JEOPARDY: The Cursed Soldier.

18. Through the hood

"What is this place?"

Kayla finally asked after swallowing her curiosity a hundred times.

Ivan grinned, a grin that both irritated and warmed her. "I thought you'd never ask."

And instead of answering her, he unstrapped his seatbelt and got out of the car. Kayla swallowed her irritation and the urge to punch his perfect face and followed him.

They were in an empty street. Wait, that was not an accurate description. They were on one of those streets where the roads were empty, but you saw one gated mansion after every minute of driving. 

There were no pedestrians in sight. All she could see, from where they were standing, were trees. In other words, they were standing in the middle of a street where filthy rich humans lived.

"What is going on, Ivan?" Her paranoia instantly charged up. As harmless as Ivan was, he was acting suspiciously.

She kinda trusted him—considering all that had been happening between them since their trip to the play park—it was hard not to. Even she didn't know how it had started, but Ivan had become her guardian angel and genie all in one tall, dark, and handsome package.

He hadn't done anything magical, but the littlest things that never failed to make her heart swell. It was the way he always paid attention to her and then met whatever need she had. After all, all he had to do was tell Angela to give Kayla something or let Kayla do something. And it was done.

And now, a week since their little escapade, Kayla was allowed to attend every one of Angela's classes; sit and eat whatever lunch she chose, and even engage in every sport Angela did.

These might be nothing to someone else, but they were everything to her.

It was getting food and eating it comfortably. It was experiencing things she never had and would never have because her life was not her own. And it was a chance for her to say, 'Yes, I did that and I didn't like it, or I actually like this after trying it.'

"We're here to teach you how to drive."

"What?" Kayla finally fully faced him. He was still grinning like an idiot, with his hands in his pocket—his signature look. Which meant he wasn't joking.

"Don't you wanna learn how to drive? I mean, I like our little seat exchange ritual. But, what if one day Angela asks you to drive her somewhere?" He shrugged his right shoulder. "This is the third time Angela has asked you to drive me somewhere. What happens the next time she asks you to drive her somewhere? Or she asks you to drive someone else?"

Angela had a chauffeur for that. But what if, indeed, something happened, and Kayla was required to drive? Such a simple lie could damage her entire credibility. Ivan was right. But--

"Did you lie to Angela so you could teach me how to drive?"

He sighed like it had just occurred to him. "Yeah, I guess I did. But you know I had to, there wasn't another option."

"You're missing your classes." Kayla was full-on frowning now.

"I already covered most of the topics in my previous school." Her frown didn't dissipate. He didn't need to do this for her.

Yes, she needed this. But at what cost? What if he failed because of her? What if Angela broke up with him because of her?

"Hey, stop worrying about it. You're a quick learner. And I'm an outstanding teacher. It may take us a week max. Then you'll be a decent driver." He took two steps her way but left enough distance between them for it to be proper but encouraging. "After which you'll be driving me on my every errand and become a seasoned driver in no time. Then I won't have to miss any more classes neither will I need to lie to Angela anymore."