"Shit," he replied to her diagnosis, but he was soon distracted by their closeness and the way her eyes scanned his face. He subconsciously returned the favor, but after a few moments, he realized what he was doing and sat back into his seat. "Let's eat."

Caleb wasn't used to having to hold back any urge he had around women; he never really needed to. But, he was determined to make it through the situation with Lola without anything physical happening. Hopefully, he would figure it out soon so things wouldn't get more... tense.

He led her into the restaurant obviously only designed for take out. "Here," he said as he handed her a few twenty dollar bills. "Order me something good. I gotta make a phone call."

He stepped back outside and quickly called Happy.

"Hey, got your text. What's up?" Caleb spoke quietly.

"Smith has been asking where you've been all day," Happy replied with the same volume. "I think he believed my cover, but you should probably check in with him tomorrow."

Caleb sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "Okay, okay. Thanks, Hap."

He hung up the call and entered the establishment, the ringing of he chimes in the door causing him to wince with sensitivity.

"What'd we get?" he asked with sincere curiosity as he approached the counter.

Getting the most indecisive person in the City to order food, isn't always the best idea. The blonde scanned the take out board at least ten times, before opting to go for the exact same thing that she always had. As Caleb approached the counter, she shrugged nonchalantly. Partly because she couldn't quite remember.

"Something with chicken, and noodles. You know, all Chinese food is the same really."

Smirking, Lola held her hand out for the change, which is when the chimes once again sounded out. There was silence, followed by a painfully shrill, and all too painfully familiar voice.

"Lola, you dirty little stop out. Where have you been?"

A brunette appeared within seconds, scanning her friend with the same scrutiny as a police officer would an offender.

"Hey Jessica." Lola chuckled, tilting her head to the side casually. "Oh, you know. I fancied a change in perspective."

The brunette nodded with a delightful smirk as she side eyed Caleb, "I bet you did. Well, as you're here, let me introduce you to someone." With a perked eyebrow, Lola glanced around, not seeing anyone else, and it was at that exact moment that her eyes trailed up a very familiar set of legs.

"This is Jack, he's just transfered Lola. We're seeing each other."

The blonde had to bite down on her lip remarkably hard to stop herself snorting out a laugh. Keeping entirely cool, she nodded politely.

"Hi Jack." Her flushed pink lips emphasised his name, as a warm smile that she certainly didn't feel, spread across her elf like features. "Nice to meet you."

Jess smiled in satisfaction, "He's been sleeping in your room. You don't mind, do you darling? Seeing as you've been, well, you know." Once again, she side eyed the man alongside Lola. That little piece of information did irk Lola quite substantially, but she didn't show it. The young woman's tone remained light hearted and friendly.

"My room? With my stuff? Can't he sleep on the couch? Or hey, here's an idea, his own house." Jack, who at this point was looking rather pleased with himself, nodded sympathetically.

"Of course, I'd hate to make you feel uncomfortable Lara. I won't stay another night."

The blonde had to fight back the urge to poke him right in the eye, opting to turn to Caleb instead.

"Shall we go eat?"

With a small, and indignant sound, Jessica bristled, the way that only a spoilt girl from Connecticut can, "Aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?" Sentiments that were echoed rather charmingly by Jack , "Yes, do introduce us to your friend."

An instinctual urge of protection washed over Caleb as Lola began to converse with him and Jessica, but following her lead, Caleb remained cool. Especially with Lola’s warning about not over exerting himself, there was nothing he could do physically to the man without risking hurting himself further.

So instead, he thought of the next best thing to make a point to not come near Lola without tipping off Jessica that they had already met. Before introducing himself, he wrapped an arm around Lola’s shoulders and pulled her closer to him to give off the illusion that they were together. “Caleb,” he spoke firmly, offering a hand and a polite smile to Jessica. As he turned to Jack, though, his expression changed to a stern one, glaring at him as he shook his hand with a powerful grip.

