I can't help the grin on my face thinking about the look on Marianne's face, as i drive out of the school yard. I don't think there was ever a time when a girl was ashamed to be seen with me. Ever. This is new to me. She is definitely a strange girl.

I spend the twenty minutes commute back to my apartment on the phone taking care of work and business. Atleast with me going against the flow of traffic, the drive is smooth and uninterrupted.

Hanging up another phone call, i think about why Marianne does not want to drive. I know at the very least, she can afford a decent car, which would sure make movements a whole lot easier for her, so why doesn't she?

When i brought it up earlier, the look on her face, begged me not to pursue the issue, which just reminded me of what Nick said the other night about her having been through alot of shit in the past.

I pick up my phone and dial Kyan's number again. I need an update on Eric. Plus i asked him to give me some information on Marianne a while ago, which i was actually reluctant to check out, that is until the now.

I need to know more about her life. I was waiting for her to open up to me but it doesn't look like it is going to happen anytime soon. Plus, it won't be the first time i did a background check on the woman i was involving myself with.

Then why does it feel so wrong this time.

"Hey, i was just about to call you" Kyan says on the other end of the connection.

"Talk to me"

"I think it's better if we meet in person" he mutters.

"Alright. Right now i am in traffic, but i will be working from home today, so should be there in the next five minutes. You will find me there."

"Got it" he hangs up.

*

A couple of hours later, he shows up with Nick.

Great, now i will never hear the end of this.

"What? You want me to give you two some privacy?" Nick snickers, when he looks at my face face when insee him, then he proceeds to sit on the edge of the desk in my home office, as he opens up a packet of Doritos, with a pop sound.

"Go on" i sigh, and nod at Kyan, ignoring him.

"Here you go" he says, handing me a file with Eric's information.

"The boy is clean, just finished high school but decided to take a gap year, he has too much time on his hands, no job, but his parents are loaded and pay all his expenses.

Infact, his father sits on the board of the school Miss Wrights works at. Basically, except for the fact that he is a spoiled egoistic kid, there is not much to go off on." Kyan summarises.

"Right, except for the fact that he is harrassing and trying to force himself on Marianne" i scoff.

" Wait what?" Nick sits up straight.

I tell him everything Marianne has told me.

"I imagine you don't want to involve the police" Nick asks rhetorically.

"No, that will be too easy, besides, right now, there isn't much proof to stick it to him good and his father will probably come to the rescue with nothing more that a pat on the back. I need something else that will teach him a good lesson" i say.

"Call Brady, at the police station, he owes me a couple of favors." i say to Kyan.

"I thought you might say that, so i already did." Kyan says.

"But make sure he lets the kid know why he is in trouble. He needs to know Marianne is protected. I will let him know when to take it easy on him" I add when Nick grimances.

"Alright. Ohh, and i....uuhmm, got the other information you asked for" Kyan says, handling me another file with what i presume to be all the background information on Marianne.

I take it, reluctant to open it. I look up to find Nick eyeing me, with a chip in his hand.

"What are you eating?" i finally ask.

"Doritos" he answers flatly.

"I can see that, but why the hell are you eating them" I have never seen him eat those for as long as i have known him.

"Ally won't stop eating this stuff, they are everywhere in the house, i hated them at first, but now.....well, not so much. Honestly, her pregancy cravings are driving me nuts" He frowns causing Kyan and i to laugh.

"I will take my leave" Kyan stands up and heads for the door.

"Yeah, i am leaving too, was just passing through" Nick stands up aswell.

"Listen, let me give you a bit of advice. If there is any part of you that really likes this girl, don't open that. Do you know what real couples do? they talk, excercise patience, build trust, you know that kind of stuff" he says.

"That's a load of bullshit coming from you" i retort and he laughs in return.

"Ok, i admit, my relationship with Ally was nothing short of tumultuous at the begining, but that's how come i know these things, i learned my lesson. Trust me, you will tha k me later"He says before walking out.

Left alone in my office, i look at the file in my hand, contemplating what to do, until my cell phone rings, breaking my trance.

Looking at the caller Id, a smile forms on my face.

"Do you miss me that much already" i murmur.

"Ohh, sorry, i think i may have butt dialed you by mistake, bye" She chuckles.

"Hey, leave that pretty butt out of this"

"Hai"she laughs again.

"Hai yourself....... To what do i owe this pleasure?" i ask.

"Well, my students have been arguing about the make of your car and they approached me to settle the argument and well, i don't want to embarrass myself. So i told them i will get back to them. So can you help a girl out here." she drawls.

"It's a DB11, Ashton Martin"

"Right, thank you. You know, I didn't expect seven graders to have that much interest in cars" she laughs.

"You would be surprised what i was interested in when i was in seventh grade."

"I am not even going to ask. So how is your day going? what are you doing" she asks, and i look at the file in my hand.

"Working from home, but it's hard to concentrate though"

"Yeah? why is that?"

"I keep thinking of when you were here" i murmur and it's followed by a small silence. I can already picture her blush.

