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Since departing the auditorium and getting to the cafeteria, there wasn’t a moment that Kavi didn’t think about how perfect everything was falling into place for him. Not only was the teen able to snag the last calamari dish the cafeteria had, but the thought of how bothered he knew Diablo was going to be when he received the text Kavi sent shortly after leaving the assembly. He just knew it would get under the [i]candy man’s[/i] skin. And how did he know this? Well, Kavi knew Diablo. Or at least he knew how much he apparently [i]cared[/i] for April. The rumors of their on-again-off-again spread like wildfire. If someone hadn’t heard about their mess of a relationship, then either they lived under a rock or simply didn’t care.

Good thing Kavi did. And he planned on using it to his advantage.

[color=teal]“Thanks, keep the change,”[/color] Kavi handed the Timmy, the vendor two twenty dollar bills as he took the styrofoam package that had his sticky rice and calamari with spicy soy sauce to dip it in. [color=teal][i]Just like how grandpa makes it.[/i][/color]

He couldn’t wait any longer. Kavi wasn’t even three feet away from where he had purchased it when it propped it open, but before he could get his claws into it, a voice from behind stopped him from taking his first bite. In the back of his mind, he was ready to pummel who it was, but the words in addition to who it was didn’t make it seem like that would be wise on his part. 

[color=teal]“First use is free of charge, but every other use requires payment.”[/color] He smiled at April, taking no shame in looking her from head to toe and then back up, stopping at her eyes that, even in the artificial lighting the cafeteria lights had, had a brilliant, sweet, sultry honey shade to them. [color=teal]“Though, for you, I might make an exception.”[/color] With charm on overdrive, Kavi kept the smile, holding his styrofoam package in one hand while running the other through his dark locks. 

[color=ec008c]“An exception huh?”[/color] April grinned. If one thing was for sure, it was that Kavi’s charm was almost intoxicating to the brunette. She watched him with playful eyes as he looked her up and down, smiling as a sudden wave of self-awareness hit her. It wasn’t a new experience for her--Diablo did it damn near every time she saw him--but something about it being Kavi made the experience all that more foreign. Surreal almost. 

Maybe even fun.

April sped past him and grabbed a table not far ahead, placing her own tray down before sitting opposite to Kavi. It was evident that she was excited about this entire thing; the stupid smirk that she had originally greeted her newfound homecoming partner with had yet to leave her face. There was a moment--and it was a good long moment--where Santiago had entered her mind and she wondered if he would’ve been alright with this. But then she remembered what the past month had brought to light and any shred of guilt that had been present disappeared in the blink of an eye.

[color=ec008c]”It’s Kavi right? Or as Mrs. Sanders called you, [i]Mister Salvador[/i].”[/color] She said, making her voice sound all whiny and irritating as she mimicked the older teacher. April took a moment to down some of her garden salad after carefully drizzling it in balsamic vinaigrette, before looking back to her partner. With her eyes still ever playful, April sipped her coffee as she watched him over the lid of the cup. [i]He’s certainly easy on the eyes[/i] she thought to herself, before putting down her coffee. [color=ec008c]“So, we’ve never really talked a lot before...how’s life?”[/color]

[color=teal]“My life has been pretty great, actually.”[/color] 

Kavi didn’t really think about it; he didn’t feel the need to. When it came to how great he’s been living the past month - hell, the entire school year - has been nothing short of amazing. From dates with the most attractive girls at the school to being rewarded with a new car from his father just last week, Kavi really didn’t have anything to complain about. It was perfect - just like him.

He glanced at April. [color=teal]“It’s a shame we never did, though. I know we would’ve been a great item,”[/color] he unashamedly stated.

His statement took April by quite a surprise. The brunette’s eyes widened and her cheeks gently flushed before she looked down and composed herself quickly. Did she really just hear him say that? April looked up to him once again and made sure that he knew she contested the idea, even if it was just a bit. Her eyes spoke volumes in conversation.

[color=ec008c]“That’s a rather bold assumption, don’t you think?”[/color]

Ah yes, that was right. The name came back to her. Next to Santiago, Kavi was one of the main self-proclaimed womanizers. It certainly explained the attitude he brought. April briefly pondered about clearing the water of any assumptions early but kept quiet for the moment. She wanted to see how he’d react first.