“Nice to meet you. Come on, babe, let’s take the food back to my place,” he confidently suggested as he nodded to the two in front of them and led them to the door.

Deciding to wait until they got back to the truck to discuss what had just happened, they silently walked through the parking lot until they both climbed in.

“Is he following you?” asked Caleb with a concerned look in his eyes. “And why is he with your friend? That’s some creepy shit,” he mumbled as he shook his head and ignited the engine. “He’s not gonna touch you, Lola, I promise. The second I stop feeling like I have a knife lodged in my skull, I’ll do something about it.”

The anger he felt bubbling up inside of him made him pause for a moment. Why was he feeling so protective over her? The girl who witness him commit a heinous crime? Perhaps it was truly only because she was a woman. Yeah, that was it.

“Look,” he began with his eyes focused on the road ahead of them, “I don’t play with that shit. A man should never hurt a woman out of rage. I’m gonna make sure it doesn’t happen again, okay?”

He took a deep breath as he continued navigating the truck down the road. “In the meantime, can you do something about my head? I’m not one to complain, but I can’t take it anymore.”

"I have no idea." Lola couldn't help but to laugh at the irony of the current situation. Well, it was either laugh or cry, and laughter seemed the preferable option at the moment. "I haven't seen him for.." Pausing to work it out in her head, she continued, "Well, it must be at least six months. He went off to college in Idaho." Scratching the bridge of her nose she rolled her eyes. "And as for why he's with Jessica, I know about as much as you do. Quite a big coincidence if it isn't deliberate." Glancing out of the window, she ran her fingers through her hair absent mindedly, "He could have just struck it lucky. Jess is slowly working her way through the entire campus." With a puzzled expression, she continued. "Although, I always assumed if he'd go anywhere, it would be Mexico. That's where his family are."

The smell of the food was making Lola increasingly hungry, but she remembered that she was angry, "Plus, I am mildly pissed off that he's been in my room. With all of my stuff. Timetable, numbers, laptop. Everything." The girl let out an involuntarily shudder before looking back at Caleb when he mentioned his head. Shooting him a sympathetic expression, she shook her head. "There isn't a whole lot that you can do about concussion. Trust me, I've fallen off enough horses to know that." Wincing at the memories, Lola did have one thought. "Have you got any codeine, you know, the painkiller? That'll take the edge off. Failing that, you'll have to get horribly drunk." As she waggled her eyebrows amusingly, she started rubbing her ear lobe in thought.

"I would like to know what he's up to. This is new. Even for him."

Lola’s last words came out as Caleb pulled into his assigned spot in the parking garage, and he sighed as he gripped the wheel. “Maybe…” he hesitated momentarily. He was being too soft. “Maybe after the funeral tomorrow we can grab some of your shit if you want.” Wincing at his words, he turned off the engine and got out of the truck. “I’m gonna talk to my boss tomorrow. See how he wants me to handle all of this shit. All of my ideas either end in you dead or my permanent roommate, and I’m guessing you don’t want either,” he laughed.

Upon entering the apartment, he locked the door behind him and signaled for Lola to follow him to the bathroom so that he could find something to take for the pain. He leaned against the counter so his back was to the mirror and began looking in the cabinet that was affixed to the wall on his right, squinting his eyes so he could focus on the small letters.

“Vicodin. A year expired. Cough syrup, no. Hmm,” his fingers moved around pill bottles and other items until he located the one he was looking for. “Xanax? Would that work?”

He took it out and placed it on the counter and rubbed his face with both of his hands. “Are you doing okay? I mean, as good as you can be?” He removed the hands from his face and looked at her. “I’m sorry you got sucked into this.”

Why was he feeling so guilty? All the years he spent engaging in illegal activity, he thought, had numbed him to such useless emotions. Now, he was sitting here in the bathroom with a young woman, more concerned with how she was holding up as opposed to the fact that her knowledge alone could send him away for years.