I decide to go easy on her.

"So how did your encounter with Peter Wallace go after i left" I ask, changing the subject.

"Chatty. Which he never is. But speaking of which, how do you two you know each other" She asks sounding elated again.

"We met at a charity event a couple of years ago"

"What? You do charity work?" she asks, sounding genuinely surprised.

"Why are so surprised? Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I am a nice guy, that likes to give back and get involved in community service." I utter.

"Sounds like you are tooting your own horn.....But wow, i didn't see that coming. I never would have guessed" she giggles.

"You know what? i am very offended. I am starting to think you have a completely bad impression of me" i say seriously.

"No, no, it's just that......... it's just that i don't know you very well i guess, but you know what, you are right, i am going to keep an open mind" she chuckles.

"Would you like to? Know me better that is?"

"Yeah, i think that would be nice" She murmurs softly.

"Well, ok then, i do still owe you dinner, so maybe we can start from there?" i ask.

"Sure, when?

"Tonight" It has to be tonight, i need to see her soon again if i want to maintain some sort of sanity.

"Ok, uhmm, where?"

"My place, say 6:30pm"

"How's 7pm?"

"It will work"

"Ok, i have to go, i have a judgement to deliver" she chuckles.

"Alright, Later then your honor" i tease.

"Goodbye counselor" she plays along, before hanging up.

I put my phone down and look at the file still in my hand. Opening the top drawer of my desk, i throw it inside.

I think i can try to be a little more patient.

*

My classes have ended early, giving me some time to myself before lunch, so i decide to find Rachel and thank her for her help yesterday.

Walking back to my class, the lunch bell rings filling the hallway with kids who look so thrilled to be outm, you would think they just broke out of jail, it never gets old.

I feel really great today, I admit most of it is because i am really excited to spend more time with Angelo later. I talked to him not too long ago, but i am already longing to hear from him again.

I look at my phone and wonder if i should text him. But what do i say?

Then the phone rings in my hand almost as if i willed it to.

"Hey" i say, out of breathe

"Are you hungry"

" Yes.. Why" i smile.

"You are just in luck, i was in the neighbourood and thought maybe i could take you out to eat" Angelo murmurs in his deep voice.

"Neighbourhood? What neighborhood? where are you?"

"Outside your class."

"What?" i walk out of the class just after walked in and see him down the hall on the ground floor as he waves at me.

What is he doing?

"Well?" He says into the phone.

"I don't have alot of time though" i admit.

"I know, that's why I already ordered. Chop chop! Lets go" he mutters.

I hang up and i go back for my purse.

"The neighbourhood huh?" i taunt when i reach him.

"Yep" he smiles down at me.

"Where are we going?" i ask when he starts leading me to the back of the school"

"Ohh, i parked outside your school.

"Why?" i chuckle.

" I don't want to 'ruin' your day" he smirks at me.

I can't help the warm feeling inside me at his small act of consideration.

"Thank you" I say, reaching for his hand and interlacing our fingers. He looks down at me and smiles. Like a full blown smile, i swear i see his cheeks deep a little in the faintest sign of dimples.

"You are a very strange girl, Marianne, a strange but special girl indeed" He says.

After we both enter the car, and get comfortable, I lean towards him and kiss him, softly on the mouth, taking him by surprise.

But he recovers quickly, placing his fingers on my chin, encouraging me to continue. The kiss deepens when our tongues start to touch, teasing each other.

After what feels like a long time, i pull back into my seat and put my seat belt on.

I feel more than see his smile as he starts the car.

*

Angelo and i sit at a table on the first floor of a restaurant enjoying a Chinese Chicken Mandarin Salad while he tells me abit about the charity work he does. We don't have alot of time, so he asks for the check as soon as we are done eating.

"You have got to be kidding me" he utters suddenly.

"What?" i ask and follow his line of sight down to the ground floor front desk.

"Ahh, i should known better. For a minute there i thought Ben will keep his mouth shut for once" he says, his eyes still at the front desk, where there is a couple of people talking to the receptionist, or whatever they are called.

"Angelo? what wrong" i ask again, concerning creeping into me as I put my hand over his on the table.

"Nothing's wrong baby. Just that my sisters are here" he turns to look at me and turns his hand over, so that he grips mine comfortingly.

"Oh....oh! Ok, well, we are done here right?" i ask rhetorically, pulling my hand free and reaching for my purse.

"Yeah, calm down. It's ok, i just wasn't expecting them to show up here" he says, when he notices me getting ready to leave.

"No worries" i stand up.

"What are you doing"

"Leaving, i will see you later, yeah?"

"Marianne, sit down" His eyes narrow at me in an intimidating manner, but i don't cower.

"I am not meeting any more of your family."

"Sit down! this is not funny" he says under his breath, trying not to bring too much attention to our table"

Thank you for lunch..bye" i whisper and go down the other way from the direction his sisters are now coming to our floor on.

I don't turn around to see the look on Angelo's face but i can feel his heated gaze as it drills holes into my back.