[color=teal]“Bold and true,”[/color] he admitted, [color=teal]“I know you know I date a lot. This isn’t because I think I’m the gift that keeps on giving;  they just come to me, ya know? And at some point, these girls just seem like blank faces, but don’t think I haven’t been watching you, April.”[/color] He said to her, leaning against the wall behind him. [color=teal]“The number of times you and Santiago have [i]broken up[/i] can’t be counted on my fingers. He treats you like yesterday’s garbage. Or maybe I’m wrong here. If I am, then do correct me. I just know if you were my girl, the number of times we would have gotten back together would be this many.”[/color] He held up a hand that was balled up, showing her the number he spoke of was zero.

His piece about Santiago hit her like a freight train. Absolutely every bone in her body screamed at her to defend him, but she found herself hesitating. Everything he’d said had been true. Santi had never really been [i]with[/i] her.  He knew it and April had tried to forget it. What little they had between them was hidden behind a purely physical relationship and Kavi had just uncovered the whole mess. [color=ec008c]“I...I can’t say that you’re wrong.”[/color] April looked down to her food and let out a deep breath.

[color=ec008c]“And is that because we’d just be [i]so[/i] in love, or just because we’d hate each other so much that we’d never want to speak again?”[/color] She replied, offering a gentle smirk before leaning in to sip her coffee. Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she spoke, trying to put the thoughts about her dear [i]El Diablo[/i] out of her head.

He didn’t know if she intended to, but her comments forced out a laugh from Kavi. He collected himself, giving April a smile, though the chuckles still remained. [color=teal]“Sorry about that, but you thinking we’d hate each other is so funny to me. Nobody hates the Kavimiester, April,”[/color] he arrogantly stated, a familiar pride in his ego present. [color=teal]“There’s a reason people love me so much. I’m the kind of guy that will give you a night you won’t ever forget - that’s a fact.”[/color] Again, Kavi was showing no sign of his ego taking a break from assuming what April might think. [color=teal]“Unless you somehow disagree?”[/color] He knew it was unlikely to be the case, but the question still had to be asked.

April gritted her teeth. Kavi’s arrogance and over-inflated ego were beginning to get on her nerves. As mad as she was at Santi, he kept his ego more in check and didn’t act like an over-confident asshat. Right now, Kavi was being just plain irritating. [color=ec008c]“Do you honestly think you’re funny? Arrogance is not attractive [i]Kavimeister[/i], it’s irritating.”[/color] She looked at him impatiently as she put down her fork, contemplating what to say next. [color=ec008c]“Honestly Kavi, I completely disagree. The only reason I wouldn’t forget it is because it would be the night that held the record for the shortest time it’s taken for me to dump someone.”[/color]

He just sat there, eyes fixated on April round face. Thoughts swirled around as he contemplated what to say. He had a lot of things he could tell her. He could say she was wrong and that a time with him was unforgettable. He could remind her just who he was and how good at what he did he was. Reputations aside, Kavi knew that was the absolute truth. Another truth he knew were her truths -well, at least one that nobody at King’s Academy could afford to ignore. 

Taking in the moment, he offered her a smile, unbeknownst to her there was something quite sinister lurking behind it. [color=teal]”In your own words, you said ‘arrogance isn’t attractive’, yet you keep crawling back to the only person at this school who has a bigger ego than I do,”[/color] Kavi told her in a casual manner as he chomped on his lunch nonchalantly, his brown eyes occasionally glancing up at April.

April could feel her temper rising as her previous sarcastic smile faded into a look of pure venom. Those once welcoming, sweet brown eyes now stared daggers into Kavi’s perfectly punchable face. [color=ec008c]“And yet somehow I find you infinitely more irritating than he ever was. Having a big ego and [i]flaunting[/i] it around are two [i]very[/i] different things.”[/color] Her voice was unnervingly calm for the amount of anger behind the words. This control she had wouldn’t last long and she knew it. If the conversation didn’t end in some way soon, April was going to lose it. [color=ec008c]“And besides, I knew going in that Santi and I wouldn’t be serious. You assuming that [i]we[/i] would be? That’s a whole new fuckin’ level of low, even for you.”[/color]

There was a moment for Kavi where he considered correcting April about a few things. But in that same moment, he saw something that, for the three seconds that followed, Kavi actually found himself ...wait for it! Feeling bad about what he said. Yes, it was possible for Kavi Salvador to actually feel regret and it was brief, but something in his gut tossed around, settling in nicely as a slight aching feeling in his stomach started. This had him gripping his stomach to help quell it. [color=teal]”There is nothing low about it, sweetheart. At the end of the day, I know what I am. I have never shied away from being, as some would put it, an arrogant ass,”[/color] Kavi corrected her about her assumptions that what he said to her was ‘a new low’. [color=teal]”Can you say the same about Santiago?”[/color]

