TO DIE FOR

Chapter Two

     Before the girl could completely pass out, Manuel appeared and separated the two. Because she hadn't got a proper hold, she easily let go of her.
   
     Manuel said breathlessly: "What do you think you are doing? Have you lost your mind!?"
  
     Manuel picked up the girl, apologized, and talked to her for some moments, gave her some money, and walked her to her car.
    
     Waking back to Anikka, he said, "Have you gone crazy Anikka, you almost killed her."
  
      "Do I seem to care, huh?" Anikka snapped back.

      "You have some explanation to do Missy, come on, let me take you home." said Manuel and dragged her through the cold night to his car.
  
     Throughout the ride, none of them spoke a world until he pulled up at the front yard of Anikka's house.
   
     "We need to talk, Manuel." Anikka said to break the silence. "You can't keep shutting me out like this."

     "I know, but not today, especially not after what you've done." he said, controlling his temper.
 
     "Why not today, cause we're supposed to have this conversation tonight at the club, but you never seem to pay attention to me."

    "That's were you are wrong Anikka we never made any arrangements to meet tonight, you just over heard that am gonna be at the club this Sunday night and that's why you decided to show up."
 
     "It's been two months now since we saw each other, so how do you suppose am gonna react, huh? Sit around and do nothing while my boyfriend is out there entertaining other women."

      "At least you shouldn't go around strangling people just because..."

      "Neither should you go around shutting me out, as if I don't mean anything to you." she said thoughtfully, "Manuel I love you, and it breaks my heart knowing that you are giving me a cold shoulder, the only thing I've ever done is loving you, I don't deserve the way you are treating me."

     "Save your fantasy Anikka, they can be useful in our next meeting."

   "You said the same thing last month. I am not buying it this time. We need to talk, and it's gonna be now." she said with great anger.
  
     "Let's not argue and say things that we gonna regret soon...this Wednesday let's meet at Crayton Park in the afternoon and clear things out between us, not in this way." he said casually.
 
    "Alright Manuel, you have yourself a solid deal, and if you don't show up, don't blame me with what gonna happen."

    "I give you my word this time. If I say I show up, then I am gonna show up. Moreover, today it's Sunday, so I can't tell any lies." he said, opening the door for Lucia. "Now, will you please get out?"

   "Aren't you gonna kiss me goodnight or something?" she asked, trying to get close to him.
 
    "Save it for next time." objected Manuel as he eased her out of his car.
 
   "Alright Manuel, I will be waiting for you on Wednesday afternoon at Crayon Park." she said, closing the door and lowering herself to the window.

   "Goodnight, I love you, and I want you to know that I am not saying 'I love you' to hear back the  same thing. I am saying it to make sure that you know it."

    "Yeah, sure." Manuel said and drove off.
  
    She stood there watching the car until she lost sight of it and walked to the house feeling tired and overwhelmed.

   Finding everyone asleep, she crossed over to her room.

    'That was some bad luck.' she thought to herself as she slid  into her pajamas. 'I have to make sure I have a real talk with him on Wednesday.'

    Leaving  her room, she wondered off to the kitchen, pushing open the swing door leading to the kitchen she saw the hands of the clock above stood at midnight. She grabbed a glass of whiskey, slices of bread, and butter.

    She was sure Manuel would show up on Wednesday. There was no point in going hungry, she told herself as she began to butter the bread. Two days would seem long, but she was determined to wait.