Simple Man

- THIRTYSIX -

"Go ahead, pick a cereal." Iyana urged Kyra.

"I'm trying... Don't rush the process." Kyra said as she was squatted, contemplating on her next cereal option like it was a matter of life or death.

"Jesus Christ kid!" Iyana sighed in exasperation as she leaned against the shopping cart in defeat.

"Went to church today and now look at you... Taking the Lords name in vain. Tis a shame..." Kyra said in mock disappointment, her brown eyes still scrutinizing over Apple Jacks or Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

"Alright smartass, pick a flavor and let's go. Both are cinnamon but one has a bonus apple flavor. This can't be that hard."

"You know you're right it shouldn't be this hard but it is. Not for the reason you think it is though, both are cinnamon and I wouldn't be mad at the apple flavor if I chose it but I'm more concerned with the texture. How it feels in my mouth, especially after it gets soggy from milk. That's what I'm worried about, but I think the toast crunch holds up longer so I'm gonna go with that one." She said as if Iyana understood or cared about the logic behind Kyra's choice in cereal.

Before Kyra could change her mind Iyana plucked the box of cereal from off the ground and dropped it into the shopping cart, "Perfect..."

Iyana and Kyra started to head toward check out when Iyana felt the young girl pause. Iyana followed Kyras' line of vision all the way down to check out and found a couple other girls about her height and age. "Do you know them?"

Kyra just nodded, "Can we hang back for a sec? Please?"

She was calm but obviously stressed.

"Sure but will you tell me what's wrong?" Iyana asked, once again looking at the girls who were hovered around one of those pre-teen magazines and giggling. They were all dressed up too so they must have attended church service as well.

"It's not that big of a deal." Kyra replied, her eyes hadn't left the girls for a moment.

"Child, if it's no big deal why are you in fight or flight mode? Whose ass do I need to whoop?"

One of those girls, a freckled strawberry blonde thing, must have felt their eyes on her and her friend. Because she looked up and looked over at Iyana and Kyra. Iyana didn't like the slimy smirk that overtook her face when she saw Kyra. She nudged her friend to look over and they both rolled their eyes. Iyana was a grown woman and assaulting a minor unprovoked was a crime she had to remind herself. That being said she was also the sole field operator for Kyra's personal protection detail so if she had to she wasn't above pinning a nine-year-old down with her knee. She had pinned down men twice her own size with the same knee and that smirk alone made Iyana want to give her a reason.

"Shit, shit, shit. Why's Laurel coming over? Why's she coming over? This is awkward. Iyana... help."

Iyana subconsciously noted the cursing but given the genuine panick in Kyra's voice she let it slide.

Kyra was talking about the other girl who the strawberry blonde girl had nudged. This girl was far prettier except the air of arrogance that wafted from her was pungent. Laurel definitely had the trappings of a classic school bully and Kyra's reaction was starting to make all the more sense.

"Well hello Olivia! Funny running into you outside of school like this! Did you get detention for running out last Friday? Mrs. Tripp was so mad." The girl asked, her voice high-pitched and forcibly friendly.