It was a dangerous emotion, and hopefully it was just the blow to his head making him feel such a weakness.

The blonde shook her head as he sifted through the pill bottles, listening as Caleb went through the options, sliding them systematically to the side. "No, no...and nope." Shaking the pot of Xanax, she looked to Caleb in amusement. "Oh sure, Xanax will work a treat if you're anxious or depressed." Rolling her green eyes, she scratched her head. "The Vicodin won't kill you. You never know, it might still work."

Leaning against the worktop and settling her chin in the palm of her hand, Lola shrugged. "I'm okay. I think. There isn't a whole lot I can do about any of this. What good would freaking out do me?" It was true, what good would it do? Nothing would change. In fact, it would make everything a lot harder to deal with. Yawning, the blonde walked out of the bathroom. Admittedly, she didn't like the idea of Caleb speaking to his boss, but she had never been one to open up easily. Her brain was a hive of activity 24/7, but she covered it well. "I stopped feeling a long time ago. About the time I had whore carved into my neck. Jess needs to watch herself."

Heading for the freezer, she pulled out the vodka and shook it at Caleb. "I think your safest bet is expired Vicodin with a vodka chaser. Followed by Chinese food." Chuckling, she grabbed herself a glass of water before sitting on the couch. Jessica and Jack situated at the very forefront of her mind.

"You know, the most depressing thing is that I'm going to have to see him pretty much everyday. Ha, maybe I will move in." Shaking her head, she let her chin rest on the top of the couch as she looked at Caleb. "Is it hot, or is it just me?" The air felt humid, like there could easily be a storm brewing. Pulling her hoodie off over her head, she stretched. "I am so hungry, where's the waitress? The room service in this place is shocking."

Before Caleb could answer her question about the temperature, she began taking off her sweater. His eyes watched her movements, finding himself ogling and looking away before her head popped out of the hoodie. "Pull it together, man," he thought to himself as he shook his head.

"Oh, yeah," he scoffed. "Make the guy with the concussion serve you food." He grabbed the bottle of vodka and the bag of food, bringing it over to the coffee table and plopping it down on the table before he sat down next to her. The pill went into his mouth, followed by the vodka, and he sighed after both of them traveled down his throat. "You're not trying to kill me, are you? I've done enough drugs to have a decent tolerance by now."

Caleb worked at the brown bag in front of them and laid out each carton so that it was accessible to both of them. "So," he began as he made himself a plate, "The funeral tomorrow. I need you to play along as Jimmy's cousin. He and his mom hadn't talked in years, so you're gonna be his cousin from his mom's side. They might be a little rude to you, but I'll make it work. Say that you guys just reconnected or something." He scratched his head as his mind mulled over the possibilities of what could go wrong with the lie that he came up with, but he decided that it was futile. It would be the only thing that could work without raising too much suspicion about his date.

"And I'm sorry for putting my arm around you and shit at the restaurant. My quick thinking isn't what it usually is right now." He had realized that a girl like Lola, who had so much history with awful men, was probably much less trusting than the front she put on appeared to be. He wouldn't want to do anything that would turn her against him.

"If I wanted to kill you, I'd just smack you around the head. A substantial second blow on that, and you'd be pushing up daisies. Simple really." The blonde replied nonchalantly as she reclined into the couch, groaning at the mention of the funeral. "Really?" Side glancing at Caleb, Lola grumbled. "I really hate funerals." Wrinkling her nose, she then proceeded to run her finger down it. "I mean, I know you aren't supposed to like funerals, but I really don't like them. Plus, why is fun in the word funeral? It's a little sadistic if you ask me."

Leaning forward, she surveyed the options in front of her, before picking up a vegetable spring roll. "Why aren't they called a deatheral? Or a depressaral, or even a cryaral? Those names are far more accurate." Rolling her dark green eyes, she leaned back again. The movement caused her black vest top to ride further up her stomach, displaying her rather defined abs gained through a lifetime of riding.

