoes at him. Her anger was as hot as lava but not to worry, they were soon to be engaged.

After Nikolay's spat with Legend he thought he had put it in her head that he felt absolutely nothing for her but everything for Sally. He was sure she wasn't going to bug him again about him coming to her so they'd be happy together or calling him hers. All that was left was to show Sally through whatever means he could possibly think of that he really liked her. He read out of a blog that the best way to tell your crush you had feelings for them was by avoiding them after an argument. That way the person's heart would grow fonder. Little did he know that Legend had some extra soup in store for him.

"Mom, I'm home" he said walking into the house

"Oh, come here son" Diego said calling him from the living room

They had guests. The Freeways. Nikolay saw Legend seated beside her parents looking like an new African bride who came to see her in-laws after her traditional marriage.

"Good day Sir, Ma'am" he said

"You've grown so big now, how lucky you are Claudia" Franka said turning to his Mother

"Hey Nikolay" Legend said smiling

"I'll be in my room" Nikolay said and made to leave

"Sit!" Diego ordered. Nikolay hesitated for a while then sat down wondering what Legend's parents were doing in his home

"I think the time has finally come for you to start thinking about our family and not just school work" Diego said

"We are talking about an engagement between you and Legend here" he added

Nikolay looked up at Legend in surprise. That was what they were in his house for

"My daughter told us you've had it in mind to court her, we never knew of it" Jared said

"Dad, Nikolay's not one to voice out his feelings. He shows them through actions" Legend said

"Isn't that right, Nikolay?" She asked

"Excuse me" Nikolay said and got up. He walked out of the living room to his bedroom

"I'll follow him" Legend said and went after him

"Nikolay, what the hell are you doing? You can't just walk out on my parents like that!" She said

"What the hell are you doing here? What engagement are they talking about?" He asked

"Isn't it obvious or is Sal's silliness rubbing off on you?" She asked

"You put them up to this didn't you?" He asked

"I told you, come to me. But, If the mountain wouldn't come to the man then the man will go to the mountain. That's what I'm doing" she said

"Your obsession with me is getting out of hand. You don't own me Legend so listen attentively. I will never ever get engaged to you not to talk of getting married to you. Do you understand?!"

"We'll see about that then. If you don't want what happened to Hazel to happen to Sal you'd better maintain" she said and made to walk away

"What did you just say?" He asked stopping her

"What happened to Hazel?" He asked grabbing her arm

"Moron" Legend said pulling away and walked out of his room

"Sally" he said and rushed out of his room

"Nikolay!" his Father called out

He gave him no attention and ran out of the house. He drove his bike all the way to the church with his heart beating faster than ever. He couldn't get Legend's words out of his head. He knew Hazel's death had a back story to it but Legend mentioning it meant that someone amongst them knew what had happened to her. He was beginning to forget about the pain of losing Hazel because of Sally. He couldn't afford to lose her again. He got to the church and saw Keres taking out the trash. She was safe

"Sally!" He called

"Nikolay?" she asked surprised to see him

"So you aren't angry at me anymore huh? What are you doing here?" She asked

"Are you okay?" He asked walking up to her

"Obviously"

"Listen to me okay" he said grabbing her shoulders

"Don't go anywhere near buildings, don't go to any place that's been demolished. Stay with Ian all the time and if anything seems fishy call me. Do you understand?" He asked

"What?" She asked confused

"You mean you came all the way down here from your house since you brought your bike to tell me to stay away from buildings? If I stay away from buildings where would I live then?" She laughed

"Isn't the church a building? Dude, you need help" she said

"Just listen to me!" He yelled

"Okay, fine. You don't have to yell" she said

He took her face in his hands and kissed her. Ian was watching from the railing up the stairs all that transpired between them and walked back inside when he couldn't bear the sight any longer. Keres waited for Nikolay to come out from whatever it was controlling him but he didn't stop. Instead he increased the intensity of the kiss. When he started it was just the lips but then he added tongue to it. Keres felt that thing girls always said they felt when kissing in her stomach and she didn't like it. It felt irritating. Probably because she didn't like Nikolay. She raised her hand in the air and hit him on his back. He broke the kiss immediately and screamed in pain

"Asshole" she said and walked inside

"What was that for?!" He trying to follow her

"Follow me and they'll be dragging your corpse out of this building"

Black Cat's meetings were becoming less frequent. They was no lead they got and just like Keres said the members were beginning to lose their faith in Hunter. The old members left one after the other save the new recruits who didn't know of Hunter's failure in trying to catch Diego. Ian made their meeting place his new home since he couldn't bear to look at Keres again after her kiss with Nikolay. He was developing feelings for her and he wanted it to end because they were bound by an oath which was to catch Diego and not to be together.

"The USB key. It's in the school" Mrs. Peters said

"What? Are you sure?!" Hunter asked. He was beginning to wonder if the USB key ever existed.

"Yes. I've seen it been moved about by some security agents before but I never knew what it was. I just thought hard about it and I remembered the agents were always so hyper about it" she answered

"Where exactly is it? Can we get it?" Silas asked

"That's the thing. I have no idea where it is hidden" she said

"That means we have to rampage through the whole school" Ian said

"If we do that, we'll be found out since the new Principal works with Diego" Mrs. Peters said

"We could go there at night" Hurricane suggested

"What about the night guard. He's always present" Ian said

"We'll have to get pass him somehow then" Mrs. Peters said

"It would be a lot easier if the students in the school would be the ones doing the searching" Marcel said

"How do you mean?" Hunter asked

"If the students get caught they could come up with an excuse for being there and they might believe them but what if it's one of us who gets caught? What would our excuse be for being seen at a school in the middle of the night?" Marcel asked

"If you haven't noticed, we don't look like high school students anymore" he added

"He's got a point but only Ian can't do that" Silas said

"We'd have to ask Keres"

The very person they kicked out was being called to help find the only clue they had since she was kicked out. They surrounded the church like she was a governor who needed protection and came bearing gifts.

"I thought you guys kicked me out? Why do you keep coming here?" She asked

"We need your help" Hunter said

"Well, you should have thought about that before you showed me the door" she said and turned to leave

"Please. I'm asking as your Uncle" he said

She turned around and glared at him. They brought her flowers as a peace offering. Was she going to eat flowers? What was she? A goat?

"Fine" she said

"Yes!" The rest said happily

"You start tonight. We have no time to lose" Hunter said

"Wait up!" Keres said

"Since I'm the one who agreed to do this I should be the one deciding when we start" she added

"Okay, when do we start?" Hunter said

"Now" she said walking inside

"She's funny" Silas said smiling

"How was that funny?" Hurricane asked

She walked out of the house holding the keys to her bike in her hands

"Ian, you're ready?" She asked

"Yep, I mean we only have to search for a USB key, right? Easy shit" he said

"Dummy, go get a torch light" she said

"Right" he said and walked inside

After a few seconds he was out and they were on her bike riding to the school

"Here we are" she said

"Hey, I know you have an ulterior motive" he said

"Damn right I do" she said

"Look, let's just help Hunter find this thing" he said

"And then what?" She asked

"He takes it to the press and then the public gets aware of it and begins to rain abuses on Diego Enterprise, they cover it up again and then the case dies down? No way. I'm not going to let that happen again" she added

"Okay, if you find it what will you do with it?" He asked

"I'm not telling" she said walking into the school

"Why not?" He asked

"Because you'll tell Hunter" she said

"Oh good God" he groaned

"Shhhhh..." She said placing her hands over his mouth

"The night guard"