Just when the girl was about to completely pass out, Manuel appeared and separated the two. Because Lucia hadn't got a proper hold, she easily let go of her girl.
Manuel said breathlessly:
"what do you think you are doing, have you lost your mind!?"
Manuel picked up the girl, apologized and gave her some money, he talked to her for some moments and sent her away. Turning back to Lucia he said, "have you gone crazy Lucia, you almost killed her."
"Do I seem to care, huh?" Lucia 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.
Through out the ride none of them spoke a world until he pulled over at the front yard of Lucia's house.
"We need to talk Manuel." Lucia said to break the silence.
"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 took it your own way."
"That's where you are wrong Lucia we never made any arrangements to meet tonight, I don't know who told you that I'm going to be at the club tonight and that's why you decided to show up as well."
"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 Lucia, they can be useful on our next meeting."
"You said the same thing last month 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 on Wednesday don't blame me with what gonna happen."
"I give you my word this time, if I say am gonna show up then 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 am supposed to be heading back home now."
"Aren't you gonna kiss me goodnight or something?" she asked trying to get close to him but Manuel avoided her.
"Let's 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 lowered herself to the window, "Goodnight, I love you and I want you to know that am not saying "I love you" to hear back the same thing, am saying it to make sure that you know it."
"Yeah sure. Goodnight Lucia." 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. 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.