With a lazy yawn, her attention was peaked by Caleb's apology. Waving a hand dismissively, she smiled. "Don't worry about it. It's not like you groped me. Although, groping is also fine with permission." The young woman laughed at her own joke, finding it really funny. Giving just a glimpse of the dork she really was.

"I try not to let Jack get to me in that way. Otherwise he's still winning, and well, I like guys." It was true, she was no Jessica, but she was certainly capable of being a little minx. Waggling her eyebrows suggestively, she let her feet rest up on the table, "Thanks for the apology though. I appreciate it."

It was starting to look like Caleb did have a softer side. That was certainly problematic when trying not to be attracted to him. Rubbing her chin, Lola switched her focus to the television. "Admit it, you're warming to me." Nudging the man next to her with her elbow, she smirked. "You'll miss me when I'm gone. Plus, don't forget that you were all winky winky with me in that bar before the rest of the shit kicked off. Mr Serious." Pleased with herself, Lola shot Caleb an amused sideways glance before continuing to eat.

Caleb smirked at her last statement but kept his eyes on his plate. "Yeah, well, that's before I knew you'd be such a pain in the ass," he chuckled. "Maybe if you showed some interest and let me buy you a drink, I would've been too preoccupied to kick someone's head in." He was joking; he came to the bar with the intention to do some damage to Connor, but he couldn't help but think of what could have happened if things played out differently.

As he finished his meal, he leaned back into the couch and placed his hands on his stomach. "I'm not excited about the funeral either. Jimmy was my best friend. A brother, really. I'm still in denial that he's even gone. I don't wanna bury him."

He was beginning to feel the effects of the cocktail of Vicodin and vodka, and he scratched the top of his head before his eyes squeezed shut. "Ah," he sighed quietly. "The throbbing finally stopped. Thanks, doc," he grinned as he thanked her.

Caleb took a cigarette from his pack on the table and lit it carefully before exhaling the smoke up to the ceiling. "The wake's at 10. Burial at 11. Then the reception at TJ's at noon. I'm gonna talk to my boss then." He popped an eye open and looked at her. "I'm not gonna let him hurt you, okay?"

"Now, that's a low blow." The blonde retorted as she rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Showed some interest? Next time, I'll remember to get a t-shirt printed. You know, just to make sure you get the message." Chuckling, Lola headed to the kitchen, yawning a little as she put some of the empty containers into the trash. For a student, she was fairly well housetrained.

What would have happened, had Caleb not beaten the living daylights out of somebody? Now, that was an entertaining thought. A thought that she momentarily dabbled in, before nodding,"Vodka is the answer to everything. Apart from alcoholism. It's pretty bad for that." Scanning the room, Lola drummed her fingers against the worktop, wondering what to do. For a girl that was primarily used to being outside, being cooped up was quite a new experience.

Turning her focus back to Caleb, she frowned when he mentioned speaking to his boss again. "Yeah, yeah. He's your boss. I don't suppose that there is much you can do about it." Her words were blunt, and maybe an accurate account of what was currently buzzing through her mind. Sitting back down, she sunk into the cushions and even though she was staring at the television, her thoughts were diverted back to the bar on that fateful Friday.

What would have happened?

It was quite frustrating really, to have that thought constantly bouncing around in her mind. Biting her lip, she couldn't stop herself from letting out a mildly mischievous chuckle. Now, that would be a way to wear off some energy.

Oh well.

Caleb noticed her mood change once he brought up his boss, and he sat up a bit and glared down at her as she sunk in the couch. "It'll be fine. If anything, it'll get you home quicker. Although, it is nice having a nurse around. My boys and I get hurt a lot," he laughed as he sat back into the couch as she was, but this time taking a swig from the bottle that sat on the coffee table.

"Feel free to go do what you want," he offered as he waved a hand towards the rest of the house, "sorry there's not much to do. You don't have to keep me company if you don't want."

