Miranda placed her left hand on her chest and drifted backwards with a gasp. She was forced to stop moving after hitting her back against the wall. Charlie lowered his head while Miranda watched as Ken and Cassie vanished. They stepped into the car and sped off. Ken didn't turn to look at her as she aspired.

"What the hell just happened?" Miranda managed to ask. She was still in shock.

Charlie lifted his head with a sigh. "Well, it appears your boy just struck gold."

"Damn it!" Miranda yelled and aggressively shoved the pieces of stuff on the table. The plastic vase, books and mug came crashing to the floor, creating a mess.

Charlie walked up to her with astonishing eyes. "What is wrong with you babe?" He tried to grab her but she placed her hand on his chest, the way she did to Ken earlier.

"Stop acting like a jealous girlfriend," Charlie remarked and dropped on the stool.

"Now I'm acting like a jealous girlfriend?" She smirked and continued. "Oh come on Charlie, I'm not jealous. That Cassie girl was acting. Believe me, she's just acting to pull Ken out of his misery." Miranda said and broke into a laugh.

"But the girl was fucking hot," Charlie remarked. He moved toward her.

Miranda gave Charlie a violent push and crashed by the edge of the bed. "So now you are admiring the girl too? Oh cut the crap Charlie." she lowered her head, and her brown hair fell on her face. "That girl...."

"Well, whether she's Ken's new babe or not, she's a big fish."

"Stop sounding like a dick Charlie. Now you are on her side?"

Charlie shook his head in disagreement and moved to the bed. He sat beside Miranda and placed his arm around her.

"It's just me and you now. I don't care about her. To crown it all, that pauper is finally out of your life so now, we can be together" 

Charlie cleared the strands of hair covering Miranda's face and held her jaw. He pulled her face and leaned in for a kiss but she turned away.

"Jeez, Charlie Is that all you can think about right now?" she smirked and stood up. She began to pace.

Charlie was getting pissed. "So what do you want me to think about? Ken or the fucking limo?"

"Yes, Charlie. Didn't you see the car? That bitch owns a bloody limousine and did you see the way she wrapped her arm around Ken? She made us look like bloody fools."

"Yes, she has a limo and so what? I should get a limo too. I can't afford it but at least I'm better than your broke ass ex." Charlie fired back with a satisfied nod.

"What are you saying Charlie?"

"I should be asking you that Miranda. You almost sound as if you regret being with me. I'm going to give you a good life Miranda. The life that boy was never going to offer you."

Miranda heaved a deep sigh. "You don't get it, Charlie. I don't regret choosing you over him. It's not about what he can offer. I felt insulted you know.  I thought Ken was this poor boy with nothing and then all of a sudden this hot girl steps out of a limo, barges into my room and she's his girlfriend now?" Miranda lamented and shook her head. "This must be pure acting," she concluded.

Charlie sighed and shut the door. He rested his back against the closed door. "In as much as it surprises you, it astounds me too. I can't deny the fact that I felt trivial before them a while ago."

Miranda giggled and instantly hardened her face. "Oh, Charlie you don't know how little I felt. I was the one that broke up with him and then this rich girl embraces him right before me. Whether she was acting or not, I felt less."

She grabbed a band from her purse and tied her hair into a bun. She stepped on the ruins that soiled the carpet when she angrily cleared the table. She moved closer to Charlie.

"That bitch saved him but believe me, he'll toss her to the side. He's crazy in love with me." she blurted.

Charlie broke into a laugh. "Well, he better set his eyes on the girl because you are now mine."

Miranda folded her arms across her chest and couldn't help but wonder about Ken and the girl. She has been with Ken for about a year and he had never mentioned the name, Cassie. As far as she knows, he barely talks about his childhood and now he has a filthy rich friend who is crazy in love with him. That was a pure set-up.

 

"Miranda....Miranda!" Charlie yelled for the fourth time, drawing Miranda out of her thoughts.

She looked up to Charlie and noticed the sweats banded on his forehead. She looked into his eyes and rolled her eyes up his blonde hair down his face. He wasn't as handsome as Ken. Why didn't she figure that out or maybe she did but wanted more than just a perfect jawline, she wanted more than Ken's sexy eyes and protruding nose. She wanted more, she wanted luxury.

"I don't want us to stay here and quarrel over some boy called Ken. He's out of your life. You told me there was no going back huh?"

Miranda replied with a nod. Right now, she wished she could turn back the hands of time and shut the door before Cassie walked into her room.

"There's no going back Charlie." Miranda declared and began thinking about her first meeting with Charlie.

She was sitting in the school's most loved cafeteria, stirring her orange juice in circles with a straw when Charlie showed up. He requested to sit opposite her and when he extended his hand for a shake, the Rolex adorned on his wrist caught her attention. They chatted for a while and before exiting the cafeteria, he paid for her coffee and stuffed some dollars into her hands. That night, he phoned her and she wondered how he got her number. They got talking and had been hanging out but she told him about Ken. When the luxurious dates, expensive gifts and cash gifts started coming, she relegated Ken to the background. That was a week ago.

"Miranda, get dressed and join me in the car outside," Charlie said, his voice sounding like a dictator.

Charlie turned around to head out and looked back. Miranda was transfixed to the spot.

"Didn't you hear me? Get dressed. We are going out to meet my friends."

Miranda fell onto the bed with a disapproving look. "I'm not in the mood to go anywhere, Charlie."

Charlie released the doorknob and turned to face her. "What's your problem?" He yelled.

Miranda shut her eyes and opened them after a while. "I'm exhausted." was all she said.

Charlie went on ranting. "Are you saying you are not going out with me? It better has nothing to do with that Ken and his girl. You are over him, right? Haven't we thrashed this issue? You told the boy to his face that you were done with him so I expect you to freshen up and join me in the car." 

Miranda rested her back against her wall, her gaze fixated on the ceiling. Charlie didn't stop blabbering.

"Miranda, I'm talking to you."

"Fine. I'm sorry. We will hang out with your friends." she replied and grabbed her bag.