9. I should walk y*u home.

Warren.

"So what is this proposal you have for me?" Benjamin cut to the tea of the matter because formalities were definitely not his line of expertise.

"I know you help my father with his work when he wants to discovery a mole in his business." I spoke before taking a sip from the hot coffee on the table.

"Yes, I am on a strong professional relationship with your father and his business but I don't know what exactly you could possibly want me to do for you, " he replied before picking his cup and repeating my earlier actions.

Mr. Boyer was definitely the man job with his professional approach to everything. His eyes light and curious. He looked at everything around him as if taking mental notes of his surroundings.

"I want you to get information on a particular person." I said leaning back into my seat before continuing. "Sapphire."

A look close of confusion married his gruff yet soft features as he stroked his neatly trimmed beard.

"I don't know her last name but I have this." I say as I reached for the printed photo of Sapphire which I had gotten from one of the schools magazine and slid it across the small table towards him making sure to leave the picture facing downwards.

"And do you know where this Sapphire lives?" He inquired with his eyes studying the picture intently.

I shrugged. "Not really."

He hummed in response.

"Okay, give me two months to gather all the information I can on her." He said with a sort of finality to the statement.

"Hold on." I paused. "Report all the new findings to me as you'd discover them, you have my number, we communicate through text messages on where to meet."

"Fine by me." He replied before putting on a baseball cap in his head which I hadn't noticed before, and exiting Muchita's with a pop in his step.

I have a feeling this wasn't going to be the last time we're meeting. Minus the case with Sapphire, I still had a feeling in my stomach (stomach? Gut? I don't know).

"Sapphire." I uttered her name with all the coldness I could muster but she seemed unfazed by my act.

Right now, I just couldn't believe her nerve. She had the bravery to visit me again and at my house for that matter.

Who does she think she is?

"Get out." I already held the front door open for her Royal Highness.

She just had a bored expression on her face and ignored me before turning back to my father who was now going upstairs and leaving me with my problem. Some father he was.

"No." She stated, her figure approaching me. I could literally feel myself burning with my fists balled beside me.

"I have your child and I'll do whatever I want."

"Please don't test my patience, I said get out. Now."

She just continued staring blankly at me. Her eyes scanning my face almost like she was trying to figure me out. Good luck to her.

For all I know, she could actually be lying about this whole thing but until I was sure, I was going to avoid any sort of confrontation with her.

"Whatever, I'll be back." She said before sashaying through the door I had held open a while ago.

Letting my legs lead me outside, the soft sun caressed my face and exposed arms.

Voices of mothers yelling at their young ones who played in the sand not really caring that they were probably giving their mothers migraines.

The faint smell of dust and coffin candy attack my nostrils and I accept this pleasant invasion.

Across from me sat a female. Her scarlet hair fell in waves over her face which was faced downwards like she was trying to hide her expression.

Her shoulders shuddered for some reason and she jumps sightly when the noisy air is invaded by the screeching of her device.

For a reason unknown to me, I was interested in watching her actions because I had this vague notion that I might have known her. From where?

I refrain from gasping when she glances at me. Her face was decorated with a heavy flow of the liquid pouring out of her eyes. Her eyes? There's only one person with those pair of eyes in my life.

My legs carry me to her chair as I took the seat beside her.

"Hey." Her voice had a stressed edge to it like she had been at it for a long time.

She didn't look up at me and I don't want to push her or anything like that, so I fish out the fancy killer stick and put it between my teeth.

"You know you're actually killing yourself right?" She said but still had her faced down letting her hair hide what was already obvious.

"What if I want to die?" I question before paying attention to the children and their exhausted mothers.

Was that what Sapphire's life was going to turn into once she gave birth? That is IF she was carrying my child.

Soft sniffing came from beside me before she spoke again.

"That's not a good way to live is it?"

"I suppose not, but sometimes, life kicks, punches and bites," I said before pulling the stick out from between my lips. "And this is the only way for me to escape from all the pain life hands me."

"You know, that's not an escape." she said. "It's a distraction that only shortens your time here but doesn't actually relief you of the pains."

She might be right but I wasn't ready to give up this habit of mine yet.

"What are you doing here?" I found myself asking because I had never seen her without company.

"I should be asking you the same thing." she fired back before looking at me.

With the liquids from earlier now out of sight, her eyes had a glint to them and I knew that glint all too well.