Caleb moved his body into a horizontal position on the couch, a hand mindlessly scratching at his head as his eyes locked on to the television. He never knew what to watch, usually because he never had the time to, but he definitely wanted to avoid the news. "Can you find me a good movie to watch first?" he asked quietly. "

"Don't you glare at me." Chucking a well aimed cushion in the young man's direction, the blonde sat up a little. "A movie?" With a perked eyebrow, Lola scratched her head. "Well, I'm a comedy chic flick kinda' gal. I'm doubtful that you are too. Although the girl part is debatable." Shooting a wink to Caleb, she started channel surfing.

It was during her channel surfing expedition, that the young woman suddenly sat bolt upright like a meerkat on century duty, clapping her hands together at an advertisement.

"Ice cream!!"

With a shake of her pretty blonde head, there was no doubt that she looked triumphant. "That's why Jack is here. Why didn't I think of it sooner. It's been bugging me ever since we saw him in the diner!" Feeling a wave of relaxation spread through her, Lola let out a content sigh.

"His uncle owns that ice cream parlour over on 9th. We went there a few times during high school. He must be staying there." Not knowing the magnitude of her words,she flicked her attention back to the movie selections.

"Action? No, you see enough of that in real life. Romance? Meh. Comedy? Who doesn't love the Hangover?" Setting the remote back on the coffee table, she reclined. Everything made sense now, and that provided her with a little comfort. It clearly didn't solve the Jack problem, but it did complete a few extra pieces of the puzzle.

"Oh, and as for being a nursemaid to you guys, you'll have to hope I'm available when you go around getting your heads smashed in." After a momentary pause, she added, "I will charge though."

"Wait, wait, wait," Caleb mumbled as he popped up to a sitting position and put his hands on both of her shoulders so that she would look at him. "You said Jack's uncle is the owner of the shop on 9th?"

He stood up and began to pace back in forth in front of the television with his hand on his forehead. "This isn't good. This isn't good."

If Lola had been with him so long, she had to have known the ties that Jack had to the Nines, right? Although, Jack seemed that he would be the secretive type and would try to keep her in the dark as much as possible.

He sat down on the coffee table and rested his elbows on his legs. "What do you know about his uncle? Do you know if Jack has any... affiliations of any kind? Anything you can tell me helps."

Not only did Caleb march in there earlier and cause a scene, now he was 'dating' a possible member's ex-girlfriend. He now realized that going that rout when they were in the Chinese restaurant was a bad move. He could have possibly just started a war with rivals that he won't be able to control. Not only that, but the situation with Jack just moved to a whole other level.

"Affiliations?"

Lola repeated the question slowly, staring at Caleb like he was very possibly a mad man. Perhaps that concussion did need checking out after all. Watching him pace up and down, the blonde blinked, trying to figure all of this out.

"Yes, his uncle Ed owns the Ice Cream shop on 9th. They run some kinda' haulage company out of it. The other office is in Mexico, I think. I vaguely remember Jack saying something about helping out with the accounts."

Standing up, Lola headed into the kitchen to get a drink, leaning against the counter. "Just before School finished, Jack was hugely pissed about his cousin being shot. What was his name?" Wrinkling her nose as she tried to remember, she cocked her head to the side. "Marco. He died." Taking a sip from her water, she shrugged.

"He went off to College in Idaho. He really wanted to be a sports coach. Had a football scholarship and everything. I really have no idea what would have torn him away from that. It would need to have been something really important."

With a perked eyebrow, the blonde regarded the man in front of her with curiosity, and a mild hint of suspicion.

"What's the big deal? Jacks a lone wolf. He doesn't get along with people. He only ever gets involved when something benefits himself. His mom was fuming that he didn't go in to the family business." Draining the water from her glass, she sat up on the worktop, remembering something quite random. Holding out her hand, she pointed to the space between her thumb and her index finger. "He has a little 9 there, if that helps. Oh, and when he stayed with his uncle, he talked about some old firehouse. Like a storeroom or something." Chuckling before slipping her hands into her pockets, she sighed "I don't think I was supposed to tell anybody that."

