Simple Man

- TWENTYNINE -

   The empanadas Gabriel's grandmother made were exceptional, the brazed beef was flavorful and the shell that incased them was simultaneously soft and crispy. Kyra munched on hers happily as she and Iyana watched some television. It was an old antenna television that had the faux wood paneling and knobs to turn the channels and volume instead of a remote. Kyra missed color television but black and white television was better than no television. It was turned up higher than it probably needed to be but the air condition unit was probably older that the television and hummed rather loudly to keep their studio cool.

Iyana had it on Jeopardy, Kyra didn't really care for Jeopardy but it was entertaining to watch Iyana answer nearly every question right without even looking up from her plate. The first time Iyana did this in front of Kyra thought it was a fluke but the more episodes they watched the more she realized Iyana must be one of those people who have photographic memory. Iyana denied this and told her she just reads a lot and use to play Trivial Pursuit with her dad when was little which was like Jeopardy but in the form of a board game. Currently Alec was on the category of U.S. Presidents.

"...Contestants you've got thirty seconds to come up with a response in question form to this clue, take a look. two of the five presidents buried west of the Mississippi River." said Alec on the television.

"Truman and Nixon," Iyana said before taking a bite of her empanada.

The theme song started as the contestants wrote down their answers. It didn't take long for them to finish and the music to stop. Alec asked each contestant for their answers, the first who was the only female who wrote Nixon and LBJ—which Kyra knew from school was short for Lyndon B. Johnson—the second contestant wrote the same answer.

"Seems you only got it half right." Kyra said as she got up from the table to rinse off her plate.

  Iyana didn't say a word while the third contestants written response appeared on screen, his answer was Richard Nixon and Harry Truman which Alec said was also correct. Kyra paused and looked back at Iyana, "How do you do that?"

   Iyana smirked but before she could answer there was a knock on the door. At this late hour Kyra couldn't figure who would be coming by to visit. The only people that visited was Mr. Berman and the elderly lady who basically lived here. Both seemed unlikely as one was probably home by now and the other went to bed early. So Iyana and Kyra both looked at the other with cautious looks as a second set of knocks hit their door. Iyana got up swiftly and motioned for Kyra to go into her room, with a finger over her lips telling her to remain silent.

Kyra had her doubts about what kind of threat lay beyond the door but she nodded just the same, heading behind the rattan screens and waiting. Iyana walked over to the door, hand ready to draw her weapon and looked through the peephole, as soon as she did she let out a long, laborious sigh. Kyra suppressed a giggle because that response could only mean it was one person, because no one besides Kyra irritated Iyana like she did until now.

  Iyana reluctantly but calmly opened the door, "Yes, Mr. August what can I do for you? Do you need more towels? They are in the linen closet before the stairs."

"I'm fine on towels, thank you. No, I was here because—I really don't know why I'm here. I'm about to make a complete ass of myself, more that I already have actually. I'm pretty sure I know the answer already but I have to ask. Meghan, would you go out with me?" Rowan asked Iyana, much to the shock and amusement of Kyra.

  Iyana looked a little taken aback too, from what Kyra could see in her profile; though she quickly recovered, "If you knew the answer then why ask?"

   Rowan shrugged, "Because for some really annoying reason I want you to like me. I usually don't care if people like me and more than usually don't trust when they do. I feel if you learned to like me that would be real since you're dead set on not liking me. I need more of what's real in my life."

"I don't dislike you Mr. August, I don't know you." Iyana responded, sighing again as she crossed her arms.

Rowan nodded, "Fair but this is a way of getting to know me. I'm not asking to be your boyfriend, I'm certainly not asking for commitment—I just think we could be friends. Please."

"I can't, I'm sorry." Iyana said plainly, but Kyra heard the smallest tone of regret hiding behind her collected demeanor and she was sure Rowan wouldn't pick up on it.

"It's alright, it's alright. I had to try. I do hope you and Liv have a good night. I'll see you around." Rowan said, being as gracious as possible but it was harder not to see the hurt in his face as he disappeared down the hallway toward his room.

Iyana stood there, looking after him for a couple seconds before slowly closing the door behind her. She seemed to be lost in her own thoughts when Kyra came out from behind the screens. "You answer almost every question Alec asked right but then Rowan asks you a question and suddenly you are dumb."

"Excuse you?"

"No, he really likes you and I can tell you like him too. I don't see a problem beside the stick up your own butt."

"Kyra, you're nine! Of course you wouldn't see a problem but it's a big problem!" Iyana raised her voice, she was starting to get frustrated.

"What's the problem? We both know you're a cold-fish but c'mon, this is ridiculous. One date won't kill you Iyana!" Kyra said, raising her own voice.

"It might! It might kill you too! He's a movie star and  I already explained to you how that threatens our cover!"

"What are the chances Iyana? Seriously? The paparazzi didn't follow him here obviously and we would have to be exactly at the wrong place at the wrong time for them to snap a photo of us!" Kyra retorted.

"I wouldn't want to take the chance regardless! It's not just that either, there's still more you don't know!"

"What? What else don't I know? Please help me understand why you can't be human and not a U.S. Marshal for five seconds and go out on one stupid date with him!"

Iyana grew quiet, looking sad and conflicted before she said very clearly, "Rowan is Isaac's half-brother, he's your uncle."