everything has a price

"What do you mean?" Ian didn't want to sound selfish, but he felt as if Lola wasn't really listening to him. Sure they met at lunch everyday. He drove her to school. He couldn't most afternoons because he worked, but things were fine. "Of course, I like you."

It was not exactly a fine time to be having this conversation. After all, he needed to be at work. But, she'd caught his eye, and he thought for a second she was ignoring him.

"Its just..." She was being silent though as they walked into the cold. "Maybe..maybe ..maybe that.." She wouldn't say exactly what was on her mind. "That, at the Valentines Dance..wasn't ..wasn't really meant ..for me." She hugged her books tight.

"How can you say that?" He didn't want her to be right about this, but as she said, it hadn't happened since. "Just get in the car." He offered to drive her home, opening the door for here, to get in. They could talk. He'd have to come in late. Suddenly, this was so important to him.

"We're such good friends, you know." Ian finally said after the car warmed up and most of the parking lot was empty. "I-I don't want to mess that up." He needed to leave Derrick out of this. Still he wanted her to know. "And..and I really think you're beautiful." He nursed his upper lip wondering if he actually did. Or were those just words he could spit out ..just because. He looked at her round face, thought of all her expressions that he'd come to know. "Its just, I don't think ..you know..that you are. And..and I'm sorry..if..look..I didn't want to rush you. That's all."

But she was quiet. A part of him felt he didn't get through, somehow. Seriously, she did mean so much to him. She was all he had. He couldn't think of it, as being stuck with her. It wasn't like that. Was it?