Lost Hope

Chapter Nine

I find Lola finishing her five shots that are lined up opposite Ryan's five shots. I watch and wait for them to finish there game, being forced to listen to the cheers of all that surround them.

"Why the long face?" Lola asks in a giggly state.

"Can we go outside? It's too loud in here, I need to talk to you," I speak loudly over the music and annoying screams.

She nods her head and takes my hand to drag me outside, stumbling and almost falling multiple times on the way.

"What's up?" she asks while we lean on the front of River's car.

"Does Brains talk about me much?"

Lola grins knowingly. "Why'd you wanna know?"

"Just tell me," I demand, not in the mood for any games or pranks.

Lola smiles, but a grin is still pulled across her shiny cheeks. It's some sort of makeup that I've seen her use dozens of times before. I'm still unsure what its purpose is, other than to make her glimmer under the sun.

"You know he likes you," she says like it's obvious.

"Yes, but-"

"But you were in denial."

My eyebrows drop in confusion as I shake my head and blink repeatedly, trying to make sense of it all. "No, that's not true. I knew he liked me, I just didn't know to what extent. I mean, we hardly even speak. How can he have that strong of feelings for me?"

"We're Ruiz's, Isla. Everyone finds us irresistible," she sighs and flicks her long, silky locks behind her bare shoulders that are only covered with the tiniest strap I've seen from her red crop top.

"I'm serious, Lola. I don't even think he likes me. He can't possibly. We're not close enough for him to feel that way."

The humour slips away from Lola's face once she realises how serious I am. "You seriously know nothing about love, don't you?"

"Love? Who ever said anything about love?" I snap.

"I'm not saying he loves you. I'm just saying, you can know someone for a mere few seconds before catching feelings. You can like someone you've never even spoke to. It doesn't matter how close you are."

My arms cross over my chest out of discomfort. It feels as though a shiver is crawling through my arms and back. "That's weird."

"It's not. It's actually quite sweet when you think about it. Love. It's such an amazing thing." She smirks when she notices my disgusted expression targeted towards the entire subject. "Isn't it?"

"No."

She blows me kisses to further annoy me, but I just ignore her like I always do.

"What does he say about me then?" I ask, unsure if I actually want to know.

"What doesn't he say?" she scoffs, raising her eyebrows to show me her exhaustion from how much I'm mentioned by Brains.

"I don't know, because you won't tell me."

Three people walk between Lola and I, cutting off our communication momentarily as they try their hardest to keep their feet steady on the cobble ground. Lola's eyes flicker up and down as she stares with so much judgement pointed to the group. It's almost laughable to watch the way her tongue sticks against her cheek and her eyes blinking harshly.

"Doesn't take much to use manners," she reminds them before returning her focus to me. "I'm not going to tell you what Brains says."

"Why not? I'm your sister, we tell each other everything."