Searching for Love, Found Wealth

A crowd had formed around us. Before she retaliated, I slapped her again.

“How dare you disgrace our police force huh?” my blood was boiling.

I remembered my dad, he was a police officer when I was a child. It was people as corrupt as her that made him resign. Forcing the police force to bend to their own evil will.

Cara hands were coming down at my face again and I had sworn to give her a punch at her stomach region.

But then someone pushed her away from me. I wanted to tell that person to go away. It was between me and Cara.

But then it was… Charles.

My throat went dry. His hair was dyed red and with his light skin, he looked wonderful. He must have been coming from a photoshoot.

Everyone began staring at us. I looked around and no one was with a phone. People began whispering.

So I said, “Look bro, leave me to this bastard” so they won’t think otherwise.

Cara began yelling, “Charles, tell your little sister to stand clear from me. Or I’ll kill her. They won’t be another warning”.

I didn’t see the police van at our school anymore. Charles took my hands and began walking away.

Some students came in front of him but he ignored them. I had pissed him off.

I just glad no one usually videoed the fights that happen in our school, it wouldn’t have been good for his image.

I wanted to reach to Chloe for my bag but she was too dazed looking at Charles to listen to my calls.

Charles’ hold was firm and tight. I knew he was angry but I was angry too.

He pushed me into the car, slammed the door and began driving. I wanted to protest but he wasn’t even sparing me a glance. What was he now? My guardian or real big brother?

I couldn’t take my bag from Chloe. It was good we didn’t have assignments but now I couldn’t read. The school just ended like that. It was annoying.

I was expecting a silent ride back home. But no, we stopped at a restaurant and he opened the back seat like a gentleman.

I walked out confused. He covered his hair with a cap, held my hands and walked into the restaurant.

It reminded me of the time at Cornfest. When he was taking me to the Chinese restaurants. Again, I asked myself if this was a date?

“Um… won’t you scold me for fighting?” I asked amidst mouthfuls.

“Your mom will” he wiped his mouth with a towel. I looked down at the delicious still waiting for me to devour it.

Like if I fought at school and get treated to this, I don’t think I’d stop fighting. I don’t think I was getting the point of him dragging me out of the school to a restaurant.

“Is it your pay day or something?” I asked.

He snapped his fingers, “Yeah, it was delayed but it came”.

I nodded but he brought something else up. Something about him leaving for the university.

“So, I’m planning to resign at Neon so I can concentrate. My hair would be glad too…”

“I think it’s nice. Your hair. But of course, I get, it is not very healthy” I interrupted.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

He looked done but he kept on speaking, “So, I’d take their contract. $600 per photoshoots. And I’d get 20% share from the product sales. Sounds bad but I’m done with Neon. I’ll just work part-time. Good idea, right?”

$600 per photoshoots? That’s a lot of money to me. With 20% sales.

“What do you think then?” he broke my thoughts.

“What do I think?” I asked back. What was to think? It is cool, very nice benefits.

I urged him to take it as getting a side job as a student in university is hard and stressful and one may not get a good job.

He stressed he didn’t need the money. I wondered why! He just needed to be active as a model.

“Good, since you don’t need the money, send all you earn to me” I joked.

He nodded, “Ill sign it with your bank account then”.

I stood up slowly but sat back down. I tend to do that when I’m stunned. “Really?” I asked. He smirked but said nothing. I doubt he’s serious.

While eating I saw some girl taking a photo of us. Must be one of his fans. I became jittery, he didn’t react.

She showed them to some of her friends. They didn’t gush and went ahead to take pictures of other “couples” sitting at the restaurant.

“Don’t worry, they’re not fans. Just some girls looking for couples aesthetics” Charles gulped down his juice.

Couples aesthetics? Didn’t that sound weird to him?

“Are we a couple then?” I dared to ask. His spoon hung mid air.

“We… we aren’t. Or are we?”.

What kind of response was that? Are we?

“I was never told we are. Didn’t you know we weren’t?” I asked again. He moved on his chair uncomfortably.

“Kiera. We are not a couple, okay? We are friends. We aren’t on that level yet” he said quickly.

Aren’t on that level? So we would could get on the level later? Well, I stopped asking cringe questions and ate my food in peace.

We finished our food and left the restaurant. I realized I had missed calls from both Sheena and Chloe.

I don’t even know how school would be tomorrow, after the drama.

I just hoped that the police never come to embarrass themselves again and that Cara never returned to school. I’ll be more bold on her.

“Hey, pick my calls” Chloe’s message came in just then. I was at the front seat of Charles car.

“Can’t. Could distract him. Driving” I quickly texted.

She sent back a frowning emoji along with a… salivating? Chloe is just crazy.

“So we are going home?” I muttered.

“Don’t want to? Should I bring you to my house?” he responded. My eyes widened. “To hang out” he added quickly.

This was weird. I needed to leave this place.

“Drop me home please. Maybe next time” I said.