[i]Sweetheart.[/i] Little pet names like that made her skin crawl. Who the actual fuck did he think he was? April wanted to explode. She picked up her coffee and downed the rest as fast as she could. [color=ec008c]“I’m gonna be honest Kavi, I really, really wanted this to work for homecoming because I wanted to make a point for Santiago to see. But you are an absolute asshole.”[/color] There. It was out. [color=ec008c]“And call me sweetheart one more time and you can say goodbye to that perfect little smile of yours.”[/color] April tossed her lunch dishes out in the conveniently located garbage bin just next to their table before turning back to Kavi. [color=ec008c]“Anything else in my life you want to tear apart or can I stop wasting my breath and go do something productive?”[/color]

[color=teal]”Oh, lighten up. You’re acting as if I called you a bitch or something.”[/color] Kavi responded back, annoyed himself. [color=teal]“You really did hit the lottery, because I also want to rub it in Santiago’s face, too. He’s nothing more than a poor excuse for a latino. I know, right about now, he’s probably seething that we were paired up. And if not, then my text I sent out to him sure as hell would get him there.”[/color]

April stood from her seat, grabbed her now empty tray, and turned to walk off. She stopped briefly, turning to Kavi once more. [color=ec008c]“I guess we’re both going to homecoming alone because I’ll be damned if I’m spending another minute with your egotistical ass. Free or not, it’s not worth my time.”[/color] The brunette took in a deep breath in an effort to calm herself, much like she had to do back at the party. Her fists clenched, she waited a single moment to see if Kavi had anything left to retort with.

[color=teal]“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,”[/color] Kavi simply said, hoping that would catch her attention.

[color=ec008c]“Why shouldn’t I? You’ve given me absolutely zero reasons to stay. You’ve continuously rubbed my dysfunctional relationship in my face and on top of that, you don’t even seem to give a shit about it.”[/color] She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, staring down the irritatingly attractive teen.

[color=teal]“All true, April. I don’t care about your relationship with Diablo. Honestly, I don’t think anyone really cares about it, but they still talk about it like we’re talking about it right now,”[/color] Kavi stated bluntly. [color=teal]“Given the state of your relationship with him, you shouldn’t either, but you do, don’t you?”[/color] He didn’t need an answer. He could see it in her eyes. [color=teal]“You don’t like me and that is your right, but I’m the only one who can get [i]exactly[/i] what you want. I can get under Santiago’s skin in the way you want.”[/color]

Damn it! Why did Kavi have to be so unbelievably right? April inhaled deeply, running the thought through her head over and over. [color=ec008c]“Alright, fuck it.”[/color] She conceded. The end result was too valuable for her to give it up over a minor speed bump like Kavi. She walked back to the table and took her seat once again. [color=ec008c]“On one condition.”[/color]

Well, that was easier than he thought it was going to be. [color=teal]“And what would that be?”[/color] He asked, wholly curious.

[color=ec008c]“If for some unknown reason one of us ends up at the other’s house after homecoming, I [i]am not[/i] sleeping with you. Period. So get it out of your head before the idea even grows on you.”[/color] She said, her voice stern. She made the point clear and concise, phrasing it as something not to be questioned. There was a certain point that April would go to prove a point to Santi. Sleeping with someone? That was well past it.

Kavi laughed at just how serious she sounded. [color=teal]“A lot can happen in a week, darlin’.”[/color] He shot her a teasing wink. The fact that it crossed her mind even for a second was plenty of room for Kavi to work with. If he truly wanted to get her into his bed or work his way into hers, there was [i]always[/i] a loophole to exploit. 

After a moment of silence passed, Kavi returned to his slightly-straight posture. [color=teal]“Well, if that’s it, you better run along, or maybe you wish to spend the rest of the lunch period telling me off some more? I always welcome the company.”[/color]

[color=ec008c]“I think I’d better run along before people get ideas about us. I guess I’ll see you at homecoming.”[/color] April stood once again, before turning and walking off. [color=ec008c][i]What the actual hell are you doing April…[/i][/color] She thought. This homecoming was certainly going to be interesting, and for better or worse, she was stuck with it.
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