Was Jack really tied up in all of this gang activity? It was possible, she doubted quite strongly that he had the loyalty though. Although, she did have one idea as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"He may have told Jess why he's here? He does love to brag. Well, if there is anything to brag about."

"Shit," he whispered and put his face in his hands after Lola gave him the information she knew. "Lola, I know none of this makes sense to you now. And I probably shouldn't tell you anything, but honestly, you know too much about me already, so what's the point of hiding it?"

He stood up and began to pace the room again. "A Nine did this to my head." He pointed to the injury she had treated hours before. "I, uh, I went into their territory and got one of my guys out from the apartment above the ice cream shop. My guess is not only Jack following you for whatever personal reasons he has, but now your ties with me might escalate things."

Caleb paused and laced his fingers behind his neck. "I had no idea that Jack was affiliated with him. If I saw that fuckin' tattoo before..." his voice trailed off. There was no point in trying to undo anything now. All he could do now is attempt to wade through the waters he was responsible for making.

"I know you wanna go home, but for your safety, even if my boss says you can leave, you might wanna stay at least with my crew for a little while. At least 'til Jack leaves. The Nines are crazy bastards. They have no qualms with hurting women. Killing them. Especially if they've done something like 'date,'" he used air-quotes, "a rival gang member."

He sighed and plopped back down on the couch. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what shit I was getting you into when I saw you at the bar."

"This is just unbelievable." Rubbing her forehead, the blonde let out a rather low pitched groan. "I mean really?! We aren't in bloody Brooklyn. This is why I never go out to bars. I end up as an unwilling extra in Westside sodding Story!" Picking up a cushion from the couch, she launched it at Caleb, which happily made her feel mildly calmer.

"It would explain a whole lot about Jack though." Things finally started to slot harmoniously together in the young woman's mind. His attitude, his general out of this world confidence in himself. It all made sense now. Jack really was a bigger jerk than she'd realised. Sitting down next to Caleb, she blinked.

"Wow, I sure can pick em'. I thought him being in my house was bad before, now it's even worse. He probably knows my entire schedule."

There was a humorous lilt that crept into her voice, and her pretty green eyes focused back on to the television screen.

"Ha, I bet you're so glad that you winked at me now."

Narrowing her eyes in an amused expression, she settled back against the couch with a yawn, moving Caleb's legs out of the way.

"Well, this all sucks. I finally get my freedom, and now I have a big fat target on my head. In the words of Alanis Morisette, isn't it ironic." It was also ironic, that with all of the drama, they may as well have just slept together. Things really couldn't get worse. Settling her chin against the palm of her hand, Lola poked Caleb in the ribs absent mindedly as she lifted her feet onto the couch. "Amuse me. It's the least you can do."

Caleb scoffed at her remark. “Amuse you, huh? Something tells me that our ideas of fun might be completely different. Unless on top of animals and taping people’s heads back up, you like picking up women and smoking weed.” He groaned as he stretched his legs out as much as he could with the small amount of space Lola left him.

“I think a movie is more our speed,” he mumbled as he began to watch the movie and took a swig of the vodka bottle, then holding it towards Lola to offer her some.

If Caleb had it his way, he would turn on his charm with Lola, sleep with her, then never have another thought about her, but unfortunately, the situation was much too delicate for him to display his normal antics. Especially now with the revelation that Jack was involved with the Nines. It was already bad enough that he assumed they were dating.

Caleb lit a cigarette, but only took a few puffs before snuffing it out again in the ash tray. He tried to focus on the movie, but his thoughts kept returning to a multitude of things: Jack involved with the Nines, the body he buried out in the woods, Jimmy’s funeral tomorrow, and the extremely attractive woman sharing a couch with him.

Would it be so bad if he tried something with her?