"Since I asked first, I should get answers first." I said. "Then I'll answer whatever question you have for me after your answer. Deal?"

"Yeah, deal, " she said while adjusting her sitting position so her body was facing mine which had turned earlier. "Things have been happening recently and like you said earlier, we all need some sort I relief for the pains."

"Well, I remember saying escape but it's okay if you want to quote it like that anyway." I said. "So this (I gesture at the park with a sweep of my hands in front of me) is your own form of escape?"

"Well, it's  more of a relief than an escape but yes, this is my form of it." she stated with a ghost of a smile on her face making me wish I could make the smile bigger.

"Now your turn."

"So many things just kind of happened at once and I'm just here to clear my head."

We sat in silence within our conversation. Screams if children mixed with mild scolding from their tired guardians filled the air.

"I should go." came her voice from beside me.

The freckles on her face seems like they had been dusted on her face making it look very faint.

"See you later, sometime?" I said with my eyes registering her movements as she stood up to go.

There was a moment of hesitation before she gave me an answer.

"Yes, sometime, we should do this more." She said as a smile caused crows feet at the corner of her eyes.

Dusting the nonexistent dust from the front of her dress, she made to go and I found myself standing.

"I should walk you home."

"No need to do that, besides my place is quiet far from yours and –"

"It wasn't a question." I stated. Her thin yet thick eye brows pulled together to created the most breathtaking frown I had ever seen.

Who knew someone frowning could look good?

"... Not a problem, you can follow me." She said making me realise I hadn't been listening and had been staring without hearing the words like a fool.

"Um." I felt heat crawling into my neck and spreading upwards to cover my whole face. Damn. I hadn't been listening. This is awkward.

Attempting to sound like I had been listening, I swallowed past the cat in my throat.

"Please lead the way."

She just gave me a look that said 'well this is awkward' before leading my confused self to the exit of the park.

"Oof." Came a young male's voice.

Her had been chasing another boy and had miraculously bumped into her.

My legs moved faster against my will to see what had happened.

"I'm so sowwy mwis." He apologised, his eyes wide like a child caught stealing from the cookie jar.

A delicate chuckle came from behind us. A woman took gentle and careful steps to us, mindful of her heavily round form and holding her front.

"I'm so sorry Eli must have been running without looking as usual." The last part of her apology was directed to her son who looked terrified now at the appearance of his mother.

"That's okay." She responded with a smile.

The heavy woman started scolding her son (who still looked horrified. Poor guy. Won't want to be him).

The air tasted of rain with the smell of salt. The once fluffy white clouds were now dark blankets heavily pregnant with a promise of rain. The wind, getting stronger, slapped is in the face and attempted to snatch our clothing which was luckily snug against us.

The silence between us was a very uncomfortable one. She didn't say anything to me and I didn't respond solely because I didn't have anything to say.

"We're almost at my place," she said raising her voice slightly. "It's just two streets away."

I nodded not ready to raise my voice against the much stronger voice of mother nature.

People hurried in their walk in am attempt to avoid being kissed violently by the products of the dark clouds pregnancy.

She turned a corner before coming to a stop in front of a simple looking gate which I'm assuming is her apartment.

Her fiery locks being matted with liquid made it turn a slightly dark auburn colour.

"Come in" she said before pushing the gate, stepping inside before ushering me inside.

A wide expanse of concrete floor stretched forward leading to a large one-storey house. Two words; lavish and classy.

I try to school my somewhat shocked features while following closely behind her as the downpour increased, drenching our clothes. Well mine anyway but she didn't look any better.

"Come in." She said already holding the door open for me while I found myself still standing in the rain. Could I actually embarrass myself further? No. I don't want to answer that.

"So this is your place." I stated like the weirdo I was.

"No, I just happened to have a key and decided to stop by, " she replied "of course it's my place."

"Where are your parents?"

"Out."

I had more questions but hey tone told me she didn't want to be discuss further so I dropped it.

"Here." She reappeared with two towel in her hands.

"Aren't you going to take it?" She asked, snagging me out of my thoughts (how many times have I done that today?).

"Oh, yeah uh thanks." I said before stretching my hand to take the towel from her hand.

(Not to sound cliché or anything) I literally felt a slight vibration when our fingers brushed.

"I'll go make us some hot tea." She announced and walked out if the living area, her now in a ponytail hair dancing sideways with every step she took.

Well this went well (not).