Unwelcomed Visitor

I felt my mood lift at the sight of this vista, and actually whistled as I grabbed the key card and shoved it into my backpack and slipped on my black sandals. Before I left, I replaced my tank top with Roman's t-shirt. It was black and it reached mid thigh. I made a knot at the small of my back so that it'd hug my body.
I locked up and almost ran to my — Roman's — car. The sandals made a squeaky sound as I walked down the hall, people I'd never seen before watched me pass with curious eyes. They wore navy overalls that had a tag that said, John's painting. Anton was with them. He ignored my greeting.
At the ground floor I took the back exit to the private parking that was only reserved for Roman and his luxurious cars — it looked like a floor of its own — he had eleven of them including the Audi.
In the comfort of the car, I turned on the radio to a local radio station and with some difficulty turned on the air conditioner. The car smelled like apples and started with no complaints and I buckled up.
Soon I was driving down the morning traffic, trying not to violate any traffic rules and with some mild difficulty forced Roman out of my mind which was near impossible.
Gradually I found parking space in the handicapped section of the parking lot and before I was out of the car Kyle was already waving at me across the small garden.
I took a deep breath before making my way to them. I found a spot on the grassy lawn that wasn’t too damp and spread my jacket on the ground and sat on it in the circle they formed.
"Hey," I greeted.
"Hello, Nuru," Kyle said and without a warning he moved in for a kiss, on my lips, that lasted a second.
"Kyle!" I warned him.
"A guy should crash over at your place tonight." his smile was genuine. "Don't look so alarmed, I'm not taking about Harry, I mean Microsoft, aka me."
I grimaced. "Ew, can your pick up lines get anymore cheesy?"
"Do you even get horny when you're touching boobs or will you subject the poor girl t —"
Harry interrupted her. "Oh shut it, Melissa."
"He bought you a car?" Zoe asked quickly, her voice devastatingly sour, glancing at the black Audi.
"Not exactly," I said. "It's kind of a..." I didn't know what to say. What was the right way to say it? Did he borrow me the car? Was I even suppose to use it? Maybe he had given it to me for use only for yesterday.
Zoe looked at me like I was insane and thankfully let it drop.
"You like the outdoors, Nuru?" Chad asked, smiling brightly at me.
I frowned at the strange question and tried to smile in return, I hoped he didn't think it was a grimace. "Not really."
"You play any sports?"
"No."
when I saw the look Zoe gave me, I quickly added, "But I'd like to join the netball team or something."
"You can join me in the cheerleading squad," Zoe hedged. "You have an okay enough body. Even though, we aren't official yet."
I shrugged and chose to ignore the insult.
"Too bad about Britney, isn't it?" Kyle said, disappointed.
"Are you kidding me?" Zoe said excitedly. She opened her backpack and withdrew six bars of Bar One chocolates, once she'd given each one of us a bar, she looked at Kyle again. "Totally deserved it."
"I heard she's got a nasty bin..." he leaned in and against my better judgement I found myself leaning in as well with the rest of the group. "Down there." he pointed to his private parts.
Melissa's eyes went wide. "No!"
I quickly realized that this group had one thing in common; they fuelled on gossip and I didn't belong here, at all. And I also noticed how long of a neck Kyle had, he'd have no problem whatsoever craning over fences to spy on neighbors.
But I smiled and relaxed against my jacket.
"Hello — Nuru?" someone tapped my shoulder.
I looked up and got blinded by the sun, I quickly blocked the harsh light with my hand. It was a boy, attractive, athletic. His eyes demanded my attention first. They were an emerald green that contrasted with his pale skin. It was so pale I was forced to suspect he was half albino. He had a lip ring and the brightest shade of brown hair.
"You're Nuru, right?" when he smiled, he graced me with crooked teeth. Was that a gold tooth I spotted? I couldn't be sure.
"Who's asking?” My voice caught in my throat and I coughed, feeling stupid.
"I'm Daniel Adams." He hesitated, looking at my friends cautiously. "I... can I have a quick word with you?"
I shrugged. "Sure."
I waited for him to speak but he hesitated, deliberating.
"Alone dummy," Zoe said. "... duh."
"Dramatic much," I mumbled and got to my feet and followed wordlessly behind him and when we were a safe distance from my friends, he stopped and spun around. I almost ran into him.
"It has come to our attention that you have close contact with Nikolai."
"Who's our?"
"The PI team."
"Who are they?" I asked.
"I don't have much time," he said and glanced worriedly to the outline of the forest behind the school. "I work with your uncle."
"Who's my uncle? "
"Miles Lynn," Daniel said with as much patience as he could muster. "I want to ask you a few questions about your father."
"But he's..." I almost said dead but realized I'd get Jennie in trouble. "Missing."
"That's precisely why I want to talk to you."
"Okay...?"
"As you know Miles doesn't believe Carmine ran away from his duties as both a husband and a father. Especially without any contact with his brother."
I sighed. "I know."
"That's why your mother refuses to have you in contact with Miles, right?"
"I wouldn't know." I ground my teeth, trying to sound indifferent.
He nodded, sceptical. "When was the last time you saw your father?"
"Five years ago."
Can you remember anything about the night he left?"
I shook my head. Hating myself for lying. "No. He left while I was asleep."
"Hmm..." he mumbled thoughtfully. "Can you remember where your mother was or Nikolai?"