”Don’t be an idiot, Blue,” his inner voice called out to him. It could be very bad. What if he pissed her off, and she escaped? Then, not only told the authorities about the body, but then got killed at the hands of Jack? All because Caleb couldn’t help himself.

No, that would be awful. He would just have to be a gentleman.

"I'm gonna get you up at 8:00 tomorrow. That way you have time to get ready and shit before we need to leave." His voice was gravely from the smoke, but remained at a level, quiet tone.

"Get me up at 8.00?" The blonde perked an eyebrow, looking at Caleb with a rather dangerous glint in her eye, "I must have missed the wedding." Saluting the man sarcastically, as she casually started to play with the lobe of her ear.

A large part of Lola screamed that she shouldn't touch the vodka, but she was just so bored she would have scratched her own eyes out just for one minute of entertainment. Entertainment, and a temporary escape from her current predicament. Which in all honesty, was still sinking in. Taking a generous sip, she set the bottle back down carefully. It had also occurred to her that this whole scenario would destroy her love life. Or lack of it.

"I'm starting to hate this movie." Lola subconsciously pouted out her bottom lip, tilting her head to the side as she exhaled a rather elongated sigh. The blonde's thoughts turning to Jack as the palpable tension was just all too apparent. He was a jerk, but he was a very good looking jerk. Stretching, Lola arched her back a little, deciding to be an ass and pinch Caleb on the fleshy part of his leg. The young woman could be a real minx when she was bored. Well, she had to entertain herself somehow, didn't she?

"You suck at entertaining. I'd give you a big zero out of ten. It's a good thing that you're a love em' and leave em' type of guy. You don't have to worry about being amusing." With a small but delightful smirk, she squeezed Caleb's cheek, "How's the head?"

Caleb lightly smacked her hand away from his leg after she pinched it, then rolled his eyes at her statement. “You want the concussed criminal who’s going to his best friend’s funeral tomorrow to entertain you, huh?” He folded his hands behind his head and positioned himself to be directly facing her as he his head laid on the arm of the couch.

His eyes wandered from her face slowly down to her legs, then they made their way back up again, only realizing he had been staring when he met her eyes again. It made him dart his attention to the screen and sigh. Why was he having such a hard time keeping his mind off of her? He never paid girls this much attention, especially those who he had no plans on sleeping with.

“How ‘bout you entertain me instead?” he asked quietly as he kept his eyes on the television. “Whatever you wanna do that’s in this apartment and won’t make my head hurt worse.” His eyes finally glanced back over to her, and he cracked a faint smile. Although his statement could be taken in multiple ways, he meant it sincerely. He had no idea how to keep her entertained. Well… it wasn’t like he needed to. But, she would probably be easier to manager if she wasn’t completely miserable.

“I do wanna go to bed soon, though, it’s been a long day.”

Rolling her eye's, Lola laughed. "Go to bed? Wow, it really is like living with a sixty year old." Leaning back, Lola settled her back on the arm of the couch, meaning that her head was fairly close to floor. Stretching her arms above her head as she hummed in a bid to amuse herself. The blonde was alarmingly supple, and yoga was largely responsible for that.

Caleb's wandering eyes didn't escape her. It was a fairly amusing situation all in all. There was clearly something in the air, but what was it? Lola rarely found it hard to ignore the attention of a male, and she was actually incredibly picky when it came down to who she would and wouldn't date. Yet, here's this man, and even though she knows exactly who and what he is, she can't stop her mind from wandering onto him. What was with that?

He does actually have a really cute smile. Oh, just shut up Lola!

Hitting herself on the forehead with the palm of her hand, she bent her knees up and cracked a joke.

"I'm guessing that playing twister is out of the question? Could be incredibly amusing to see you play that."

Sitting herself up effortlessly, she settled her chin on her knees and stared at Caleb, examining his face closely. There was definitely something there, but what was it?

He's hot. That's what it is. Urgh. Why couldn't she wind up with an ugly criminal.